Evans 'could not accept status'

Chris Evans parted company with Virgin in June 2001

Chris Evans could not accept becoming an employee of Virgin Radio - having once owned the company, the High Court has been told.

Bobby Hain, an executive who became Mr Evans' boss, alleged that the DJ's attitude towards him deteriorated after he had sold his controlling stake in the station.

Mr Evans, 36, is suing Scottish Media Group (SMG), Virgin's parent company, saying they withheld share options worth £8.6m after unfairly dismissing him when he did not appear to host the show.

SMG is counterclaiming that Mr Evans breached his contract in a "highly public manner" and is suing for unspecified damages.

To the best of my knowledge it was - and is - unheard of to have a presenter who effectively owned the radio station

Bobby Hain, SMG director

The court was told about Mr Hain's position as business development director for SMG, which had bought Virgin from Mr Evans in a £220m deal.

In 1997 he had effectively been employed by Mr Evans when the presenter had a majority shareholding in the radio station.

Mr Hain had returned to the station in 2000 as a director of SMG after Mr Evans had sold his 60% stake in a deal which had netted him a £70m personal fortune.

Mr Hain said: "On reflection I believe Chris's conduct demonstrated that Chris had failed to accept the change in his position following the sale of his controlling interest in Virgin.

Chris Evans with wife Billie Piper

"He seemed unable to have a proper presenter/programme director relationship with either myself or (Virgin Radio chief executive) Paul Jackson."

Mr Hain said he knew of Mr Evans' reputation as a very talented but highly strung and demanding presenter before he joined the station as breakfast show presenter in 1997.

Mr Evans' effective ownership of the station "made the job of managing the breakfast show a delicate matter", said Mr Hain.

"To the best of my knowledge it was - and is - unheard of to have a presenter who effectively owned the radio station."

Mr Hain told the court how he believed the relationship between the two parties had broken down.

"Despite Chris's understandable belief in his own considerable talent, his refusal to play well-researched music in the required amounts undoubtedly damaged the overall appeal of the breakfast show," he said.

Virgin Radio was left with no choice but to terminate Chris's contract. It could not afford to keep Chris given his behaviour

Bobby Hain, SMG director

After Mr Evans' publicised absence from the show in May 2001, he had returned with an entirely new format that was "very poor".

Mr Evans' allegation that the fault lay with management for not offering assistance was "unbelievable" because he had refused to talk to any of the executives.

When Mr Hain stopped the DJ from doing a spontaneous all-day broadcast, Mr Evans had responded by saying he had lost confidence in him and he should be sacked.

Mr Hain said: "Virgin Radio was left with no choice but to terminate Chris's contract. It could not afford to keep Chris given his behaviour."

He said the station's former presenter had been responsible for an "unanticipated decline" in the fortunes of the station.

The hearing was adjourned until Monday.