News of Chris Evans' mum Minnie has left fans in tears as BBC Radio 2 host explains she 'needed to be at peace'

Evans broke the devastating news in a statement on his breakfast show
Heartbreaking: Radio presenter Chris Evans has had support from fans
Jeremy Selwyn
Emma Powell3 May 2018
The Weekender

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BBC Radio 2 listeners were left in tears after Chris Evans announced his “incredible” mother has died.

Listeners rallied round to offer support after Minnie died, aged 92, on Thursday morning, minutes before the breakfast show went live.

Evans was forced to pull out and hand the reins over to sports news presenter Vassos Alexander who read out a statement from Evans in which he described his mother as an “incredible woman” who “needed to be at peace”.

Fans of the show praised Evans for the “lovely tribute” as they paid their respects on Twitter.

One tweeted: “Just heard on the Chris Evans Breakfast show that his Mum passed away. I know what it’s like to lose your Mum. God bless Chris.”

Another wrote: “Sorry for your loss @achrisevans - I lost my dad last year and reading this made me cry and think of dad. best. M.

A third posted: “How sad for #ChrisEvans, but what a lovely tribute he made to his mum. I've never heard anyone make someone's death sound so positive. RIP MRS Evans you sounded like an amazing lady, loved listening to Chris tell stories about you.”

Others praised “hero” Alexander for stepping in at short notice to host the flagship show.

Alexander broke the devastating news around 7am, telling listeners: “Chris isn't here. He has been here. But he had to go just before we went on air. But he's left a note for me to read out on air. This is very difficult because he is one of my best friends."

Devastating news: Chris Evans pictured with his mother Minnie in 2006
Rex

The statement read: “Good morning. The reason I'm not with you today is because just before I came on air my mum passed away and I needed to go straight back home to be with my family. But it's all OK, in fact it's very OK, mum needed to be at peace.

“Moreover she needed to be at peace for some time now and as she has throughout her life in death she has brought us together. She was an incredible woman.”

Evans reassured fans he will return to the show on Friday morning, and joked that his mother would have been “furious” to know she was the reason he stepped down today.

He continued: “Anyone who has ever met her will tell you that an ultimately there was no battle lost only a life won. Every single day. I'll be back tomorrow.

“If mum had the first idea I might not have shown up today because of her she would have been furious. I hope you have a lovely Thursday. See you tomorrow.”

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