9:07am Thursday 9th September 2010
By Mike Laycock
GOOD Evans, look who’s coming to Bishopthorpe Palace.
Chris Evans, once the “bad boy” of radio and TV, is set to turn up for dinner with the Archbishop of York, and then go on to present his ratings-winning Radio 2 breakfast show from the palace at Bishopthorpe, near York.
The broadcast was arranged during a chat between Chris and Dr John Sentamu, when the Archbishop appeared on the BBC show yesterday to speak on its Pause For Thought slot.
The presenter asked how packed Dr Sentamu’s schedule was, and the Archbishop replied: “My schedule? It’s busy as ever. The only trouble I’ve got is one gentleman who was invited has never turned up to dinner. Do you know who he is?”
Chris admitted it was him, and on being invited again, said: “I can’t wait.” Dr Sentamu told him he could cook for him, at which point Chris asked: “Why don’t we do the show live from your place one morning?”
“There’s no reason why you can’t,” said the Archbishop, waving away concerns that it would fit in his diary. “We’ll do it. Why not? Yes, it’s a deal.” The broadcast was pencilled in for the beginning of Advent.
A spokesman for the Archbishop said later that the broadcast was fine from the palace’s point of view, and might take place on Monday, November 29.
He said staff were in contact with the BBC to check the date was feasible from its perspective.
The palace will not be the first unusual venue for Evans’ show. He presented it from a Cornish clifftop field last month after taking his team down to Talland Bay, near Looe. On that occasion, TV personalities Richard and Judy were guests of honour and Scouting For Girls played some of their hits.
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