Warrington’s favourite son tells Peter Elson about his newly reacquired maturity as he steps into Wogan’s shoes

THE voice sounded like Chris Evans, but was it the real Chris Evans, the Warrington ginger wonder?

The super-successful cheeky chappy DJ of radio and TV fame?

The leader of the party animal pack and infamous mega-benders with regular partners in crème de menthe shandies, Danny Baker and Paul Gascoigne?

The one branded by a High Court judge as being an immature prima-donna? The voice of youth culture, media mould-breaker and scourge of corporate media suits?

Well, yes and no. Like a perfect photo-fit for a tabloid definition of schizophrenia, this Chris Evans brands his recent superlad past with disdain.

It is as if this is a younger wayward brother beyond help, trapped in a lost era.

Now he's poised to step into the grown-up shoes of Wogan, soon to be replacing Sir Terry on Radio 2's flagship breakfast show.

But then the young whippersnapper is now 43 – five years older than when Blessed Tel arrived at Radio 2.

Evans has grown up late, but very suddenly. Aged 43 and married to wife number three, Natasha Shishmanian, he is besotted with being father to their baby, Noah.

He also has a daughter, Jade, now in her early 20s, who lives in his home town of Warrington, with her mother, Alison Ward.

His other wives were broadcaster Carol McGiffin and teenage pop star and actress Billie Piper.

By coincidence (possibly) he has published his autobiography, It's Not What You Think.

The title was a quotation from Michael Grade, about a Virgin Radio contract, which works on other levels of meaning, too.