The BBC has attacked the Sun for printing “unfounded nonsense” about Chris Evans’ behaviour at Radio 2 since he took over at Top Gear.
The Sun has published a string of stories about Evans, the most recent of which alleged that he was “out of control” and becoming “more volatile” than predecessor Jeremy Clarkson.
It claimed: “Evans, 50, has upset staff at BBC Radio 2 as he struggles to balance his TV role with his hit breakfast show.
“And the Sun can reveal his radio backroom team are becoming increasingly concerned about his outbursts and diva-style behaviour.”
Radio 2 controller Bob Shennan and BBC Studios director Mark Linsey have taken the unusual step of castigating the tabloid over its coverage of the man in the driving seat of the BBC2 show.
Shennan and Linsey said in a statement: “The assertion that Chris Evans’ behaviour at Radio 2 since beginning work at Top Gear has been in any way below BBC acceptable levels is completely untrue.
“The Sun, for its own reasons, continues on a weekly, sometimes daily basis to publish negative stories about Top Gear and unfounded nonsense about Chris, which is no longer worth any serious consideration or response.”
It went on to praise the presenter of both Top Gear and the Radio 2 breakfast show for his “commitment and professionalism”.
“He remains a team player, a huge asset to the BBC and continues to show outstanding leadership in all he does on radio, television or for Children in Need.”
The statement was shown to the Guardian after it was sent to the Sun but not used in its print edition and only partially used online.
The Sun defended its decision not to publish the full statement and stood by its story, which comes after the paper has written several exclusives on the show including the widely condemned Cenotaph stunt.
A spokesman said: “The Sun stands by its story, which was corroborated by several excellent sources at the BBC. We informed the BBC their statement was too long to be included in the story and they declined to shorten it, although part of it was used in the online article.”
The Sun is not the only paper to have focused on Evans – the Mirror ran a story as far back as 26 March about Evans and his working relationship with co-host Matt LeBlanc.
Such is the stream of negative stories in the News Corp tabloid, however, that the company’s close links with Clarkson, who writes a column for the Sunday Times has already been noted.
As well as the column for Murdoch’s News UK, Clarkson is a friend of UK chief executive Rebekah Brooks.
Clarkson’s new show, with former Top Gear hosts James May and Richard Hammond, is due out later this year on rival Amazon.
