BBC Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans had to leave the studio moments before his show was due to start after hearing that his mother had passed away.
The presenter needed to go home to be with his family after sad news about his 92-year-old mother, Minnie, reached him.
Fans shed tears hearing the sports news reader stand-in for the popular DJ and read out a note he had left in the studio.
My mum – 91 years young – first ever slice of pizza ! She’s broadening her horizons. “It’s time,” she says. pic.twitter.com/dYqIvlBZAp
— Chris Evans (@achrisevans) January 14, 2017
“Chris isn’t here, this is Vassos. Chris has been here in fact but he had to go just before we came on air and he’s left me a little note to read out to you.”
“Bear with me, this is a little bit difficult for me because we are talking about one of my best friends here.”
The touching note read, “Good morning everyone, says Chris. The reason I’m not with you today is just before we came on air my mum passed away and I needed to go straight back home to be with the family.”
“But it’s all OK, in fact it’s very OK. Mum needed to be at peace. Moreover, she deserved to be at peace. We’ve been ready for this for some time now and, as she has throughout her life, in death she has brought us together.”
“She was an incredible woman. Anyone who’s ever met her will tell you that and ultimately there was no battle lost, only a life won. Every single day.”
“I’ll be back tomorrow, says Chris. If mum had the first idea I might not have shown up today because of her, she’d have been furious. I hope you all have a lovely Thursday. See you tomorrow.”
Mr Alexander presented the show until 8.30am and then Ken Bruce took over, beginning his show an hour early.
