Chris Evans: "It's only money"

Broadcaster Chris Evans has been ordered to pay �1m towards Virgin Radio's legal costs over his failed multi-million damages claim against the station.

Mr Justice Lightman also ordered an inquiry over the damages sustained by Virgin Radio because of the former DJ's breaches of his contract while he was presenting the station's breakfast show.

On 26 June the High Court judge ruled that Evans, 37, had not been unfairly dismissed and was not entitled to �8.6m share options.

The court case was estimated to have cost about �4m in total.

The judge also allowed Scottish Media Group (SMG) to pursue a counter claim against Evans.

He agreed with SMG's assertion that Evans had brought about his own downfall by his heavy drinking and by missing a series of broadcasts before being sacked on 28 June, 2001.

SMG, which bought Virgin Radio from Evans in a deal which brought him �70m, made a counter claim of more than �20m damages against the former breakfast show presenter.

On Sunday, Evans shrugged off losing his damages claim, telling a Sunday newspaper he could "afford the loss".

The former DJ and television presenter told the News Of The World on Sunday: "It's only money. I still have it in the bank."