Chris Evans parted company with Virgin in June 2001

The former DJ and radio host called Virgin Radio finance director Andrew Mollett to the witness box as his hearing for unfair dismissal continued at London's High Court.

Mr Evans is suing Scottish Media Group (SMG), which owns the station, for withholding �8.6m worth of share options after it sacked him for failing to turn up for his show.

SMG's lawyer, Geoffrey Vos QC, asked Mr Mollett about the station's plans to replace Mr Evans.

Mr Vos had said that John Pearson, the chief executive of Virgin Radio, had been looking for a new host for Evans' slot in 2001 as the presenter was nearing the end of his contract.

Mr Mollett told the court: "The show was so bad the management had to do something about it."

He said that Mr Pearson was looking for a replacement and that he had had to work quickly because the show was "not working".

Mr Evans left his show on the station in June 2001 after repeatedly failing to turn up for work.

Chris Evans with wife Billie Piper

On Monday it was claimed the presenter was shopping for antiques and drinking with friends in London pubs when he should have been hosting his show.

But Mr Mollett told the court the station was only looking for a replacement for Evans when his contract ended.

"Mr Pearson was looking for a replacement and had talked openly about removing Chris," he said.

"The reality is that the decision was taken to find a way of removing him from the breakfast show long before anyone had alleged that Chris had acted in such a manner as to justify his dismissal."

Another witness, the station's former head of communications Charlotte Blenkinsop, had said Mr Pearson was angry at Evans and was attempting to get authority from SMG to end his contract prematurely.

She said she fell out with Mr Pearson when he tried to force her to sign a statement saying Mr Evans would not help to publicise the station.

"I explained to John that my view was that Chris was the biggest publicist that we had, and I was simply not prepared to write what he wanted me to. It was not true."

The hearing continues.