Chris Evans parted company with Virgin in June 2001

Chief executive John Pearson told London's High Court that Mr Evans had been the star of the station and was treated carefully and paid up to �1m a year.

He added that Mr Evans had a reputation as a talented man who was difficult to handle but that Virgin Radio had been "extremely pleased" when he joined the station from BBC Radio 1 in 1997.

As can be seen from our actions throughout this period, we were doing everything we could to try and resolve the matter and get him to stay John Pearson, Virgin Radio Chief Executive

Mr Pearson was giving evidence as a defence witness for Scottish Media Group (SMG), owner of Virgin Radio, at a hearing for Mr Evans' unfair dismissal claim.

Mr Evans claims SMG withheld share options worth �8.6m after unfairly dismissing him when he did not appear to host the show.

SMG is counterclaiming that Mr Evans breached his contract in a "highly public manner" and is suing for unspecified damages.

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

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 on 21 June and after his agent had said he was ill.

'Little alternative'

Mr Pearson said the breakfast show began to deteriorate from April 2000 with Mr Evans refusing management requests to play records on the daily production schedules.

"In my view, the way in which Chris increasingly behaved was not what I would expect from a presenter of his standing," said Mr Pearson.

"However, he was the top DJ at the station and as we did not want to run the risk of him walking out, we had little alternative but to put up with his behaviour."

Chris Evans with wife Billie Piper

Mr Pearson said that when Mr Evans was confronted about the way he was damaging the station, he said the management allegations were trivial.

"I know that it has been alleged that I wanted to get rid of Chris," said Mr Pearson. "This could not be further from the truth.

"As can be seen from our actions throughout this period, we were doing everything we could to try and resolve the matter and get him to stay."

Earlier on Tuesday, the court heard from Virgin Radio finance director Andrew Mollett, called by Mr Evans' to give evidence.

Mr Mollett said that the presenter's show had become so bad that bosses wanted him to leave the station even before an alleged drinking binge that led to his sacking.

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 had owned Virgin Radio through his Ginger Media Group company, until he sold the outfit to SMG in 2000.