Chris Evans leads emotional tributes at Sir Terry Wogan memorial: 'He is the best, and he will always be the best'

Wogan died in January after a "short but brave battle" with cancer
Emma Powell27 September 2016
The Weekender

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Chris Evans described Sir Terry Wogan as "the best" as he paid an emotional tribute to the late star at a memorial service on Tuesday morning.

The service – which featured archive footage of Wogan – was broadcast live on BBC Radio 2 on the 50th anniversary of his first BBC radio broadcast.

Speaking at the event at Westminster Abbey, Evans said: "Terry Wogan wasn't the best. He is the best and he will always be the best."

The former Top Gear presenter told how Wogan invited him for lunch when he landed the job hosting the Radio 1 breakfast show and said Wogan "looked at me as if I'd lost my mind" when he asked if he ever prepared for his show.

Evans recalled: "He looked at me and said 'it's very simple. They either like you or they don't'.

"Of course he was exactly right."

A host of stars descended on Westminster Abbey to remember their fellow friend and colleague, including Joanna Lumley, Fearne Cotton and Tess Daly.

Actress Lumley and DJ Ken Bruce read poems while Peter Gabriel performed That'll Do and Katie Melua sang her hit, The Closest Thing to Crazy.

Wogan’s children Alan, Mark and Katherine also read prayers and the director general of the BBC, Sir Tony Hall, read an address.

Terry Wogan memorial

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Eammon Holmes, Ruth Langsford and Gloria Hunniford were also in attendance and remembered Wogan ahead of the service.

Holmes said the tribute wad a “mixture of sadness and smiles” while Hunniford praised Wogan’s ‘uniqueness’ and said she was glad fans have been given the opportunity to say goodbye.

Speaking on This Morning she said: “He was unique. There will never be another radio broadcaster like him, there might be other television broadcasters just as good, but what I loved about him was, he was mischievous but very intellectual… but liked to pretend he was the buffoon!”

Holmes added: “When he and I would talk, it was always about the news and I was honoured that every morning he would watch Sky News after he retired, he was a real news junkie and loved what was going on… he was a very smart man, very well connected.”

Other attendees included Sara Cox, Michael Ball, Rory Bremner, Claudia Winkleman, Jesse Wood, Alesha Dixon, Vanessa Feltz.

Wogan died in January after a "short but brave" battle with cancer.

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