London - Friends of Chris Evans scotched claims that the star is having a breakdown after he was spotted swigging from a brandy bottle at 4pm.
The former Top Gear host, 50, was seen drinking from a bottle of Remy Martin VSOP cognac on the side of the M4 after he and a friend had relieved themselves.
An onlooker told The Sun: “They didn’t seem bothered that everyone driving past could see them. The motorway was pretty busy with loads of cars going past.
“Then he got out a bottle of booze and was necking it back.”
Also read: Oh no! Niceness on Top Gear
Evans’s behaviour prompted fears he is spiralling out of control following his exit from the BBC1 show on July 4 amid bullying claims and poor reviews. On the same day police said he would be questioned over a historical sexual abuse allegation.
Chris Evans spotted 'swigging brandy and urinating in bushes' https://t.co/qZMpY0ip9k via @MailOnline
— Fail Gear (@Failgear) July 23, 2016
He was seen two days before the cognac incident reading the Pressure Principle – a book about handling stress.
But friends leapt to the Radio 2 DJ’s defence on Sunday. A source told the Sunday People: “Chris realised straight after he got out of the car he’d made a silly mistake and he’s apologised. But this is not Chris having some sort of breakdown.
“He does drink but he has not got a drink problem?...? He’s just come back from a family holiday in Portugal and is happier and more at ease than he’s been in months. He’s finally put behind him the ridiculous pressure heaped on his shoulders by critics of the show. He was just letting his hair down.”
In a statement issued on Friday, Evans said his bladder had been “unable to take the strain” after a drive to Berkshire from London had taken twice as long as expected on Thursday, adding: “I apologise if I caused any offence.”
Police are investigating claims that in the 1990s Evans flashed a colleague most days for two years, grabbed her breasts and bullied her after she rejected him. Evans denied the claims, describing them as a “witch hunt”.
Daily Mail