Chris Evans Leads Tributes To Sir Terry Wogan At Thanksgiving Service | HuffPost

'He wasn’t the best, he is the best, and he will always be the best.'

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Chris Evans led tributes to Sir Terry Wogan on Tuesday (27 September), at a Thanksgiving service held at London’s Westminster Abbey.

The memorial service marked 50 years since the veteran star’s first ever BBC radio broadcast, and Chris - who previously took over Terry’s breakfast show - paid tribute to his colleague and friend.

Chris Evans at Westminster Abbey

WPA Pool via Getty Images

Addressing the attendees, including Fearne Cotton, Claudia Winkleman, Dermot O’Leary and Jimmy Carr, Chris said: “I started listening when I was 17. I know I was 17 because it was in my first car after I passed my test.

“I suppose I should have been listening to Radio 1, but Terry was livelier, quirkier, cheekier, naughtier, he was happier to be there, he was excited to be there…

Katie Melua performed during the service

WPA Pool via Getty Images

“And he was completely uncool, which I thought was really cool.”

After going on to share a personal anecdote about being invited to Terry’s home for dinner, he added: “He wasn’t the best, he is the best, and he will always be the best.”

The entertainment world mourned the loss of one of its greats when Terry died in January, following a short battle with cancer.

Chris and Terry in 2010

Dave Hogan via Getty Images

He was laid to rest with a private funeral, attended by close family and friends.

In the months that followed, a number of tributes were aired, including one during Eurovision, commemorating Terry’s unique and hilarious commentary, which accompanied the BBC’s broadcast of the Song Contest from 1971 to 2008.

See more pictures from the memorial service below...

Sir Terry Wogan Memorial Service

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LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 27: An order of service during a memorial service for the late Sir Terry Wogan at Westminster Abbey on September 27, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Yui Mok - WPA Pool /Getty Images) (credit:WPA Pool via Getty Images)

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LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 27: Peter Gabriel performs during a memorial service for the late Sir Terry Wogan at Westminster Abbey on September 27, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Yui Mok - WPA Pool /Getty Images) (credit:WPA Pool via Getty Images)

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LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 27: Joanna Lumley speaks during a memorial service for the late Sir Terry Wogan at Westminster Abbey on September 27, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Yui Mok - WPA Pool /Getty Images) (credit:WPA Pool via Getty Images)

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LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 27: Ken Bruce performs during a memorial service for the late Sir Terry Wogan at Westminster Abbey on September 27, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Yui Mok - WPA Pool /Getty Images) (credit:WPA Pool via Getty Images)

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LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 27: Joanna Lumley stands with the Very Reverend John Hall, Dean of Westminster, following a memorial service for the late Sir Terry Wogan at Westminster Abbey on September 27, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Yui Mok - WPA Pool /Getty Images) (credit:WPA Pool via Getty Images)

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LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 27: A general view of the memorial service for the late Sir Terry Wogan at Westminster Abbey on September 27, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Yui Mok - WPA Pool /Getty Images) (credit:WPA Pool via Getty Images)

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LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 27: Stevie Spring, Chairman of BBC Children In Need, speaks during a memorial service for the late Sir Terry Wogan at Westminster Abbey on September 27, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Yui Mok - WPA Pool /Getty Images) (credit:WPA Pool via Getty Images)

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LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 27: Helen Joyce Wogan (2nd-R) with her children (L-R) Katherine Wogan, Alan Wogan and Mark Wogan attend a memorial service for the late Sir Terry Wogan at Westminster Abbey on September 27, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images) (credit:Tim P. Whitby via Getty Images)

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LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 27: Alan Yentob and Phillipa Walker depart after attending a memorial service for the late Sir Terry Wogan at Westminster Abbey on September 27, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images) (credit:Tim P. Whitby via Getty Images)

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LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 27: Chris Evans speaks during a memorial service for the late Sir Terry Wogan at Westminster Abbey on September 27, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Yui Mok - WPA Pool /Getty Images) (credit:WPA Pool via Getty Images)

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LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 27: Vanessa Feltz attends a memorial service for the late Sir Terry Wogan at Westminster Abbey on September 27, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images) (credit:Tim P. Whitby via Getty Images)

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LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 27: Rory Bremner departs after attending a memorial service for the late Sir Terry Wogan at Westminster Abbey on September 27, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images) (credit:Tim P. Whitby via Getty Images)

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LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 27: Maureen Lipman and Anneka Rice leave a memorial service for the late Sir Terry Wogan at Westminster Abbey on September 27, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Marsland/WireImage) (credit:Mike Marsland via Getty Images)

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LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 27: Heston Blumenthal and Zanna Blumenthal depart after attending a memorial service for the late Sir Terry Wogan at Westminster Abbey on September 27, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images) (credit:Tim P. Whitby via Getty Images)

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LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 27: Jo Whiley attends a memorial service for the late Sir Terry Wogan at Westminster Abbey on September 27, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Marsland/WireImage) (credit:Mike Marsland via Getty Images)

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LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 27: Sara Cox attends a memorial service for the late Sir Terry Wogan at Westminster Abbey on September 27, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Marsland/WireImage) (credit:Mike Marsland via Getty Images)

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LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 27: Helen Joyce Wogan with her son Mark attend a memorial service for the late Sir Terry Wogan at Westminster Abbey on September 27, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Marsland/WireImage) (credit:Mike Marsland via Getty Images)

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LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 27: Gloria Hunniford attends a memorial service for the late Sir Terry Wogan at Westminster Abbey on September 27, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images) (credit:Tim P. Whitby via Getty Images)

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LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 27: Gaby Roslin and guest attend a memorial service for the late Sir Terry Wogan at Westminster Abbey on September 27, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images) (credit:Tim P. Whitby via Getty Images)

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LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 27: Barry Cryer attends a memorial service for the late Sir Terry Wogan at Westminster Abbey on September 27, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images) (credit:Tim P. Whitby via Getty Images)

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