Inside Billie Piper's 'reckless' teenage marriage to Chris Evans - fiery rows and 'uni' style drinking

Billie Piper was still just 17 years old when she locked eyes with future husband Chris Evans, and believes it was love at first sight.

The popstar, who was still dating 5ive boyband member Richie Neville on and off at the time, appeared on Chris' TFI Friday Show in the summer of 2000.

Household name Chris was 17 years her senior, and Billie - having long had a crush on him - initially feared he'd make fun of her. She was instead relieved to find they had a 'natural affinity'.

Their paths crossed again in December of that same year, when Billie joined Chris on his Virgin breakfast show. After joking they should 'get married and sell the photos to Hello', he invited her to his mirror.co.uk/all-about/christmas>Christmas party.

Although she was unable to go, they swapped numbers anyway, and Chris, then 34, asked her out on a date. Thus began a romance that would turn Billie's world upside...

For their first date, the budding couple headed out on a London bar crawl, ending the night at Stringfellow's nightclub.

The very next day, Chris drove to Billie's house in a £100,000 silver Ferarri covered in red roses and asked for her hand in marriage.

In her 2006 autobiography Abridged from Growing Pains, Billie, who hadn't yet got her driving license, recalled: "[Chris said:] 'I know you don't care about any of this and nor do I, but I had to stop you in your tracks. If you don't want it, sell it and give it to charity. I think you're wonderful. Will you marry me?'

"I didn't have a clue what to do. What is the etiquette when presented with a racing car? Get in, I suppose. I did just that. I wanted Chris to see me in it. I wanted to show him that I liked it. And what I really wanted was to kiss him. I beckoned him over and we had a quick peck. I said: 'Thank you'."

After her second date with Chris, Billie ended things for good with Richie, before jetting off with her older lover for a Christmas trip to Madeira.

In May 2001, a mere five months after their first date, Chris and Billie tied the knot in a whirlwind Las Vegas ceremony. Billie, by then 18, wore a sarong and flip-flops, while Chris donned a shirt and sunglasses. They then settled into married life at Chris' home in Surrey.

Although their age-gap relationship sparked controversy at the time, Billie looks back fondly on her marriage with Chris, which she likened to going to university.

Opening up with her former Doctor Who co-star on David Tennant Does A Podcast With..., Billie, now 41, reflected: "I went and got completely hammered for three years with Chris Evans. So much fun - just living very hard. But with a lot of love and a big dose of curiosity and just, yeah - amazing time.

"It's funny because everyone framed that period in my life as these sort of horribly debauched, irresponsible, me falling apart looking like s***, putting on weight.

"That was really important to me, that period of my life. I needed that. Me not looking perfect every day in a tabloid was the best way for me to heal.

"Every time there would be a picture of me looking completely groomed and manicured within an inch of my life, I can tell you I was completely unhappy and starving and dark on the inside. And I haven't brushed my hair since!"

She added: "We really had a really amazing time together. I imagine it's what your uni years feel like - sort of reckless, but you're learning a lot. It was an incredible time and, not to undermine our relationship because we also had a very loving relationship. It wasn't just 'oh, we're going out and getting f*****' - we had a very caring and loving relationship."

It wasn't always plain sailing, however, and the good times eventually came to an end.

The dynamic of the relationship shifted significantly when Billie was cast in the career-changing role of Rose in Dr Who. Billie's star was on the rise and the differences between them became more apparent.

Cracks began to show amid 'screaming rows' over Billie's burgeoning acting career, with the star hurt over her husband's 'lack of support'. The whirlwind marriage came to an end in 2004, but Billie and Chris remain good friends to this day.

Looking back on the demise of their marriage during a 2012 interview with the Radio Times, Chris explained: "Our lives changed.

"She got her career back on track. It was evident we weren't the same people. and although splitting up hurt, it was the best thing we ever did, apart from marrying in the first place. She was too young for me - only 18 when we met - but it was a real adventure."

In 2006, Billie got together with Lewis actor turned right-wing activist Laurence Fox in 2006, tying the knot the following year. The couple went on to welcome two sons, Winston, 12, and Eugene, eight, and called it quits in 2016.

Billie recently split with former Tribes frontman Johnny Lloyd, with whom she shares five-year-old daughter Tallulah. They were together for eight years, and reportedly ended things last year after the 'relationship ran its course'.

A source told The Sun: "It's obviously very sad that the couple have gone their separate ways. But the relationship ran its course and they decided they would be better off apart. Like many couples, lockdown was quite tough for them, so they have had time to really think about what they want their future to look like.

"They will always treasure the time they had together and have many happy memories. Now they are concentrating on co-parenting their daughter and their separate careers."

You can catch Billie Piper on The Jonathan Ross Show at 9:35pm, March 23, on ITV1.

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