Evans attended the Italia Conti Academy and later won a John Gielgud Scholarship to study at the Central School of Speech and Drama.

[9] His first significant television role was in the sitcom Doctor in the House (1969–1970), based on Richard Gordon's novels, which had already been turned into a feature film series.

Evans enjoyed working with his fellow actors George Layton, Geoffrey Davies, Robin Nedwell and Richard O'Sullivan, and he later described these as the best years of his life.

[11] In 1971, Evans played the character of Eli Frome in Pete Walker's low-budget thriller Die Screaming, Marianne, alongside Susan George.

[13] Unlike in Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush, in which the viewer partakes in Jamie's thoughts, Evans's character breaks the fourth wall throughout the film.

[15] This led to what became his best-known comedy role, as Jeremy Brown in the ITV sitcom Mind Your Language (1977–1979, 1986),[1] which was a humorous look at an evening class tutor teaching English to foreign students.

[10] In 1982–1983, Evans played Dick Emery's trusted assistant Robin Bright in the comedy thriller series Legacy of Murder.

[20] In February 1997, police discovered Evans's body in his living room after going to the house to tell him that they had recovered his stolen car, which had been reported missing the day before.

[22] A blue plaque commemorating Evans, erected by The Heritage Foundation, is situated at 8 Buckland Crescent in Belsize Park, north west London.

[25] A memorial charity lunch in aid of Barnardo's was held in honour of Evans and Mind Your Language writer Vince Powell at the Marriott Hotel near Marble Arch in central London.