LOSS OF SISTER DRIVING RICKY

COLOURFUL CHARACTER Ricky Evans always lights up Alexandra Palace

- By MIKE WALTERS

'RAPID’ Ricky Evans will declare the Christmas party season open with his singalong antics - but the Alexandra Palace court jester will be hiding crushing sadness behind all the capers.

When Evans takes to the stage in his festive outfit and conducts the fancy dress legions to the strains of his Shakin’ Stevens anthem, he will be the Minister of Fun at sport's biggest knees-up.

However, the ever-popular Kettering joker lost his younger sister Elisha, who died aged just 31 last March.

The world No.40 faces Hong Kong loose cannon Man Lok Leung on Friday night, saying: "My sister would have wanted me to carry on playing the fool, so the show goes on.