Evans says LeBlanc can drive Top Gear forward

Matt LeBlanc is the 'captain' that Top Gear needs going forward, Chris Evans has insisted as he admitted his tenure at the wheel 'was not meant to be'.
Matt Le Blanc, Chris Evans and The Stig are part of the Top Gear teamMatt Le Blanc, Chris Evans and The Stig are part of the Top Gear team
Matt Le Blanc, Chris Evans and The Stig are part of the Top Gear team

Evans described working on Top Gear as an “honour, privilege and a pleasure” and he had tried his best, but said his stint in the driving seat was “not meant to be”.

It comes after weeks of reports that the pair’s relationship had broken down amid flagging audience numbers and unfavourable reviews for the flagship BBC Two programme.

Evans said LeBlanc was a “total mensch”.

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“For me, he is the man. He is the captain Top Gear truly needs going forward, the perfect torso for the rest of TG’s limbs. Not only does he eat, sleep, breathe and dream engines, propshafts and trail-braking, but the overwhelming quality that struck me about him is that he’s just such a pro.

“The whole time I worked with him, he never once looked at the clock, was never late on set, knew his lines inside out and back to front and, most importantly on such an intense production, he always had time for everyone, especially the crew.

“The simple truth is he and 
Top Gear were made for each other.”

Evans said working on the programme for a year had been a “dream” and “the Top Gear ship has been steadily refloated” following the departure of Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond.

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The BBC said it has no plans to replace Evans when Top Gear returns for a 24th season.

However, attention now turns to Jeremy Clarkson, richard Hammond and James May, whose new venture with Amazon, The Grand Tour, is expected to be released in the Autumn.