Top Gear’s lead presenter Chris Evans has quit after just one season of presenting the revamped motoring show.
Evans announced his move on Twitter this afternoon, saying: “stepping down from Top Gear. Gave it my best shot but sometimes that's not enough".
His departure comes after reports suggested there was mounting tension between him and co-host Matt LeBlanc. The show’s ratings have also dwindled since its first show in post-Clarkson, Hammond and May guise.
Evans concluded in his Tweet: “The team are beyond brilliant, I wish them all the best."
He added in an official statement: “I have never worked with a more committed and driven team than the team I have worked with over the last 12 months. I feel like my standing aside is the single best thing I can now do to help the cause.
New Top Gear, the final verdict
“I remain a huge fan of the show, always have been, always will be. I will continue to focus on my radio show and the allied events that it encompasses.”
Top Gear’s director, Mark Linsey, said: “Chris is stepping down from his duties on Top Gear. He says he gave it his best shot doing everything he could to make the show a success.
“He firmly believes that the right people remain, on both the production team and presenting team to take the show forward and make it the hit we want it to be. The new series has so far notched up more than 30 million views in the UK alone and has already been sold to 130 territories worldwide.”
Top Gear is yet to announce who will replace Evans as lead host. Linsey’s remarks suggest the cast might continue unchanged without Evans, with LeBlanc inheriting the lead role.
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Glad he's going
I actually enjoyed two of this series episodes a lot, 3rd and 4th or 5th episodes from memory. Got rid of some of the scripted clowning and had a good balance between cars and chat. I was bored with the old TG as it was too predictable and full of crap challenges.
In the new version losing Evans will be good, I like Le Blanc when he's test driving, like Harris, but get shot of Jordan and the other dull guy (Rory?). Lose the Stig and put Sabine in to rag some proper cars. Stop the stupid challenges. Cut the star in a car down as its now too long. Put something new in. It's not a bad program now, just needs honing a bit, but each to their own.
I hope they get the reasonably priced car back too
One of the bad bits has gone, so perhaps they'll get rid of the others too.
I'd like to see the Star driving an Allegro or something like that. Something really crap. When they got the Astraa is was already too good. A base model Dacia Sandero would be okay. or they could import something Chinese.
well it sad but I wish him