It's Official: Chris Evans Has Quit Top Gear
After weeks of poor critical reception from viewers and rumours of co-star Matt LeBlanc threatening to quit, Chris Evans has announced that he is to step down from his role as host of Top Gear. Announcing the news on Twitter, Evans said the he: “Gave it my best shot but sometimes that’s not enough.”
From reaction in mainstream media to our own opinion polls, it’s clear that Evans was the least liked aspect of Top Gear for much of the show’s audience. There had also been numerous newspaper reports of Evans being difficult to work with behind the scenes, claims he branded as “Mad and made up,” just before the series started.
In a statement, BBC Studios Director, BBC Studios 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.”
It’s not clear exactly what will happen next with the show. One option would be for Matt LeBlanc to be the only host, if the BBC choose not to directly replace Evans, which - judging by the wording of the statement from Linsey - might well be the case. Such a move would also free up space for Chris Harris and Rory Reid to appear more frequently, something which Top Gear producers may well be considering, since the pair have been well received by the audience and critics alike.
With Chris Evans at the helm, ratings for the show fell dramatically. After opening with 4.4 million overnight viewers, the show’s audience fell to 2.34 million by the fourth episode. The fifth episode fared better at 2.7 million viewers, but Sunday’s show was the least viewed so far with just 1.9 million tuning in.
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
“If the right people remain…”
The right people were fired or quit the show. Top Gear is dead. The only way to revive it is to….nevermind. Amazon wins.
GOOD NEWS says in James May’s voice
Good News! (It’s NOT the Dacia Sandero.)
YEEEEEEEEEES!!
Yes, he wasn’t ideal for Top Gear and I think it’s right that he’s gone but it’s just the way that he has left that is a bit disappointing.
It’s as if he has been forced out of the job with people constantly throwing abuse towards the guy and a lot of people never really giving him a chance. I didn’t enjoy his presenting but it was not as bad as people have made out.
I just pray to god his replacement doesn’t get treated in such a way, that is if they do replace him after all they still have another 5 presenters left
Mate his presenting style was just painful, not just the shouting and the coaxing the audience into cheering and everyone joining in on shouting out “THE STIG!!!” but when it came to actually reviewing cars he just couldnt describe how the cars handled etc in as fluid a manner as say, harris, reid, le blanc or the old trio.
He simply wasnt right for the show and if it wasnt for the negative responses from viewers he would probably still be on the show in future.
To be fair to him I really hope him success in the future, nobody deserves the abuse he has got these past months. I worry he might go downhill very quickly though.
Best news I’ve heard all day, now no more watching most of Top gear on mute.
I made everyone turn around in the room when I shouted YAAAASSSSS!!! :)
Chris Harris and LeBlanc to helm the next series please! Evans didn’t deserve the bombardment of hate towards him. He’s done a boat load for charity over the years but that still couldn’t save him from being an awkward presenter.
BRB celebrating Chris Evans’ quitting of Top Gear
Well, what would you do if your cast were complaining about the smell and noise he brings with him? He can buy himself some new clothes now with that time.