BBC Radio 2 Presenter Chris Evans New Presenter Of Top Gear
It’s official: BBC Radio 2 presenter Chris Evans will now be the new presenter of “Top Gear,” an appointment supported by Clarkson, Hammond and May.
Evans explained how he came into the new role during the June 17, 2015 edition of his morning show, Top Gear magazine reports, which began with a phone call last Wednesday from BBC Entertainment chief Mark Linsey.
During the phone call, Evans learned Richard Hammond and James May would not be returning to the show after all following the dismissal of Jeremy Clarkson, and was asked if he would take up where they and former producer Andy Wilman left off. He had previously stayed out of what he called “a chess game” involving all three of his friends, preferring to let the matter resolve itself.
Once the situation changed, Evans deliberated with “TFI Friday” sidekick Will MacDonald his wife Natasha for a day on the proposal, deciding to accept the role after taking into account his long career in radio and television.
Prior to the announcement, Evans contacted his friends. May said he would “talk about things” with him over the next few days, Clarkson gave him his best wishes — and a piece of advice Evans couldn’t say on the air — and Hammond texted Evans was “designed and built” to host “Top Gear.”
As for who will join Evans when production begins in the next few weeks, he says one of his co-presenters would “definitely, 100 percent” be female, The Telegraph notes. His contract is for three years, and will pay £3 million ($4.7 million USD).
[Photo credit: Paul Williams/ Flickr/ CC BY-ND 2.0]
Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.
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Can't stand Chris Evans. Top Gear is Top Gear because of the trio. It won't be Top Gear.
While I agree that the production value was part of Top Gear's success, it was mainly the the three presenters. Just look at Top Gear America. Same production values, but nigh unwatchable due to the presenters...
Does anyone remember "The Car Show", I considered it our best domestic effort. Adam Carola, and the Shrek looking dude from Drive web casts,cant remember his name, much better than US Top Gear.
This all has me very curious as to when Clarkson was initially approached by Netflix. The conspiracy theorist in me wonders whether this hasn't all been Kabuki theater to get Clarkson out from under his old BBC contract.