Friends star Matt LeBlanc has signed a two-year deal with BBC to continue his role as host of Top Gear.
Joining LeBlanc will be Rory Reid and Chris Harris with The Stig, Eddie Jordan, and Sabine Schmitz making regular appearances, according to BBC.
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“I am thrilled Matt LeBlanc is returning to Top Gear. He’s a huge talent whose love of cars is infectious,” Patrick Holland, BBC Two Editor stated. He continued, “I can’t wait for the series to return to BBC Two next year.”
The director of BBC Studios, Mark Linsey stated: “Matt was hugely popular with Top Gear viewers last series with his humor, warmth and obvious passion for cars and for the show, so I couldn’t be more delighted that he’s agreed to come back and do more for us.”
Matt LeBlanc and Chris Evans were the chief hosts of the most recent series of Top Gear. However, Evans announced in July that he was stepping down from the show. After his departure, Evans stated that he and his co-host proved on the show that they “were made for each other.”
Evans also shot down the reports that there was tension between him and LeBlanc. Many believed that there were was extreme discord between the two hosts, which eventually led to Evans deciding to leave the show. Evans denied this rumor and called LeBlanc “the man” and a “total mensch” after working with him.
On a BBC Radio 2 breakshow show, Evans said that working on Top Gear had been an “honor, privilege, and pleasure,” but that his future with the show “was not meant to be.”
Are you excited to see Matt LeBlanc returning to host Top Gear?
[H/T BBC]
