TV and radio presenter Chris Evans has been confirmed as the new host of Top Gear, and paid tribute to the motoring show’s long-standing presenting team.
Evans, who welcomed former Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson on his one-off TFI Friday show, described the team of Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May as “the greatest”.
The BBC have confirmed that Evans has signed a three year deal to front the programme’s new presenting team, though a start date has not been made public.
Top Gear will be given a special final airing with its outgoing presenters, featuring previously unseen footage.
First tweet as new Top Gear host. I would like to say Jeremy, Richard & James are the greatest. And NO I'm not leaving the R2 Breakfast Show
— Chris Evans (@achrisevans) June 16, 2015
“I promise I will do everything I possibly can to respect what has gone on before and take the show forward,” Evans told TopGear.com, describing the show as his “favourite programme of all time”.
The 49-year-old will stay on as presenter of the Radio 2 Breakfast Show, a position he has held since January 2010, though he is yet to confirm whether his duties as host of The One Show will be affected by the new development.
Evans also admitted that, following its one-off return, a long-term comeback for TFI Friday remained in the hands of broadcaster Channel 4.
