The new series is only two episodes old, but Top Gear fans are already calling for a coup.
Much has been made of the plummeting ratings of the post-Jeremy Clarkson era spearheaded by Chris Evans.
While the headline figures of a drop from 4.3m to 2.8 for the flagship BBC motoring show were plastered all over the papers, Evans came out swinging telling the world that all was really well.
The way Top Gear is being viewed is repositioning the way television is consumed. Last week 9 millions viewers. This week we shall see.
— Chris Evans (@achrisevans) June 6, 2016
Overnight television viewing figures for Top Gear have never been less relevant. Obviously some newspapers prefer to live in the past.
— Chris Evans (@achrisevans) June 6, 2016
But this mattered not to Top Gear fans who had already made up their mind that what was needed was a change of face in the hot seat. Fresh blood. Someone who was not Evans. Anyone!
It just so happened that in the second episode, Jenson Button caught the eye of viewers.
The 36-year-old racing driver was a guest on the show, brought in to test drive the McLaren 675 LT and viewers lapped it up.
It wasn’t long before they had decided he should be the new, new face of Top Gear in favour of the ‘shouty’ radio producer.
Please replace @achrisevans with @JensonButton on @BBC_TopGear him and @Matt_LeBlanc would be epic #TopGear
— LittlePolkaDot (@littlepolka_dot) June 6, 2016
https://twitter.com/1ZERO13/status/739685892718219264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
I'm totally in favour of Jenson Button replacing Chris Evans on Top Gear, genuinely likeable guy and phenomenal driver.
— Shea Branquinho¹²⁷ 🇵🇹 (@shearknado) June 6, 2016
Forget this shout clown and hire @JensonButton for the #BBC #TopGear ! He has everything that is missing from this show
What a #legend #JB22— Utkarsh Mishra (@UtkarshBhp) June 6, 2016
I know its virtually impossible as he is still in F1, but I'm with everyone else when they say Jenson Button would be a great Top Gear host.
— SlapDash (@SlapDaash) June 6, 2016
Can we replace Chris Evans with Jenson Button? Top Gear would be infinitely improved then
— Venvierra GothZILLA (@Venvierra) June 5, 2016
https://twitter.com/benbromley44/status/739563212698439682?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
https://twitter.com/moosamatt/status/739567104446337024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Episode 2 of the new Top Gear also featured actor Damian Lewis, singer Sharleen Spiteri, folk musician Seasick Steve and British rapper Tinie Tempah.
Viewers were charmed by the on-screen chemistry between the British rapper and Matt LeBlanc with their off-road race to Africa’s highest pub.
.@TinieTempah takes over the wheel and the radio.🎵
Roadtrip! 🚗 #TopGear pic.twitter.com/OlWdsmjW2O
— BBC Two (@BBCTwo) June 5, 2016
You can guess what happened next…
https://twitter.com/Alright_Blondie/status/739561322434703364
Tinie was up for it anyway…
Lol you guys are funny. I'd love to be one of the hosts on @BBC_TopGear I'm ready whenever they want me 😅 #TOPGEAR
— Tinie (@tinie) June 5, 2016
