It might also surprise some readers that he has agreed to become a host on the show (which returns to BBC America on May 30) at all.
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If you were anywhere near Twitter or Facebook last night, you may be realized that Top Gear was back on the air.
According to the viewing figures the first episode in the new series lost a million viewers, drawing an average of 4.3 million compared to the 5.3 million who watched the final episode with Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May last June.
Indeed, the programme has been at Number One on the Most Popular list of the BBC’s catch-up service since transmission on Sunday, ahead of yesterday’s visit to EastEnders. Chris Evans is a ball to hang out with and you get to travel to far off places.
The show, watched around the world, has British television and radio presenter Chris Evans and former “Friends” star Matt LeBlanc as the new co-hosts, replacing Jeremy Clarkson who was dropped by the BBC previous year after he hit and verbally abused a producer.
Earlier in the week, Evans said he would be “disappointed” with anything fewer than five million viewers for the show’s first episode. “I thought, I really like that show, and I love cars, and it just seemed like a cool, fun thing”. Many critics have slammed the new series for it’s lack of originality and innovation, stating that they stuck rigidly to the tried and tested formula. In comparison, co-host Matt le Blanc fared considerably better and was hailed as the show’s saving grace. And if half the people on Twitter stick to their claims of not watching the show again, BBC’s cash cow might be out to pasture permanently.
“Top Gear audience grew throughout the hour”, he wrote. Having said that, there are some changes that need to be made, but any new show has teething problems, and there is still time to fix those issues.
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Eddie Jordan, Sabine Schmitz, Rory Reid and Chris Harris will also contribute to the show.
