So far the new Top Gear appears to be a rehash of old stunts with fresh faces, with the new hosts driving around London in three-wheeler Reliant Robins. And now, Evans and Matt LeBlanc started the show; LeBlanc being the first non-British host in the programme’s 39-year history.
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According to ratings by overnight.tv, the 23rd season of the series, which premiered yesterday in the United Kingdom, drew a slightly smaller audience compared to the first episode of the previous season which averaged 4.7 million overnight viewers, points out The Hollywood Reporter.
The show’s peak audience, meanwhile, was recorded with the final episode helmed by former hosts Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May last June, which drew 5.3 million viewers in overnight ratings, and a 5.8 million peak audience.
He went on to say: “Top Gear audience grew throughout the hour”.
They always had big boots to fill, and the relaunched series with Chris Evans and Matt LeBlanc were well and truly up against it on social media, where angry fans were unimpressed by the chemistry between Evans and LeBlanc, which some said was non-existent, as well as Evans’ shouting in an apparent attempt to replicate predecessor Jeremy Clarkson. Les Dawson certainly got there before Chris Evans.
During the first episode, Evans, 50, visited a US Naval Base – better known as the home of Top Gun – where he raced a Dodge Viper ACR against a Corvette Z06.
However, the show did manage to win its 8pm slot with a 23% share, ahead of the Antiques Roadshow on BBC1 and the Soap Awards on ITV, both of which attracted just under 4 million viewers.
The pair were seen racing up to a wet and windy Blackpool in a pair of Robin Reliants, with LeBlanc’s three wheel van emblazoned in America’s Stars and Stripes and Evans’ covered in the Union Flag.
“I’ve never been to New Zealand, or Australia, for that matter, but everyone I’ve talked to from there is so hyped-up about the show that we’ve just got to come and experience that energy”.
He will be joined by renown chef, Gordon Ramsay whose supercar collection sort of reflects his excellent taste in food. “They don’t seem to be having as much fun playing with cars, this new lot”.
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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.
