Top Gear at a crossroad as Evans exits

Matt LeBlanc (left) looks set to take over from Chris Evans (R) as the show's lead host. Picture: BBC via Newspress.

Matt LeBlanc (left) looks set to take over from Chris Evans (R) as the show's lead host. Picture: BBC via Newspress.

Published Jul 5, 2016

Share

London - The BBC's Top Gear could have some serious soul searching ahead after its lead presenter quit on Monday just as the latest figures showed that its viewership had plummeted from an average of 6.49 million in the Clarkson era to just 1.9 million for Sunday night's season finale.

Some say Evan's departure is a good thing, especially if there's truth to the rumours that co-host Matt LeBlanc recently threatened to quit if Evans wasn't sacked. LeBlanc was reportedly concerned about Evans' alleged rudeness towards other team members while fans have yet to warm to him, many accusing him of being too “shouty”.

Either way, universal consensus seems to be that the new team clearly lacked the all-important chemistry that their predecessors Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond had and their even-more-important ability to have us all in stitches.

READ: Oh no! Niceness on Top Gear

On the upside, fans seem to have warmed to Le Blanc and he even looks set to become the show's lead host. But will there be any new team members? It doesn't appear so at this stage as BBC sources have told The Telegraph that the broadcaster has “no immediate plans” to replace Evans or to make any changes to the presenting line-up.

Can LeBlanc pull it off with the current team? Only time will tell, but our view is that whichever way the wheel turns, the show needs to make its audience laugh out loud and if it can achieve that without appearing like an obvious imitation of the Clarkson era then all the better.

Some have even suggested that Rowan Atkinson should join the line-up. Sure, he is actually a petrolhead of sorts - having owned a McLaren F1 - and he certainly knows how to be funny (and remarkably intelligent when he's not driving a yellow Mini) but would he fit in there? It's certainly an intriguing prospect, particularly if he's prepared to be the show's 'butt of all jokes', like a James May of sorts with a Mr Bean twist.

Meanwhile Evans has vowed to carry on with life, the 50-year-old Tweeting that he'll be going full steam ahead with his Radio 2 breakfast show, a context in which he is very well liked, as well as Children In Need, 500 Words and “whatever else we can dream up in the future”.

On his reason for leaving Top Gear, Evans on Monday Tweeted: “Gave it my best shot but sometimes that's not enough. The team are beyond brilliant, I wish them all the best.”

We do too. But do you think the Top Gear team (which already includes some compelling gear-heads like Chris Harris and Sabine Schmitz) needs another member? Join the discussion on our Twitter page .

Motoring.co.za

Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Related Topics: