Evans reveals new Top Gear Friend

Now, Deadline is reporting that Matt LeBlanc will be joining the auto show as a co-host.

Stephen Mangan, LeBlanc’s co-star on Episodes, responded to the news by suggesting he is “The Stig” in the picture released with the BBC’s press release.

Acting BBC controller for entertainment commissioning Alan Tyler said: “Matt is a class act and a brilliant signing for Top Gear”.

Le Blanc is no stranger to the show, having appeared twice during the reign of former host, Jeremy Clarkson.

He joins lead presenter Chris Evans on the revamped show, which is expected to return to TV screens in May, while in India it will be aired soon after that on AXN. In a BBC statement Evans said that “Matt’s a lifelong fellow petrolhead and I’m thrilled he’s joining Top Gear“. LeBlanc scored the gig after impressing the folks at BBC with his unbeaten lap time of 1 minute and 42.1 seconds in a Kia Cee’d for their special segment, Star In A Reasonably Priced Car.

It’s around half of what Chris Evans is believed to be on – with the former getting £3m out of a three year contract with Top Gear.

Clarkson was dropped past year from Top Gear, the high-profile BBC motoring show which has millions of fans worldwide, after hitting producer Oisin Tymon in March.

He joins production immediately and additional Top Gear cast members will be confirmed shortly.

Before its airing, the new show has also seen one of its executive producers, Lisa Clark, leave after just five months of working on the show.

LeBlanc replied to him with a witty challenge.

Either Harris is crashing the Top Gear party, or he’s actually part of the crew.

The bookmakers speculate that a female co-presenter will be announced next and have German professional driver Sabine Schmitz as their 1/3 favourite.