Matt Le Blanc Page 3

Although there were widespread reports of discontent between them during the filming of last year’s ‘Top Gear’ series, new sole host Matt LeBlanc has insisted that he had nothing to do with his former colleague Chris Evans getting the sack – instead only finding out when he read it in the papers.

Evans dramatically stepped down as ‘Top Gear’s co-host in July last year amid slipping viewing figures and rumours of behind-the-scenes disagreements with LeBlanc, despite having initially penned a three-year deal.

Matt LeBlanc and Chris Evans in February 2016

Continue reading: Matt LeBlanc Says He Found Out About Chris Evans' 'Top Gear' Departure From The Papers

It’s safe to say that the first press shots and trailer for the upcoming new series of ‘Top Gear’, the first to be helmed by Matt LeBlanc without Chris Evans, have met with a divisive reception.

The BBC Two show released an image of LeBlanc with the programme’s new co-hosts, Rory Reid and Chris Harris, on Tuesday (February 14th) ahead of the return of ‘Top Gear’ in early March. In the background, The Stig can be seen, with helicopters and rockets overhead.

Continue reading: New 'Top Gear' Trailer Divides Fans

Matt LeBlanc has signed a new two-series deal to present ‘Top Gear’, following the departure of co-host Chris Evans. LeBlanc was warmly received by viewers when he debuted earlier this year and BBC bosses are said to have been keen to keep him after the recent ‘Great British Bake Off’ debacle.

Matt LeBlanc will be retuning as the host of 'Top Gear'

News of LeBlanc’s new deal was confirmed by BBC editor Patrick Holland, who said: "I am thrilled that Matt LeBlanc is returning to Top Gear. He's a huge talent whose love of cars is infectious. I can't wait for the series to return to BBC Two next year."

Continue reading: Matt LeBlanc Signs Two Series Deal With BBC To Host 'Top Gear'

TV presenter James Martin has fuelled rumours that he could be the new host of ‘Top Gear’ following the departure of Chris Evans. Speaking to The Sun, Martin didn't deny he was in the running for the job and even admitted he’s aware that he is now one of the bookies' favourites to replace Evans.

Could James Martin be your new ‘Top Gear’ host?

“Apparently I’m the bookies’ favourite,” he told the newspaper. “I walked past a bookies in Leeds and saw my name on there, and I thought: ‘What the hell’s going on there?’ I was top of the list. But the phone hasn’t rung yet.”

Continue reading: James Martin Fuels Rumours He Could Be Set To Join 'Top Gear'

‘Top Gear’ and ‘Extra Gear’ presenter Rory Reid has said he was surprised at the level of hostility directed towards the show when Chris Evans took over as host. The presenter likened joining the show to being ‘parachuted into a war’, but said overall it was intense but rewarding experience.

Rory Reid was part of ‘Top Gear’s’ revamped line-up.

“It’s been a very intense experience – intense is probably the best word. Way more involved than I ever thought any show could be. The level of scrutiny that the show is under has just been absolutely immense,” he told Redbull.com.

Continue reading: Rory Reid: Joining 'Top Gear' Was Like "Being Parachuted Into A War"

Chris Evans dedicated his BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show on Tuesday morning (July 5) to his former ‘Top Gear’ colleagues, telling them to ‘move on’ without him. Evans stepped down as host yesterday after just one series, which was plagued by bad reviews and low ratings.

Chris Evans has told his ‘Top Gear’ colleagues to ‘move on’.

Evans told listeners: "Today's show is dedicated to all the 'Top Gear' gang. And today's show is entitled Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On.” The presenter then went on to look at the day’s newspaper front pages, many of which featured his resignation.

Continue reading: Chris Evans Dedicates Radio Show To Former 'Top Gear' Colleagues

On Sunday night (July 3) the ‘revamped’ new series of ‘Top Gear’ came to an end, giving the troubled BBC show its lowest viewing figures yet. The series has come under fire from viewers since it’s debut back in May, with host Chris Evans coming under particular criticism.

‘Top Gear’s’ ratings continue to fall for the final episode.

The Mirror reports that the show pulled in an audience of just 1.9 million on Sunday, as it went head-to-head with the Euro 2016 quarter final match between France and Iceland. Once again fans on Twitter were quick to criticise host Chris Evans, for his ‘shouty’ presenting style.

Continue reading: 'Top Gear' Series Ends With A New Ratings Low For Chris Evans And Team

‘Top Gear’ presenter Matt LeBlanc is reportedly ready to leave the show if co-host Chris Evans stays on. LeBlanc is thought to have already signed on for two more series of the BBC motoring show, but now bosses are left having to decide between the two presenters.

Matt LeBlanc is reportedly done with ‘Top Gear’ if Chris Evans stays on.

A show source told The Sun: “The big question now is who goes and who stays. The team does not gel at all, and the atmosphere between the presenters is decidedly frosty. It’s very much a picture of him – Chris – and them.”

Continue reading: Matt LeBlanc "Will Leave Top Gear" If Chris Evans Stays

The new series of ‘Top Gear’ has seen its ratings fall even further, to its lowest Sunday night audience in over a decade. The drop comes as fans seem to be warming more to the show, with one joke from Matt LeBlanc on Sunday receiving particular praise.

‘Top Gear’s’ ratings have fallen further.

According to overnight viewing figures from broadcast media ratings specialists, Overnights TV, last night’s show averaged just 2.3 million viewers. That meant the show had just 10.4 per cent of the Sunday night audience share.

Continue reading: 'Top Gear' Ratings Fall Further Despite Matt LeBlanc's Brexit Joke

While the newly re-launched ‘Top Gear’ might not be setting the world alight, the show’s co-presenter Matt LeBlanc has, for many, emerged as the main star. However, the American favourite has revealed that he took the job for only one reason – he needed it.

Speaking to chat show host James Corden on ‘The Late, Late Show’ on Wednesday evening (June 15th), LeBlanc admitted that he was in need of a job when he was offered it late last year.

Matt LeBlanc filming 'Top Gear' in London in February 2016

Continue reading: Matt LeBlanc Reveals The Real Reason He Took 'Top Gear' Job

Top Gear’s return was highly anticipated with new presenting stars Chris Evans and Matt LeBlanc after the blaze of confusion which its old presenting trio left the programme before the end of the last series. However, the absence of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May has proved too much for some viewers and, despite each episode being reviewed more highly than the last, audience figures continue to drop.

Chris Evans' Top Gear presenting style has been criticised 

It has now been revealed that Radio 2 breakfast show host Evans will take a less prominent role after Rory Reid and Chris Harris - presenters of online spin-off show, Extra Gear - featured in the main show for the first time and received positive reviews.

Continue reading: Chris Evans Will Feature Less Prominently As Top Gear Tries To Revive Its Viewership

Viewing figures for the new series of ‘Top Gear’ dropped to a new low for Sunday night’s episode (June 12), pulling in the lowest figures for the show in more than a decade. Overnight ratings show ‘Top Gear’ drew 2.4million viewers, down from last week's 2.8 million and dramatically lower than the 4.3million who tuned in for its debut episode.

‘Top Gear's’ viewing figures have fallen again.

However the number of viewers watching the show via catch-up services still needs to be taken into account. Viewing figures were mostly likely also affected by the show being up against BBC1’s coverage of Euro 2016 which drew 6.3 million viewers.

Continue reading: 'Top Gear's' Third Episode Praised As Best Yet, But Viewing Figures Still Drop

Ratings for the new series of ‘Top Gear’ have plummeted in just its second week, with audience figures dropping by more than a third. Just 2.8 million tuned into watch last night’s episode, compared with last week’s 4.4 million viewers.

‘Top Gear's’ audience fell by over a third in it’s second week.

The audience did grow throughout the episode, eventually peaking at 3.3 million, but it was beaten in its timeslot by both the 'Antiques Roadshow' and charity football match Soccer Aid, which peaked at 5.8million.

Continue reading: Chris Evans' 'Top Gear' Loses Over A Third Of Its Audience For Second Episode

The BBC has defended the new series of ‘Top Gear’ after it was claimed that ‘canned laughter’ was used to cover ‘long, awkward silences’ from the audience. It comes after The Sun quoted an anonymous audience member, who said they ‘just couldn’t believe’ how much laughter had been edited in to the show.

The BBC has denied canned laughter was used on ‘Top Gear’.

A spokesperson for the show told The Mirror: "There were no awkward silences during filming as reported by The Sun newspaper which clearly has an agenda against the show. It's well known that 'Top Gear' isn't a live programme and that the show is edited after filming, but last week's episode was edited in exactly the same way as previous series.”

Continue reading: BBC Deny Claims Canned Laughter Was Used On New 'Top Gear'

While the new series of ‘Top Gear’ didn't get the ratings head start the BBC wanted on Sunday, co-host Matt LeBlanc seems to have escaped much of the criticism directed towards the show. Now it’s been reported that the BBC are so desperate to keep the US star, they’ve offered him ‘a fortune’ to return for a second series.

‘Top Gear’ bosses are said to be keen to hold on to Matt LeBlanc.

A source told The Sun: “Matt came across really well, he can drive and certainly knows his motors. Matt is crucial to the success going forward. Chris is not known across the world.” On social media many viewers gave Matt the thumbs up for his presenting on Sunday, while the rest of the show didn't fare so well.

Continue reading: Matt LeBlanc Reportedly Offered A Fortune To Sign Up For Second Series Of 'Top Gear'

Chris Evans has defended the revamped ‘Top Gear’ after its debut episode failed to pull in the desired viewing figures on Sunday (May 29th). The show came under criticism from viewers and critics alike after its debut, but Evans has insisted the first episode was a ‘hit’ even if it didn't reach five million viewers like he had hoped.

Chris Evans has defended the revamped ‘Top Gear’.

Taking to Twitter Evans said: ‘The new Top Gear is a hit. OFFICIALLY. 23 % audience share. 12% MORE than the opening episode of the last series. These are the FACTS. Top Gear audience grew throughout the hour. FACT. Won its slot. FACT. Still number one on i Player. FACT. These are THE FACTS folks.’

Continue reading: Chris Evans Defends 'Top Gear' After Debut Episode Pulls In Under 5 Million Viewers

If fans of ‘Top Gear’ were expecting to see a whole string of new celebrity guests when the revamped series premieres on Sunday, they may be left disappointed. According to The Sun, the show has failed to attract the A-list names they wanted and they're now being forced to use celebs who have already appeared on the show.

Damian Lewis is taking another lap on ‘Top Gear’.

The newspaper reports that ‘Homeland’ star Damian Lewis and blues musician Seasick Steve filmed their guest slots at the warehouse studio in Surrey yesterday. But both have already appeared on the show in 2013 and 2010, respectively.

Continue reading: Top Gear 'Struggling To Find New Guests', As They Bring Back Familiar Faces

The revamped series of ‘Top Gear’ returns to BBC Two this Sunday (May 29th) with a brand new team fronted by Chris Evans and ‘Friends’ star Matt LeBlanc. But the show has been plagued by problems over the past few months, with a controversial stunt and reports of the two presenters fighting behind the scenes.

Matt LeBlanc says he’s not feud with Chris Evans.

Speaking to Radio Times, LeBlanc rubbished reports of a rift with his co-host, calling the rumours ‘a big load of bullshit’. “All this stuff that Chris and I are at war with each other is a big load of bullshit,” he said. “We’ve never had a rift.”

Continue reading: Matt LeBlanc Says There's No Feud With 'Top Gear' Co-Host Chris Evans

‘Top Gear’ will be getting its own sister show named ‘Extra Gear’ when it returns to our screens next month, the BBC has announced. The show will be available to watch on online-only channel BBC Three, the moment BBC Two’s ‘Top Gear’ episode has finished.

Rory Reid will host ‘Top Gear’ spin-off ‘Extra Gear’.

The show will be presented by Roy Reid, who earlier this year was unveiled as one of the seven-strong team who will be hosting the new ‘Top Gear.’ "'Extra Gear' is hugely exciting," Reid said of his new role.

Continue reading: 'Top Gear' Gets BBC Three Spin Off Show 'Extra Gear'

Chris Evans’ revamped ‘Top Gear’ has hit another roadblock, after it was revealed the new series will debut head-to-head against ‘Britain’s Got Talent’. The show had been scheduled to debut on May 8th, but was then pushed back to May 22nd, meaning it will clash with the first of ‘Britain’s Got Talent’s’ live semi-finals on ITV.

‘Top Gear’ could suffer from going head-to-head with ‘BGT’.

A source told The Mirror: “The BBC has pulled a sharp handbrake turn. 'Top Gear' is already under intense scrutiny and the last thing they need is to try and launch it against ITV’s most popular show.”

Continue reading: Will 'Top Gear' Be Forced To Change Air Date To Avoid Clash With 'Britain's Got Talent'

New ‘Top Gear’ hosts Chris Evans and Matt LeBlanc are said to be struggling to get along behind the scenes, following last month’s controversial Cenotaph stunt. Evans is said to blame LeBlanc for the stunt, which turned into a PR nightmare for the new series.

Relations are said to be ‘frosty’ between Chris Evans and Matt LeBlanc.

A source told The Sun: “Matt was never Chris’s choice — it was a decision forced upon him to attract the US market. He accepted it and was desperate to strike up a bond when they were filming, but the spark just wasn’t there.

Continue reading: Relations Are 'Frosty' Between 'Top Gear' Hosts Chris Evans And Matt LeBlanc After Cenotaph Stunt

Matt LeBlanc was reportedly left ‘badly shaken’ and needed to take a break from filming, after nearly running over a ‘Top Gear’ cameraman. LeBlanc was behind the wheel of a Porsche, which he had been taking for a test spin during a break in shooting, but did not realise a crew member was lying down filming at ground-level.

Matt LeBlanc was left shaken after a close call during ‘Top Gear’ filming.

A show insider told The Mirror: “In between filming, Matt got into a Porsche they’d been road testing, turned on the ignition and was about to take it for a drive. But he was completely unaware one of the cameramen was lying down alongside it at ground level, filming low shots.”

Continue reading: Matt LeBlanc Was Left 'Badly Shaken' After Nearly Running Over 'Top Gear' Cameraman

Amid controversy and reports of disharmony during filming, the BBC has unveiled the first trailer for the new-look ‘Top Gear’ featuring Chris Evans and Matt LeBlanc.

Featuring fighter jets, dune buggies, supercars and home-made vehicles as well as the iconic, be-helmeted driver known only as ‘The Stig’, the minute-long trailer released on Thursday (March 31st) looks as characteristically chaotic as the show was before.

In the short clip, Evans is seen being driven in an Audi R8 V10 by co-presenter Sabine Schmitz. At one point, the lurches and skids are so much that the new host asks to stop so he can get out and be sick!

Continue reading: BBC Unveils New 'Top Gear' Trailer

‘Top Gear’ were forced to abandon a filming trip to Kazakhstan, which reportedly cost the show £500,000. Presenters Rory Reid, Eddie Jordan and Sabine Schmitz were all on the trip along with 40 crew members when they got help up in Moscow on Saturday and were forced to return home.

'Top Gear' has suffered another setback during filming for the new series.

According to The Sun, the group had intended to catch a connecting flight from the Russian capital but their plane never got off the ground after dispute between Kazakhstan and Russian airliner Aeroflot. The group were then forced to return to the UK, having filmed nothing.

Continue reading: 'Top Gear' Forced To Abandon £500,000 Filming Trip To Kazakhstan

All is not well on the set of the overhaul of ‘Top Gear’, as reports suggest that new host Chris Evans and co-presenter Matt LeBlanc have had a falling out during filming in Italy.

Rumours of a rift on the re-booted BBC motoring show surfaced earlier this month, after Evans apologised on his Radio 2 breakfast show in the wake of producers being branded as “disrespectful” when LeBlanc was allowed to film near the Cenotaph, the war memorial in London.

Chris and Matt are said to have fallen out about that incident, with Evans claiming the American presenter “didn’t take the incident seriously”.

Continue reading: Chris Evans And Matt LeBlanc In Reported 'Rift' On New 'Top Gear' Set

New ‘Top Gear’ presenter Chris Evans has hit out at the show’s former hosts, Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond, labelling them ‘Zippy, Bungle and George’. Evans did not say which of the former hosts was each ‘Rainbow’ character, but it seems the battle lines have been drawn between Evans' 'Top Gear' and the trio's new Amazon show.

Chris Evans and his new 'Top Gear' team.

Writing in his Mail on Sunday column Evans said: “Today I will be mostly on my travels again, this time going to Venice with That Car Show,” (via The Daily Star). "Good title, don’t you think? For a car show.”

Continue reading: Chris Evans Describes Former 'Top Gear' Hosts As Zippy, Bungle And George

‘Top Gear’ is facing more controversy today, over a stunt filmed at the weekend near the Cenotaph in London, which reportedly cost licence fee-payers £100,000. Host Chris Evans apologised for the stunt on his Radio Two breakfast show yesterday morning and now says the controversial footage will not be used.

Chris Evans has labelled the ‘Top Gear’ Cenotaph stunt ‘mortifying’.

Speaking to reporters after his breakfast show, Evans said: “I saw the images this morning for the first time and I felt the same as everybody else.That footage will definitely not go on the air no question about it.”

Continue reading: Chris Evans 'Mortified' By 'Top Gear' Cenotaph Stunt That Cost Licence Fee Payers £100,000

Chris Evans apologised on his BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show this morning, for a controversial ‘Top Gear’ stunt which was filmed near the Cenotaph over the weekend. On Sunday, host Matt LeBlanc was pictured driving near the war memorial in a Ford Mustang, leaving large tyre tracks on the roads surrounding the monument.

Matt LeBlanc filming 'Top Gear' in London.

Evans said he had not been directly involved in the shoot, but had seen the pictures this morning. "It doesn't matter what actually happened, it doesn't matter what the circumstances were that could explain this away,” he told listeners (via The Sun).

Continue reading: Chris Evans Apologises For Controversial 'Top Gear' Cenotaph Stunt

A London couple’s wedding at St Paul’s Cathedral was made extra special on Saturday, when their big day was gatecrashed by 'Friends' star Matt LeBlanc. The actor was filming scenes for the new series of 'Top Gear' with rally driver Ken Block, with the duo touring around the capital in a Ford Mustang.

Matt LeBlanc filming 'Top Gear'.

The pair drove past the famous landmark just as the newlyweds appeared on the steps. Paul Bradbury, who witnessed the scene outside St Paul’s told the BBC: "It was very very loud and entertaining but everyone seemed to enjoy it.”

Continue reading: Matt LeBlanc Gatecrashes London Wedding For New Top Gear