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 team‘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.

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Host Chris Evans has already given his thoughts about the viewing numbers on Twitter, writing: "The way Top Gear is being viewed is repositioning the way television is consumed. Last week 9 millions viewers. This week we shall see.”

But whatever the final viewing numbers, it seems fans of the show are yet to warm to Evans as host. On social media, some even called for Evans to be replaced, with many suggesting that F1 driver Jenson Button, who appeared this week as a guest, would be a better fit.

'Jenson Button should retire at the end of 2016 and present Top Gear. He's got that dry wit that Le Blanc has and Evans painfully hasn’t,' tweeted one viewer. Another added: 'Chris Evans and Jenson great banter get Jenson on next series as a presenter #Topgear.’

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Button appeared on Sunday night’s episode to test drive a McLaren 675 LT with Evans around the ‘Top Gear’ track. The show also featured Evans and LeBlanc, joined by Eddie Jordan, on a trip to South Africa, alongside Tinie Tempah, Sharleen Spiteri from Texas and singer Seasick Steve.