BETA
This is a BETA experience. You may opt-out by clicking here

More From Forbes

Edit Story

Top Gear Signs Matt "Joey" LeBlanc As Its New Presenter

This article is more than 8 years old.

A tweet from the star previously hinted at significant news:

twitter-tweet">

Hey guys, very cool news coming in the next day or so. Stay tuned.

— Matt LeBlanc (@Matt_LeBlanc) February 4, 2016

And shortly after the news was announced LeBlanc tweeted this image:

Which plays on the old joke Clarkson used on the show to end each episode.

READ: Top Gear and Jeremy Clarkson: Here's What I Saw When I Worked On The Show

LeBlanc will join British TV and radio presenter Chris Evans (no, not the one who plays Captain America) on the show. Further rumours suggest that other presenters will be announced shortly, but that we should expect to see more than three. That's an obvious change from the previous format which saw Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond front the show which became a global hit.

Little else is known about the show, although it's likely that many of the elements that made the original a hit will remain. The BBC certainly has the right to keep using a character named The Stig, and to have stars in reasonably-priced cars. But with Evans an executive producer on the show, he can adjust the format as he sees fit.

This isn't the first time LeBlanc has been connected with Top Gear. As well as featuring in the show's Star in a Reasonably Priced Car, he also recently presented a highlights show on BBC America that showcased some of Top Gear's best races. Perhaps that was something of an audition for the star.

LeBlanc, like Evans is something of a Ferrari fan, having owned a spectacular 360 Modena. He can drive too, having posted the number one time on the celeb laps board. LeBlanc drove the incredibly average Kia Cee'd to victory, beating another massive petrolhead Rowan Atkinson to the top spot.

Some rumours have suggested that Top Gear is having some teething trouble as it moves to new presenters. Until now, the only confirmed host was Evans, and he has been shooting reviews for the show since the summer. Some UK publications have suggested that Evans has struggled with the work, but the BBC says he has taken to it brilliantly, and that the show is on track to return some time in May.

LeBlanc already works in the UK on his Showtime/BBC comedy show Episodes, which is shot near London, in spite of being set in LA where his fictional character is the lead in a comedy series penned by British writers.

Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond are presenting a new, as-yet, unnamed motoring show for Amazon this Autumn in a deal with $250m.

Follow me on LinkedIn