Chris Evans To Front New Top Gear

UK radio host Chris Evans will replace Jeremy Clarkson as the frontman for British motoring show Top Gear, the BBC has confirmed.

The host of radio shows TFI Friday and The Big Breakfast, Evans is also a past celebrity guest on Top Gear, and is well known as a big-spending Ferrari collector.

"I'm thrilled, Top Gear is my favourite programme of all time. Created by a host of brilliant minds who love cars and understand how to make the massively complicated come across as fun, devil-may-care and effortless. When in fact, of course, it's anything but and that's the genius of Top Gear's global success,” Evans said.

"I promise I will do everything I possibly can to respect what has gone on before and take the show forward."

Already a popular bet for the top spot, Evans’ appointment follows speculation that the ‘Beeb’ had been courting supermodel and noted motoring enthusiast Jodie Kidd.

Kidd may still be in the running for a spot, however, with replacements for Richard ‘Hamster’ Hammond and James ‘Captain Slow’ May yet to be confirmed.

Kidd was first reported as a candidate for the job in May, and it is believed that actor Philip Glenister and motorcycle racer Guy Martin are also on the network’s radar as potential co-hosts.

Whoever joins Evans when Top Gear returns in 2016, the show’s producers and presenters will have their work cut out for them.

After all, Clarkson & Co may have left the BBC, but it’s no secret that plans are afoot for the trio to host a new motoring show on internet upstart Netflix.

As an advertising-free network, Netflix would be a perfect destination for the loudmouthed Clarkson, where he’ll safely avoid any repercussions for lambasting the products of a potential commercial partner.

With Top Gear finding a solid new host and the old crew on the way back to our screens, it’s a good time to be a couch-ridden revhead.

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