The BBC has revealed Matt LeBlanc will be leaving Top Gear after the next series.
The actor and host of the legendary show was announced as one of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May’s replacements alongside Chris Evans, who stepped down after a matter of months.
The pair were met with hostile reviews both critically and socially.
However LeBlanc received a positive response after going it alone following Evans’ departure, BBC News reports.
BBC Two controller Patrick Holland said:
I want to thank the fabulous Matt LeBlanc for being a brilliant co-host on Top Gear.
Matt has thrown himself into the show with real passion, revealing his extraordinary car knowledge and a willingness to get down and dirty.
He added:
We were always going to be borrowing him from his day job as one of the top comic actors in Hollywood, so I wish him all the very best.
The next series of Top Gear (Matt’s last) promises to be something very special and we have great plans to welcome a new co-host to join the team for 2019 and beyond.
He had first signed a two-year deal to host the show in September 2016.
In March, LeBlanc opened up about the ‘media sh*tstorm’ that came hand-in-hand with taking over the previous three hosts.
He told The Times:
I didn’t realise I’d be stepping into the middle of a media shitstorm. I didn’t know he was leaving. I get along fine with the guy. I read it in the paper. I was just there to deliver some jokes and drive some cars.
I think the second season, after Chris Evans left, it became more of a collaboration. In Chris’ hands he was the guy in charge and when he left it became more of a collaboration.
Opening up about his ‘wilderness’ years, he added:
I was going through a divorce [with Melissa McKnight], I had a new baby, my daughter was diagnosed with some health issues — she’s OK now — and it was a rough time. Work wasn’t a priority. I realised the most important thing in life is your family so I hit the reset button, focused on the things that were really important and got through it.
Chris Evans, on the other hand, did alright for himself after ducking out of the show, earning a reported £10 million. Through the presenting and selling second hand cars, the 51-year-old allegedly made up to £29,000 every day.
In 2010, Evans bought a 1963 Ferrari 250GT for £12 million. He also once confessed to dropping £300k on a McLaren 675 GT.
He has also owned 1953 Bentley, 1964 Aston Martin DB5 Convertible, 1965 Ferrari 500 Superfast, 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB, 1969 Ferrari 365, 1971 Ferrari 365, 1989 Ferrari 328, 2010 Mercedes McLaren SLR, 2014 La Ferrari and a Hesketh 308 Formula One.
It’s uncertain what the future has in the store for the veteran program, nor is it known who might be in the running for LeBlanc’s position. Why don’t we get Donald Trump to do it, because you sorta imagine he would. Then while he’s out of the White House, move all his clothes and possessions back to Trump Tower and convince him he was never president. Too much?
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