British Formula One star Jenson Button is reportedly in talks to co-host the revamped ‘Top Gear’ alongside Chris Evans.
Daily Mail columnist Sebastian Shakespeare claimed in a recent article that Button was in the running for a presenter role on the BBC show.
A source reportedly told him, “An announcement is imminent”.
Both Button’s spokesman and the BBC have refused to comment on the situation, but neither party have outright denied the rumours.
Button, 35, is friendly with Evans and has twice appeared on Top Gear before Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May left the show.
Button is the latest in a line of celebrities to be linked to the new Top Gear. Jodie Kidd, Philip Glenister, Guy Martin and Dermot O’Leary have all previously been tipped to feature in the new line-up.
Radio 2 host Evans recently teased that his co-hosts are “nearly in place”.
Speaking to BBC’s Top Gear magazine, he said:
There’s a lot of talk about talent at the moment. Honestly, it’s not the furthest thing away from my mind, but it is quite distant compared to directors, producers.
Getting a professional racing driver like Button on board for the new project would certainly give the new Top Gear more legitimacy, but whether it encourages disappointed fans of the original show to tune in will remain to be seen.
