It sounds like things could be going from bad to worse for the new Top Gear as tensions reportedly run high between Chris Evans and Matt LeBlanc.
The BBC reboot has been plagued by disappointing reviews, plummeting ratings and rumours of discontent and it now sounds like things aren’t going well behind the scenes, reports The Mirror.
According to reports, LeBlanc and Evans have clashed, with the former Friends actor allegedly threatening to quit completely if Evans isn’t sacked.
A source reportedly told The Sun:
The team does not gel at all, and the atmosphere between the presenters is decidedly frosty. It’s very much a picture of him – Chris – and them
Matt has already indicated that he won’t continue on any further series if Chris remains a part of it. And he is far from the only one who isn’t happy.
LeBlanc is believed to have signed up for two more series already and while a spokeswoman told the paper: “Nothing has been discussed or decided,” a rep has since told Mirror Online: “It is not correct.”
Top Gear has declined to comment on the claims, and Chris Evans’ camp is yet to respond to requests for comment.
Amid disappointing feedback, the BBC’s acting controller of entertainment commissioning, Alan Tyler, has insisted they are pleased with the show’s performance, saying it’s tough to be up against Euro 2016.
He said:
We are four episodes into the new Top Gear era with its new presenting line up, and remain really pleased with the way the series is performing.
Being up against a major sporting event is always tough and that is partly why the series is performing so brilliantly on catch up and iPlayer.
We’ll see how well it does when The Grand Tour starts…
