Matt LeBlanc has proven himself to be the clear favourite on the newly revamped Top Gear, but he’s admitted there’s only one reason he took the job.
Quite plainly, because he needed it.
Speaking to James Corden on The Late, Late Show, the actor admitted that his comedy series Episodes was coming to an end and he needed a job, so he said: “Okay, why not?”
Hey, at least he’s honest.
He also revealed that he believes American drivers are better than the British:
Matt had previously been on the show in 2012 when Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, James May (but mostly Clarkson) ran the show, and he became one of the top drivers on their segment ‘Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car’.
And while the new Top Gear has reportedly gotten some pretty terrible ratings, it seems that the show is surviving thanks to LeBlanc:
https://twitter.com/Carabebop/status/743383301726011392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
@Matt_LeBlanc saves topgear
— Jack (@Jackk_Harrison) June 16, 2016
@Matt_LeBlanc can I just say, you are doing an awesome job on new Top Gear. You are carrying it.
— I Am Legend (@414C4558) June 16, 2016
The lesson that I've learnt from the last couple of weeks is that Matt LeBlanc should really be the main host of Top Gear.
— Chloe Adams (@addamschloe) June 7, 2016
There have also been rumours that LeBlanc and Chris Evans don’t actually get along, with many reporting that their relationship broke down after the infamous ‘Cenotaph stunt’ that pissed a lot of people off.
Although it has been accused of having an agenda against the show, The Sun was reportedly told by a source:
Matt was never Chris’s choice – it was a decision forced upon him to attract the U.S. market.
He accepted it and was desperate to strike up a bond when they were filming, but the spark just wasn’t there.
Since the Cenotaph, their relationship’s deteriorated. Chris thinks Matt severely damaged the brand. Behind the scenes it’s very frosty between them.
If it’s true, hiring LeBlanc was the best decision Evans never wanted to make. He carries the show – even if he just took the job because there was nothing else available.
