'Top Gear' Bosses 'To Bring Chris Evans' Co-Presenters To Forefront' In New Series

The BBC's new Entertainment Controller reportedly has some new ideas for the show.
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‘Top Gear’ is set to undergo a reshuffle when the reboot enters its second series next year, it has been claimed.

According to The Sun, Kate Phillips, the newly-appointed Entertainment Controller at the BBC, wants to bring Chris Evans’ co-presenters more into the spotlight, after his presenting style received a lukewarm reception from viewers.

Instead, more attention will reportedly be paid to his co-host Matt LeBlanc, as well as the other members of the seven-strong presenting team, who haven’t received as much airtime over the current series’ run.

Matt LeBlanc and Chris Evans
Matt LeBlanc and Chris Evans
Beretta/Sims/REX/Shutterstock

HuffPost UK has contacted 'Top Gear' for comment.

The current 'Top Gear' team
The current 'Top Gear' team
BBC

The current series of ‘Top Gear’ has received mostly poor reviews from critics, while ratings have plummeted as the weeks roll on, eventually reaching the lowest for the show in a decade.

There was some light at the end of the tunnel after last week’s instalment, though, with half a million more viewers tuning in for the episode than the previous show.

On Sunday (3 July), the final episode of the current series will air on the BBC, after which The Sun have claimed that “crisis talks” are to take place, to decide what direction the show goes in next.

Don’t miss Sunday’s final instalment, at 8pm on BBC Two.

Tap the image below to launch the slideshow...

25 March 2015
Barcroft Media via Getty Images
The BBC announces Jeremy Clarkson’s contract will not be renewed, following a fracas involving a cold dinner on location, and a punched producer. "A line has been crossed," said the BBC's statement.
24 April 2015
Matt Jelonek via Getty Images
Richard Hammond joins James May in confirming they won't be back either, the team comes as a trio.
16 June 2015
Alex Huckle via Getty Images
The BBC reveals their Radio 2 breakfast show host Chris Evans will be leading the new team.
30 July 2015
Matt Jelonek via Getty Images
AmazonPrime reveals they’ve signed up Clarkson and co for an online motoring show, with a reported £10million/year package, with the series set to debut later in 2016.
28 November 2015
Frederick M. Brown via Getty Images
Chris Evans reveals the show's debut date of 8 May, with an eight-episode series planned.
22 December 2015
Barcroft via Getty Images
‘Top Gear’ producer Lisa Clark departs the team abruptly, saying she is to "pursue other projects", but wishes the team well.
23 December 2015
Hirz via Getty Images
She is swiftly followed out of the door by script editor Tom Ford.
4 February 2016
Neil Mockford/Alex Huckle via Getty Images
Matt LeBlanc is confirmed as a fellow presenter.
11 February 2016
BBC
Rory Reid, Sabine Schmitz, Chris Harris and Eddie Jordan all confirmed to join.
26 February 2016
Neil Mockford/Alex Huckle via Getty Images
The BBC announces a fresh debut date of 22 May, with six episodes scheduled instead of eight.
19 January 2016
UniversalImagesGroup via Getty Images
BBC Two commissioner Kim Shillinglaw, who has been overseeing the relaunch of the show, announces she will be leaving her role. Due to a re-organisation at the BBC, there will be no one to replace her, meaning Chris Evans will report directly to the Controller of Channels, Jane Moore.
10 February 2016
NBC via Getty Images
Matt LeBlanc confirms that he has signed to a US sitcom 'I'm Not Your Friend', leading to concern that he may have stretched himself too thin for 'Top Gear' duties.
13 March 2016
PA
Veterans complain about the ‘Top Gear’ team filming stunts, creating donut turns and speed dust, in London’s Whitehall, with shots including footage of the country’s most revered war memorial, the Cenotaph.
14 March 2016
Neil Mockford/Alex Huckle via Getty Images
Chris Evans makes a public apology for the team’s actions, while adding, “This isn't a shoot I'm particularly involved in." And takes to wearing pyjamas to work.
31 March 2016
BBC
The show releases its first trailer. Many respond that the footage has become too Americanised, and they miss Jeremy.
12 April 2016
BBC
The show receives a major boost with news that streaming service Netflix has bought rights to distribute the show internationally, thus bringing the new series to a potential 75 million subscribers.
13 April 2016
Neil Mockford/Alex Huckle via Getty Images
The atmosphere on set is said to be “frosty” following Chris Evans’ continuing fury over the Cenotaph stunt.
Apart from that...
BBC
It's all been smooth sailing. We wait for 22 May with bated breath.

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