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Chris Evans To Replace Jeremy Clarkson As 'Top Gear' Host

Jeremy Clarkson's Replacement Announced By BBC
Aubrey Allegretti
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BBC executives announced on Tuesday evening who they had signed up to take over from controversial figure and former Top Gear frontman Jeremy Clarkson.

The corporation revealed that Radio 2 DJ and bookies favourtie Chris Evans would lead the motoring show's new lineup.

The 49-year-old said he was "thrilled" to secure the job and promised to "respect what has gone on before and take the show forward".

He has signed a three-year contract with the BBC, although replacements for James May and Richard Hammond have not yet been found.

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Evans pictured in May 2013

Evans said Top Gear was "created by a host of brilliant minds who love cars and understand how to make the massively complicated come across as fun, devil-may-care and effortless".

"When in fact of course, it's anything but and that's the genius of Top Gear's global success," he added.

In a tweet published on Tuesday evening, Evans announced his appointment and praised Clarkson, Hammond and May as being "the greatest".

He also confirmed he would not be leaving the Radio 2 Breakfast Show.

Production on the new series of the shows is due to start in the coming weeks and more information will be announced in due course, it was confirmed.

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Evans and Clarkson pictured together

Controller of BBC Two and BBC Four Kim Shillinglaw said: "I am so delighted that Chris will be presenting the next series of Top Gear.

"His knowledge of and passion for cars are well-known and combined with his sheer inventiveness and cheeky unpredictability, he is the perfect choice to take our much-loved show into the future.

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"Chris is a huge fan of Top Gear and has great respect for the craft and work ethic of one of the best production teams in the world.

"He knows the phenomenal attention to detail it takes to make a single sequence of Top Gear, let alone a whole series. He is already full of brilliant ideas and I can't wait for him to get started."

The popular programme is watched by almost 350 million people worldwide and is one of the BBC's biggest shows, with overseas sales estimated to be worth £50m a year.

Who Could Replace Jeremy Clarkson On 'Top Gear'?
Katie Hopkins(01 of11)
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If you're looking for someone who doesn't mind being purposefully offensive, look no further than Katie Hopkins. The controversy magnet hits the headlines more often than all the Top Gear stars put together, normally because she's offended someone/a large group of people.
Nigel Farage(02 of11)
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You've suspended a pint-loving smoker who has his head stuck in the 1940s? Why not employ someone exactly the same person?Nigel Farage has virtually the same political views as Clarkson, so he'd probably be a good fit.
Vladimir Putin(03 of11)
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If you want someone with outdated ideas about their country's military might and an odd desire to look as masculine as possible, the Russian leader would be a good one to go for. Although he probably won't be free any time soon, he's probably going to be running the Kremlin until he dies.
Piers Morgan(04 of11)
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If you've ever seen one of Piers' epic Twitter spats with Clarkson, you'll know he's remarkably similar in many ways. The same fashion sense, a similarly punchable face, and all the rest of it.
Angela Rippon(05 of11)
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She did so well presenting it in 1977, why not bring her back?
John Inverdale(06 of11)
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Who better to take over from Clarkson's controversy-laden style than the man who brought us "rose-c***ed spectacles"?
Dapper Laughs(07 of11)
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Here's someone as offensive and widely hated as Clarkson, who'll undoubtedly make the same kind of unpleasant jokes just because he thinks they're funny. If maximum offensiveness is what you're going for, snap up the world's least funny comedian ASAP.
Chris Evans(08 of11)
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Chris Evans has been rumoured to be one of the next in line to host the car show, so it might be the right move.
Alan Partridge(09 of11)
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The veteran radio host's alter ego Steve Coogan is quite the petrol-head, having appeared on the show several times. But wouldn't it be great for the man from Norwich to take you around the Top Gear track whining about "POWERRRR" is his trademark nasal voice?
Kanye West(10 of11)
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Potentially the only ego bigger than Clarkson's.
Mr Blobby(11 of11)
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He'd certainly be more coherent than Clarkson at times. He's probably also a bit skinnier and a better driver.
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