Chris Evans believes Jeremy Clarkson could’ve returned to ‘Top Gear’ if James May and Richard Hammond had accepted new contracts.
The BBC Radio 2 DJ was announced as the new host of the BBC Two motoring show earlier this week but he’s now claimed Jeremy – who was sacked after he punched a producer in a row over a steak – may have been allowed to return if his co-hosts had agreed to front the show without him for a while.
He said: "I would love to see James and Richard back doing it and who knows, maybe if they’d have come back for a year, maybe Jeremy would’ve come back after a year.
"I loved ‘Top Gear’ how it was, believe me, I’m the number one one who doesn’t want it to change."
However, James May yesterday (17.06.15) insisted he’d never been offered a new contract.
Chris – who insisted he will "definitely" have a female co-host – also revealed he and the show’s producers will be holding auditions to replace May and Hammond.
Speaking on ‘The One Show’ on BBC One, he shared: "I’m not going to name any names … I haven’t got a shortlist, I’ve got a very long list … The way Richard and James were found was by auditioning and so what we’re going to do is hold auditions.
"Not just for famous people, ex-famous people, up and coming famous people, in-between famous people but for people who are watching the show … The thing that does matter is that you’ve got to have an appetite for cars and you’ve got to know something about cars."
Meanwhile, the 49-year-old presenter has hinted the new series of ‘Top Gear’ will hit TV screens next March.
Speaking on ‘The Chris Evans Breakfast Show’, he said: "This is BBC Radio 2 – not BBC Two – that’s next March."
Chris Evans believes Jeremy Clarkson could’ve returned to Top Gear
