Matt LeBlanc didn’t know his former co-host Chris Evans was quitting ‘Top Gear’ – until he read it in the newspaper.
The 49-year-old presenter has admitted he had no idea the radio host had decided to turn his back on the motoring show and only found out after he checked the tabloids the next day.
Speaking to Digital Spy, he said: "To be honest, I didn’t know he was quitting (the show). I found out like everyone else. I read it in a paper and I thought, ‘Hmm… I wonder if I’m going to get a phone call about this?’ I didn’t know anything about it."
However, the 50-year-old star’s abrupt departure earlier this year hasn’t put the former ‘Friends’ actor off agreeing to front the forthcoming second series of the refurbished programme.
He explained: "I’m excited. The show seems to be surrounded by huge controversy, and I don’t really know why. Maybe it’s because of the history of the show – but boy, being on that show is like being in a fish bowl. Everybody is after you. Everybody is waiting for you to put a foot wrong and that’s tough but, you know, I like cars. I know a little bit about cars. I can say some funny things about cars. Hopefully people will watch it."
The first series of the show wrapped up in June and bosses aren’t wasting any time pumping out another installment as they’ve already started working on episodes with Matt.
He said: "When it comes to what will be different in the show, they are still working out the rough edges about what will change because Chris had creative control on the show before. I’m not really sure what’s going to happen. [Producer] Alex Renton is in charge now and he’s a very competent guy. He’s a very smart guy and I trust him. We’ll see how it goes."
Matt was brought on board the show in January this year alongside Chris after original hosts Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond walked away from the series.
However, Chris announced he was leaving the programme, despite signing a three-year contract, a few days after the first series concluded because he couldn’t deal with the mockery.
Matt LeBlanc didn’t know Chris Evans quit Top Gear
