Matt LeBlanc will return to ‘Top Gear’ next year.
The popular motoring show has been hit with numerous changes over the past two years as the original presenting line up – Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May – were given the chop and the replacement Chris Evans walked out after his series flopped last year but the programme’s boss Patrick Holland has confirmed the former ‘Friends’ star, Rory Reid and Chris Harris will be back for another instalment.
Asked if all three will be back in 2018, he told the Radio Times: "Yes, very much so."
Patrick admitted the trio’s return was a no brainer because he was so impressed with their performance in the most recent series and is glad the audience enjoyed it.
He explained: "The audience appreciation scores are far bigger than they were last year. The audience is much younger. It has had a real growth in under 34s and under 16s. The doubt at the beginning, the fear when a show comes back is will the audience grow to like this new presenting combo? And we are starting again this year.
"And I think they really have and Chris and Rory have grown and Matt has made it his own show. We are turning over a new leaf, I think Chris and Rory have been fantastic, I think Matt has really been terrific on the films. I think he really started to enjoy the studios more and more."
And it’s not just Patrick who is pleased with the current line up as Chris thinks the radio DJ – who walked away from the show just 12 months into his three-year contract – did them a favour by leaving them in the lurch last year because more people are tuning in to the show now that it’s become more about cars.
He said: "It’s a bit more car-orientated so the petrolheads are enjoying it. It’s never going to satisfy the full petrolhead audience but the car is at the centre of the show."
Matt LeBlanc to return to Top Gear next year
