Top Gear is one of the most watched shows in many countries, with a staggering 350 million viewers worldwide. Viewers are mostly men but, with its new host just announced, the show's viewer statistics might just skyrocket to include other demographics as well.
Top Gear's new lineup will be led by Chris Evans, and, yes, you read that right—but it's not who you might think it is ... nope, it's not Captain America. This Chris Evans is still very much English.
The 49-year-old TV and radio personality is set to replace current host Jeremy Clarkson as lead presenter in an all-new Top Gear. The Lancastrian and avid car enthusiast has been a fixture of UK radio and television for about 30 years.
Many Top Gear fans are not too enthusiastic about the news. They are not so convinced that Evans is the right man to host the show, especially since he has a very colorful persona and is known for his notorious moments on and off the air.
To Evans, there is a 50 percent chance that viewers would warm up to him and see that he has mellowed down over the years. He hopes that his passion for cars will resonate with the viewers, and they too share with him the joys of reviewing and revving different car models each episode.
"I'm thrilled, Top Gear is my favorite program of all time. I promise I will do everything I possibly can to respect what has gone on before and take the show forward," he said.
Once the announcement was made, Evans immediately took to social media and posted this tweet:
First tweet as new Top Gear host. I would like to say Jeremy, Richard & James are the greatest. And NO I'm not leaving the R2 Breakfast Show
— Chris Evans (@achrisevans) June 16, 2015
No matter what viewers may think at the moment, BBC Two and BBC Four Controller Kim Shillinglaw expressed in a statement their confidence in choosing Evans for the show.
"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," she said.
Clarkson was dropped from the show in March after an incident where he punched a producer while on location. His final appearance on the show will air on June 28.
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