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Top Gear: BBC has ‘no immediate plans’ to replace Chris Evans

Bad news if you were planning to replace Chris Evans on Top Gear – the BBC has said it has no intention of replacing him.

“We have no immediate plans to replace Chris Evans and do not expect to do so going forward,” a BBC spokesperson told the Evening Standard.

Evans announced he was stepping down from his role as a Top Gear presenter on Twitter, having received strong criticism for his ‘shouty’ presenting style and for copying ex-Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson’s style.

Critics also said the show format was tired and should have been reinvented. It helped little that ratings had dropped to just 1.9-million for the sixth and final episode of series 23, having lost out to Euro 2016 matches.

Evans thanked the people who work at Top Gear following his departure. “I have never worked with a more committed and driven team than the team I have worked with over the last 12 months,” he said.

“I feel like my standing aside is the single best thing I can now do to help the cause. I remain a huge fan of the show, always have been, always will be. I will continue to focus on my radio show and the allied events that it encompasses,” he added.

Evans is said to be under investigation by the London Metropolitan Police over a “non-recent sexual assault”, with sources saying this was part of his decision to step down.

Without anyone else coming in, that would, in theory, open the door to Matt LeBlanc taking charge alongside two of the favourably received new presenters, Chris Harris and Rory Reid. Or maybe the BBC is waiting to hear from Formula One driver Jenson Button.

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