Leblanc is ‘captain’ Top Gear needs says Evans after he leaves the show

Friends star Matt Leblanc is the “captain” that Top Gear needs going forward, Chris Evans has insisted as he admitted his tenure at the wheel “was not meant to be”.

The Radio 2 DJ, who quit Top Gear after one series, said the motoring show and the Friends star “were made for each other” and heaped praise on Leblanc for his dedication to the programme.

Evans described working on Top Gear as an “honour, privilege and a pleasure” and said he had tried his best, but his stint in the driving seat was “not meant to be”. 0 Matt Leblanc and Chris Evans may be Friends after all

His comments come after weeks of reports that the pair’s relationship had broken down amid flagging audience numbers and unfavourable reviews for the flagship BBC2 programme. Evans said Leblanc was a “total mensch” – US slang for a solid chap.

“He is the man. He is the captain Top Gear truly needs going forward, the perfect torso for the rest of TG’S limbs. Not only does he eat, sleep, breathe and dream engines, propshafts and trail-braking, but the overwhelming quality that struck me about him is that he’s just such a pro.

“The whole time I worked with him, he never once looked at the clock, was never late on set, knew his lines inside out and back to front and, most importantly on such an intense production, he always had time for everyone, especially the crew.”