BBC told Top Gear flop Chris Evans to stop clinging on and go
Loudmouth DJ urged not to dither like under-fire Labour leader when he told Beeb chiefs he was thinking of quitting the show
BBC chiefs warned Chris Evans to end the uncertainty over his Top Gear future by telling him: “Don’t be a Corbyn”.
The loudmouth DJ was told not to dither like the under-fire Labour leader when he told bosses he was thinking of quitting last week.
Evans, 50, had also shared with close colleagues that he feared being compared to former Manchester United boss David Moyes who was sacked after a disastrous first season in charge.
The presenter stepped down from the ailing show on Monday – hours after police confirmed they were probing historic sexual assault claims allegedly made against him.
An insider said: “When Chris said he had doubts about staying on, they reminded him of the current political situation and told him, ‘Don’t be a Corbyn’.
“It was obvious something needed to change and those in charge weren’t willing to convince him to stay.”
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It comes as Chris dedicated his Radio2 radio show yesterday to the “Top Gear gang”, with the words “breathe in, breathe out, move on.”
After reading out The Sun’s front page “The End For Flop Chris – Geario”, he simply replied “It’s all true”.
His DJ pal Danny Baker, who is believed to have recommended to Evans that he quit, is set to stay on the show.
The legendary broadcaster has been acting as a script consultant and was drafted in by Evans to improve the show, having previously helped former host Jeremy Clarkson.
The Beeb is currently in transatlantic talks to re-sign Matt LeBlanc, 48, whose contract expired last week after completing the six episode run.
Insiders say they are “very confident” he will re-sign and is currently tapping up Hollywood A-listers to appear as guests on the next series.
Matt is set to spearhead the new series with spin-off show Extra Gear presenters Chris Harris and Rory Reid joining the line-up.
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