BBC bosses ‘wipe all traces’ of presenter Chris Evans from the new series of Top Gear
The new show WON'T feature anything to do with the radio star, or his pal Danny Baker
BBC bosses are wiping away any trace of ratings disaster Chris Evans from the new series of Top Gear.
The loudmouth DJ, 50, made several changes to the show’s format that fans hated.
But producers have now ordered the demolition of the show’s race track rally car section to return it to the same as when fronted by Jeremy Clarkson, 56.
Evans changed the previous “Star in a Reasonably Priced Car” feature where celebs would race around a track by adding an off-road element in muddy puddles and hills.
His pal, broadcasting legend Danny Baker, who was brought in to help make scripts funny last series, has also been axed and will not return to the show.
Danny, who is set to go in the I’m a Celeb jungle, wanted to stay on but execs wanted a clean break from Evans’ time on the show.
And The Cool Wall that Clarkson, Richard Hammond, 46, and James May, 53, used to rate cars on is set to make a return on the show now fronted by Matt LeBlanc, 49.
An insider said: “Bosses are really desperate to save Top Gear after the disastrous last series and believe the way to do that is return the old features that fans loved.
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“Viewers hated Evans and the changes – especially the Star in the Rallycross Car – so they’re pulling down the off-road section on Monday and returning it to the original track.
“The Cool Wall is a number of featrues that were scrapped last series but earmarked for a return.”
“They’re thinking is just give them what they want.”
The Sun revealed how BBC execs caved into former Friends star LeBlanc’s pay demands and agreed to work around his US sitcom filming by signing him up for a £2million two-year deal in September.
Matt’s role on the show will see him replace main host Evans, who quit in July following fans’ fury at his string of gaffes.
He will carry out the celebrity interviews and be helped out by Eddie Jordan, 68, Sabine Schmitz, 47, and motoring journalists Chris Harris, 41, and Rory Reid, 36.
A BBC spokesman said: “Any announcements about the new series will be made in due course.”
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