Chris Evans Quits BBC Series TOP GEAR Following Ratings Plummet

Chris Evans has stepped down as host of the once-popular BBC car series TOP GEAR following a season of poor ratings. The 50-year-old turned to Twitter to share the news with his fans:

The series debuted in May, featuring Evans and former FRIENDS star Matt LeBlanc. According to the New York Post, show drew only 1.9 million viewers for its season finale on Sunday, a marked decline from the 5.8 million viewers who tuned in when former hosts Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May appeared in the series.

Mark Linsey, director of BBC Studios, commented that he feels strongly that the remaining producing and presenting team will be able to "take the show forward and make it the hit we want it to be." No news yet as to whether LeBlanc will continue on as host of next season.

On TOP GEAR, hosts Chris Evans; Matt LeBlanc, along with Sabine Schmitz; Chris Harris; Eddie Jordan; Rory Reid and The Stig drove over 7500 miles, undertaken both on and off road challenges, tested the very latest cars and filmed in nine countries across four continents to create the new season.

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