Why Friends star Matt LeBlanc has been hired to co-host Top Gear
American actor, a car fan himself and a former guest on the show, will play the down-to-earth straight man alongside British radio host Chris Evans, who sometimes shoots from the hip
American actor Matt LeBlanc will be joining the motoring show Top Gear, making him the first non-British host in the BBC programme’s 39-year history.
LeBlanc has appeared on the programme twice as a guest and holds bragging rights as the the fastest star to race around the track in a reasonably priced car. He also presented a spin-off called Top Gear: The Races, a capsule show highlighting some of the show’s epic clashes of cars versus other forms of transport.
“As a car nut and a massive fan of Top Gear, I’m honoured and excited to be a part of this iconic show’s new chapter. What a thrill,” LeBlanc said.
LeBlanc already spends part of his year in Britain shooting and promoting the Showtime comedy Episodes, for which he won a Golden Globe for playing a fictional version of himself. That show is expected to return for at least one more season, though it’s not clear when.
