Chris Evans in ‘secret’ plan to become new Top Gear presenter

Chris Evans is making a “secret Top Gear film” this week and will “see how it goes”.

Mon, 08 Jun, 2015 - 01:00

Robert Dex

The DJ, who has been among the favourites to take over from Jeremy Clarkson on the BBC show, said he will be filming a “Top Gear sequence” with an independent production company on Tuesday.

He has previously ruled himself out of the job.

But asked by presenter Tim Lovejoy on Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch whether he had started to present Top Gear yet, Evans said: “Not started yet, but we are doing a secret Top Gear film on Tuesday.” Lovejoy replied “It’s not so secret now”, but Evans — who is making a one-off return with TFI Friday this week — went on: “It still will be, because nobody knows where it’s going to be. We’re doing a Top Gear sequence with an independent production company and going to see how it goes.”

The future of the series was in doubt since earlier this year when Clarkson was suspended after assaulting Irish producer Oisin Tymon.

It is reported co-presenters Richard Hammond and James May have been offered deals in the region of £1m a year to stay with the hit motoring show. That deal is said to be part of a plan to include a different guest host on each show.

All three men’s contracts ran out earlier this year and the BBC refused to renew Clarkson’s after his much-publicised attack.

Andy Wilman, Top Gear’s former executive producer – an old friend of Clarkson – has left the show, which sparked rumours he was joining up with all three to make an alternative show.