Chris Evans steps down as 'Top Gear' host after only 1 season

"Gave it my best shot..."
 By 
Sam Haysom
 on 
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Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

LONDON -- Top Gear presenter Chris Evans has announced that he's stepping down from his role on the show.

The British presenter, who replaced Jeremy Clarkson and Co. after the infamous 2015 "fracas" which resulted in the decision not to renew Clarkson's contract, announced his resignation via a tweet on Monday afternoon.

Evans followed up the announcement by saying that he'll continue to focus on his other projects, including Radio Two and Children in Need.


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"Chris is stepping down from his duties on Top Gear," wrote BBC Studios Director Mark Linsey in an online statement. "He says he gave it his best shot doing everything he could to make the show a success. He firmly believes that the right people remain, on both the production team and presenting team to take the show forward and make it the hit we want it to be.

"The new series has so far notched up over 30 million views in the UK alone and has already been sold to 130 territories worldwide."

In his own statement, Evans said he'll always be a fan of the show but that stepping down was the "single best thing" he could do.

“I have never worked with a more committed and driven team than the team I have worked with over the last twelve months," he said. "I feel like my standing aside is the single best thing I can now do to help the cause. I remain a huge fan of the show, always have been, always will be. I will continue to focus on my radio show and the allied events that it encompasses.”

Matt LeBlanc and the other presenters weren't mentioned in any of the statements, but Linsey's comments -- particularly the bit about the right people remaining -- seems to imply he'll be staying.

Mashable has reached out to the BBC with additional questions and we will update this article if we receive a response.

UPDATE: July 4, 2016, 4:17 p.m. BST The BBC has confirmed to Mashable that Matt LeBlanc's role will be staying the same, and that there are "no plans" to replace Chris Evans for the show's next season.

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Topics BBC

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Sam Haysom

Sam Haysom is the Deputy UK Editor for Mashable. He covers entertainment and online culture, and writes horror fiction in his spare time.

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