Yesterday I suggested the MGB Roadster film on last night's Top Gear may have been the last for Chris Evans and thankfully I was right. Today Chris Evans announced on social media that he has stepped down as one of the many hosts of Top Gear. Evans was not taken to kindly by the public thanks to his shouty demeanour and his departure is bound to please the majority. Evans is also at the centre of a sexual assault claim which has heaped even more pressure on him.
Viewing figures for the new series have struggled throughout and last night's show drew in just 1.9 million viewers. But I suppose that's what you get for scheduling a new series at the same as a major football tournament but hey, I'm no expert. There has been plenty of heat on Evans even from the start and there has always been a story surrounding him. Well at least he doesn't have to worry about what clothes he will wear in the studio anymore - oh wait, hang on a minute...
I'm gone: Chris Evans announces he will walk away after one series of Top Gear
By the looks of it this means Matt LeBlanc will stay after reports suggested he would walk away if Evans remained. It's uncertain who will replace Chris Evans at this time but I'm sure the BBC will not want to make the same mistake twice. Could Chris Harris be the one to pick up the baton or will the BBC get someone new in?
These are questions that are bound to be answered in time to come but for the time being we are safe in the knowledge that the next series of Top Gear will be, well, quieter.
***Update*** reports state the BBC will NOT replace Chris Evans following his resignation and the show will run with the remaining cast - lest's face it, it's not as if they're short on people. Hopefully this will provide more airtime for Chris Harris and Rory Reid who have been the highlights of the new series - it would be good to see more of Sabine Schmitz as well.
Mark Linsey, director of BBC Studios, said: "Chris is stepping down from his duties on Top Gear. 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."