In Chris Evans' own words: "they're the Three Stooges. They are the Bee Gees" - and how can you compete with either of those?
It appears that he's not even going to try. Speaking in Cannes at a Top Gear photocall and press session at the Mipcom TV trade fair, Evans suggested that he'd fly solo when the show returns next year, rather than copying the previous, hugely successful trio format adopted by his predecessors Clarkson, Hammond and May.
Evans said: "I'm a solo artist at the moment, I'm on my own. So do I form a band or not?... We are going to do things differently, because we have to, we want to. And also, the second you wander off into the, 'Well, I'm the main host, and this is my mate over here and my mate over here', if there's three of you and you go and make a film together, suddenly you're doing what they did.
"Why would you do that? Because they were brilliant at it. I'm not going to do that. So, one thing is for sure, there's not going to be me and one guy there, and one guy there, that's not going to happen."
He had been widely expected to recruit two extra presenters, with a host of names being thrown into the mix; many also expected at least one of them to be female, in order to break the previous mould of the 'boys club' on the show.
He also suggested that the format of the show could change - previously it was four links and three pre-recorded items.
"We're going to change that," he said. "I can't tell you into what. I know, by the way, but I can't say at the moment. We are going to keep some things that I like, and my kids like, and my friends like, and that I liked anyway, but we are not going to throw the baby out with the bathwater."
It was also confirmed that The Stig would return, so it's not all change on the show.
Evans must first present 10 episodes of TFI Friday this autumn, before his attention is given fully to Top Gear; BBC bosses recently instructed him that he would not be able to continue the Channel 4 show after this initial comeback series, which begins 16 October.
He will, perhaps, be relieved to be able to concentrate on the task (albeit while continuing his BBC Radio 2 Breakfast show): he said that taking over Top Gear was "formidable", adding that it was "the biggest job I've ever had in my life".
[via BBC]
(Image: Rex)
