Matt LeBlanc looks set to return to Top Gear as main host

With Chris Evans gone, it's still not been confirmed who is going to step into the hottest of hotseats as the lead host of Top Gear.

Although it's widely expected that former Friends star Matt LeBlanc - the unexpected hit from the much-criticised first post-Clarkson series - would be stepping up there had been no actual confirmation that the BBC wanted him, nor whether he wanted to continue.

However, when speaking to TV critics in LA this week, when questioned whether he'd be keen to do another series LeBlance said, “I don’t know. I’d like to. There’s nothing officially happening yet. Follow the BBC.”

Meanwhile, a BBC source told The Daily Mirror, "Matt was one of the positive aspects of the last series, he is keen to return and we definitely want him back so it will happen, we just need to dot the ‘i’s’ and cross the ‘ts’. We think he will be back filming soon and he is excited about some of the ideas we have lined up."

It is believed that he earned £500,000 for the first series, and that this would now double if he is 'promoted' to main host.

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When asked about the aspects of the role he enjoyed the most, he answered, "probably the travel" to countries such as South Africa, Morocco and Ireland. He also said he liked Top Gear's "broad demographic" adding, "everybody can relate to an automobile."

Well, probably not if you live in a third world country and have never been in a car. But we know what you mean Matt.

Top Gear is currently licking its wounds after suffering poor ratings and criticism of its new lineup, with main presenter Chris Evans departing straight after the tranmission of the final episode in the series. Despite rumours that LeBlanc and Evans did not get on during filming, Evans has been nothing but complimentary about his co-host since quitting, describing him as "the man" and a "total mensch".

Meanwhile, Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May are busy preparing for the release of their new show, The Grand Tour, which is expected to hit Amazon Prime this autumn.