Why Matt LeBlanc is leaving Top Gear

Former Friends star will hang up his
driving gloves at end of next series

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The former Friends star will leave co-stars Chris
Harris and Rory Reid at the helm following the 26th season, due to
air later this year.

In a statement announcing his decision, LeBlanc said
that the “time commitment and extensive travel required to present
Top Gear takes me away from my family and friends more
than I’m comfortable with.

“It’s unfortunate, but for these reasons I will not be
continuing my involvement with the show.”

Presenting the show has been “great fun” and he
“thoroughly enjoyed working with the whole team”, LeBlanc
added.

The American actor was “a surprise addition” when he
joined Top Gear’s revamped line-up in
2016, following to departure of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard
Hammond and James May, says The Independent. 

LeBlanc hosted his first series alongside Chris Evans, but
the British star then left the show amid falling viewing
figures. 

Responding to the latest resignation, BBC Two
controller Patrick Holland thanked LeBlanc for his contribution to
the show, admitting: “We were always going to be borrowing him from
his day job as one of the top comic actors in
Hollywood.”

It is not yet known who will replace LeBlanc, but The Sunday Times notes that the BBC will
be “desperate” to find a new presenter who can help “restore the
show’s fortunes”.

Top Gear is “one of the corporation’s biggest
international brands”, the newspaper says, but audience figures are
current around half of the 7.1 million viewers that Clarkson
averaged during his time as the frontman.