Evans and “an all-new” line-up of co-presenters will replace Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond when the show returned later this year.
Clarkson was dropped by BBC bosses in March after an internal investigation confirmed he’d punched one of the show’s producers. Co-stars James May and Richard Hammond later ruled out returning without their leading man.
The trio are currently on tour with their arena show and will be back on screens on June 28th in a final one-off special episode made from content shot before Clarkson’s axing, plus linking material featuring Hammond and May.
BBC Two Controller Kim Shillinglaw said she was “so delighted” Evans had agreed to join the show.
She added: His knowledge of and passion for cars are well-known and combined with his sheer inventiveness and cheeky unpredictability he is the perfect choice to take our much-loved show into the future.
“Chris is a huge fan of Top Gear and has great respect for the craft and work ethic of one of the best production teams in the world.
“He knows the phenomenal attention to detail it takes to make a single sequence of Top Gear, let alone a whole series. He is already full of brilliant ideas and I can’t wait for him to get started.”
Evans said: “I’m thrilled, Top Gear is my favourite programme of all time.
“Created by a host of brilliant minds who love cars and understand how to make the massively complicated come across as fun, devil-may-care and effortless.
“When in fact of course, it’s anything but and that’s the genius of Top Gear’s global success.
“I promise I will do everything I possibly can to respect what has gone on before and take the show forward.”
