The British presenter's resignation from the BBC series came just hours after it was confirmed that he's being investigated by police over sexual assault allegation.
- July 5, 2016
AceShowbiz -
"Top Gear" is undergoing a major shake-up again after losing longtime host Jeremy Clarkson last year. Chris Evans (II), who was tapped to replace Clarkson in June 2015, has stepped down from the position after one season.
The 50-year-old English presenter announced his resignation on Twitter on Monday, July 4. "Stepping down from Top Gear. Gave it my best shot but sometimes that's not enough. The team are beyond brilliant, I wish them all the best," he wrote.
Rumor has it, Evans didn't get along well with co-host Matt LeBlanc, who was cast for the British motoring series earlier this year. It was recently reported that the "Friends" alum had threatened to quit the BBC show due to what sources called a "frosty" atmosphere among the presenters as well as Evans' unprofessional behavior on the set.Stepping down from Top Gear. Gave it my best shot but sometimes that's not enough. The team are beyond brilliant, I wish them all the best.
— Chris Evans (@achrisevans) July 4, 2016
The show's ratings also declined, hitting a series low on Sunday, July 3 with an average of 1.9 million U.K. viewers. However, Evans' resignation came just hours after police confirmed that he was being investigated over claims he sexually assaulted a woman in the 1990s. The woman, who is a former colleague, claimed Evans grabbed her breasts and exposed himself on a daily basis after she refused to sleep with him.
BBC reps said that other co-hosts LeBlanc, Sabine Schmitz, Rory Reid, Chris Harris and Eddie Jordan would all return for the next season that will air in 2017, while Evans would possibly not be replaced.
