‘Top Gear’ Taps Chris Evans as Host After Jeremy Clarkson Ouster

“Top Gear” has tapped Chris Evans as its new host, following the departure of Jeremy Clarkson, who was let go from the BBC series following an altercation with a producer.

Evans, host for BBC Radio 2’s “Chris Evans Breakfast Show” but not the actor who portrays Captain America, said he will honor the car show’s legacy.

“I’m thrilled, ‘Top Gear’ is my favorite program 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,” Evans said. “When in fact of course, it’s anything but and that’s the genius of ‘Top Gear’s’ global success.

Added Evans, “I promise I will do everything I possibly can to respect what has gone on before and take the show forward.”

The “Top Gear” revamp will begin production within the next few weeks, with more information to come.

The changes follow the exit of longtime host Clarkson, who was fired in March, after an investigation into an assault on producer Oisin Tymon. Clarkson reportedly spent 20 minutes berating Tymon before physically assaulting him during a fracas over the lack of hot food after filming.

Shortly after, Clarkson’s “Top Gear” co-host, James May, said that he wouldn’t return to the show without his colleague, calling the idea a “non-starter” that “just wouldn’t work.”

BBC Two and BBC Four controller Kim Shillinglaw touted new host Evans’ automotive knowledge, as well as his “sheer inventiveness and cheeky unpredictability” in the  BBC’s announcement.

“I am so delighted that Chris will be presenting the next series of ‘Top Gear.’ 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,” Shillinglaw said.

According to the BBC, the all-new line-up means Clarkson’s co-hosts Richard Hammond and May will not be involved.