The reboot of ‘Top Gear’ hasn’t even hit our screens yet, but the relationship between hosts Chris Evans and Matt LeBlanc is said to have already hit the skids.
According to reports, the pair of petrol heads have fallen out following last month’s highly controversial Cenotaph stunt, which was heavily criticised for being disrespectful.
The Radio 2 Breakfast Show host issued an apology after the BBC motoring show faced a backlash, but reportedly blames the former ‘Friends’ star for turning it into a PR nightmare.
The US actor, who was in the car involved in the stunt at the war memorial in London, was signed up to the show to appeal to US audiences - something Chris reportedly didn't agree with.
A source told The Sun: "Matt was never Chris’s choice - it was a decision forced upon him to attract the US market.
The ‘Top Gear’ reboot has been plagued by problems in the lead up to the launch next month.
As well as the Cenotaph stunt, the crew also ran into trouble filming at Folkestone Rugby Club, with reports that they turned up at the club to shoot without permission.
The show ran into further problems when the team were forced to abort a filming shoot in Kazakhstan.
New co-hosts Rory Reid, Eddie Jordan and Sabine Schmitz were due to shoot scenes for the new series in the country, but were caught up in a row between Kazakhstan and Russian airline Aeroflot.
BBC bosses also decided to replace Entertainment boss Katie Taylor and hand editorial control over to former Head of Factual Entertainment Clare Pizey, following the Cenotaph stunt.
Following numerous negative press reports about his ‘unprofessional behaviour’, Chris Evans spoke out to set the record straight ahead of the show’s launch.
HuffPost UK have contacted the BBC for comment.
