I’M not quite sure about the BBC’s thinking in choosing Friends’ star Matt LeBlanc as co-host for Chris Evans in the revamped Top Gear.
Reports suggest it’s to gain more women viewers for the show that used to be hosted by ultra-blokey Jeremy Clarkson and his pals James May and Richard Hammond.
While self-confessed petrolhead Chris Evans is an excellent choice for the central role, LeBlanc has really come out of left field. The 48 year-old American actor is best known for playing sexy but dopey Joey Tribbiani in the hit US sitcom.
So surely viewers – female or just pro-Joey – are getting mixed messages about his role as co-host? If he had a track record as a TV car programme host or even amateur expert it would be understandable, but he’s really just lovable beefcake for the sake of it.
Sorry, BBC, he won’t entice this viewer to watch the usual car antics, however much Matt offers his aimiable, cheesy grin. There’s basically more female mileage here in The Stig.
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