Matt LeBlanc reveals the only reason he joined Top Gear: ‘I needed a job’

Admission: Matt LeBlanc joined Top Gear because he 'needed a job'
BBC
Jennifer Ruby16 June 2016

Matt LeBlanc has said that he signed up for Top Gear because he ‘needed a job’.

The former Friends star admitted that timing played a big part in his decision to co-host the revamped series of the BBC motoring show.

Speaking to James Corden on the Late Late Show, the actor revealed that he was ‘unemployed’ and looking for a job when show bosses called.

When asked what attracted him to the job, LeBlanc explained that filming on Episodes was about to finish.

He said: “Episodes was coming to an end and I needed a job. And I said - why not?

“It is a lot of fun. I was a big fan of it before and then I went on it to promote Episodes and did a good time in the car.

“I set the record. And then when they were looking for new hosts they said let’s get that guy he is pretty quick I guess.”

The 48-year-old went on to say that he found driving much more difficult in the UK compared with the US.

“In the UK and London the roads are so narrow because the roads were built for horses and carts," he said.

“So here (in the US) if you make a mistake get wide you hit bushes and trees, while there if you get wide and go offline you hit a thousand year old church and are like ‘Oh I am so sorry’.”

The new series of Top Gear has had mixed reactions after it kicked off last month, with many viewers criticising the lack of chemistry between LeBlanc and co-host Chris Evans.

Last week’s show had the lowest viewing figures yet, with an average of 2.4 million people tuning in compared to 2.8 million the week before.

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