Matt LeBlanc says Top Gear to ‘expand comedy’ as part of the BBC motoring show’s new direction

The car series returns to screens early next year 
Revamped show: Matt LeBlanc has teased that the new series of Top Gear will 'expand the comedy'
BBC Worldwide/Jeff Spicer

Matt LeBlanc has hinted that the revamped Top Gear will continue to forge a new path by 'expanding the comedy' ahead of the show’s return in spring 2018.

The presenter fronted 26th season alongside Rory Reid and Chris Harris following the departure of Chris Evans, and won praise among fans and critics.

LeBlanc teased that the upcoming Top Gear run would look to continue the style of the previous series, while ‘expanding the comedy’ in a bid to ‘broaden the demographic of the show’.

He told BBC News: "It will be closer to what it was last year versus the season before. I think we've tried to broaden the demographic of the show. Try to make it not lose the petrolhead nature of it but maybe open it up to people who aren't so petrolheady.

"Expand the comedy, try to have bigger, broader films, but it will be more of the same in the sense it starts with the car."

LeBlanc has been busy filming for the show across Europe in locations including Norway, France, Italy as well as California, and will return to the UK next month to continue shooting.

Dropping: Matt LeBlanc and Chris Evans are failing to pull in viewers (BBC Worldwide/Jeff Spicer)
BBC

The actor and presenter, who is best known for his role as Joey in US sitcom Friends, co-hosted Top Gear alongside Evans following the sacking of Jeremy Clarkson from the BBC.

Evans quit the show after one series amid falling ratings. Police were also investigating allegations that he had sexually assaulted a former colleague, of which he was later cleared.

​LeBlanc took over main presenting duties, with Reid and Harris as co-hosts, on the subsequent series which fared better among fans, critics and in the ratings.

The BBC will be hoping to repeat the performance with the forthcoming run.

Top Gear 2017 series

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Top Gear returns to BBC One in spring 2018.

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