Chris Evans quits Top Gear after only one series

Chris Evans says standing aside is the best thing to do to help the cause. Picture: SWNS

He said he was stepping down after just one series, amidst flagging ratings. Top Gear’s audience fell to a new low of fewer than two million viewers as the series stalled again in the ratings on Sunday.

Evans tweeted: “Stepping down from Top Gear. Gave it my best shot but sometimes that’s not enough. The team are beyond brilliant, I wish them all the best.”

He added: “Full steam ahead then with Radio 2, CarFest, Children In Need, 500 Words and whatever else we can dream up in the future.”

In a statement, he said: “I have never worked with a more committed and driven team than the team I have worked with over the last 12 months. I feel like my standing aside is the single best thing I can now do to help the cause.

“I remain a huge fan of the show, always have been, always will be. I will continue to focus on my radio show and the allied events that it encompasses.”

Mark Linsey, director of BBC Studio’s, said: “Chris is stepping down from his duties on Top Gear. He says he gave it his best shot doing everything he could to make the show a success. He firmly believes that the right people remain, on both the production team and presenting team, to take the show forward and make it the hit we want it to be.”

Evans joined Top Gear after last year’s departure of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May.

Clarkson was fired from the show after he punched a producer following a row about the provision of food late at night while filming on location.

Evans was later signed up to front the new series alongside with former Friends actor Matt LeBlanc.

Sunday’s finale of the rebooted first series, which featured Hollywood actor Patrick Dempsey, drew an average of 1.9 million people and an 8.7 per cent share of the available viewing audience.