Damnit. We were just getting used to the idea of having two great shows rising from the ashes of the old Top Gear.
I refer of course to the way the old show bombed spectacularly when host Jeremy Clarkson punched one of the show's producers. What followed was a replacement Top Squad spearheaded by Chris Evans, the annoying one from BBC Radio and not Captain America.
It floundered despite having an excellent support team including Matt Le Blanc, Chris Harris, Sabine Schmitz, Eddie Jordan and newcomer Rory Reid. Meanwhile the old boys’ gang reunited under the banner of The Grand Tour, using Amazon's money to finance their motoring shenanigans - hence we now have two shows.
The second attempt at new Top Gear was much more successful following the old show's three-man format, which meant Matt Le Blanc, Rory Reid and Chris's Harris shared the stage. Fantastic. That is until now. Matt LeBlanc is throwing in the towel.
Settle down, there’s no controversy
Matt simply chooses not the life of an international man of motoring over that of a family man, and we don't blame him. We've played the seemingly glamorous game of driving unobtanium in far off lands for long enough to know that it does indeed take a toll on family life.
Despite his youthful looks, ol' Matt is a 50 year old father and husband and was no longer comfortable spending extensive periods of the year away from his loved ones. Adding "It’s unfortunate, but for these reasons I will not be continuing my involvement with the show. I will forever be a Top Gear fan and I wish the team continued success. Thanks for a great drive."
A shame, but perhaps there's someone waiting in the wings to turn the show's declining viewership around? Donald Trump perhaps, we hear he gets good views?
