The ’90s sitcom Friends has been in the news an awful lot lately, and here’s yet another story involving a former cast member: funnyman and actor Matt LeBlanc has been announced as co-host of British car show Top Gear, joining existing host Chris Evans.
“Matt’s a lifelong fellow petrolhead and I’m thrilled he’s joining Top Gear,” said Evans to The Guardian. “Acting out our craziest car notions on screen is a dream job and I know we’ll both be debating some epic road trip ideas. We can’t wait to share what we’ve been up to on screen later this year.”
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“As a car nut and a massive fan of Top Gear, I’m honoured and excited to be a part of this iconic show’s new chapter. What a thrill,” gushed LeBlanc.
He later tweeted:
LeBlanc will be the first non-British presenter of the show in its 39-year history, according to the BBC.
“This takes Top Gear in a new direction,” said the BBC in a press release. “LeBlanc’s presence on the show will also be a boost when selling it internationally.”
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In a statement, the BBC said LeBlanc would join production immediately and that additional Top Gear cast members would be “confirmed shortly.”
The former Friends star is the celebrity with the fastest time around the Top Gear track to-date. In February 2012, he made it around the track in one minute, 42.1 seconds.
Even Channel 4 (another U.K. TV station) got into the spirit of things, tweeting this joke about LeBlanc’s Friends co-star Matthew Perry (which is, of course, not true).
Top Gear returns with new episodes in May.
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