The BBC Have Defended New Look Top Gear And Its Disappointing Ratings

Disappointed fans may have re-named the BBC’s flagship car show ‘Flop Gear’ (see what they did there?) but bosses at the Beeb have jumped to Top Gear’s defence.

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A total of 4.4million viewers tuned into the first show featuring the new presenting team of Chris Evans and Matt LeBlanc. Chris had earlier said he was aiming for over five million.

This is the lowest audience the show has achieved in a decade. Ouch. Fans branded it boring, soulless and lifeless. Double ouch.

But Alan Tyler, Acting Controller Entertainment Commissioning, has said in a statement: “Chris and Matt have successfully kicked off a whole new era in style and we are really looking forward to bringing our audiences even more thrills as the series continues.”

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It was announced yesterday that the new series kicked off with half a million less viewers than watched Jeremy Clarkson’s final show at the helm.

That particular episode, back in June last year, pulled in 5.3 million viewers.

As well as BBC bosses, Chris has defended the show.

He took to Twitter to dish out some facts, saying: “The new Top Gear is a hit. OFFICIALLY. 23% audience share. 12% MORE than the opening episode of the last series. These are the FACTS.

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“Top Gear audience grew throughout the hour. FACT. Won its slot. FACT. Still number one on iPlayer. FACT. These are THE FACTS folks.”

Can’t argue with facts, folks.

Jeremy Clarkson has remained uncharacteristically quiet on the whole fracas.