---
title: "Matt LeBlanc To Leave BBC’s Top Gear"
description: "The former Friends star cites the extensive time commitment needed to produce the show."
date: "2018-05-31"
modified: "2018-05-31"
authors:
  - name: "Kyle Cheromcha"
    job_title: "Editor-in-Chief"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/kyle-cheromcha"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/21220/matt-leblanc-to-leave-bbcs-top-gear"
categories:
  - "Culture"
  - "News"
  - "People"
tags:
  - "BBC"
  - "Matt LeBlanc"
  - "Top Gear"
  - "TV Shows"
---

# Matt LeBlanc To Leave BBC’s Top Gear

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/05/top-gear-the-races.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

A little over two years after taking the reigns from Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May to headline the world's most popular car show, actor [Matt LeBlanc](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/4398/top-gears-matt-leblanc-bought-a-ford-focus-rs>) has announced that he'll be leaving *Top Gear* at the end of next season, [the *BBC* reports.](<https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-44320696>)

Unlike the unplanned departure of the original trio—not to mention LeBlanc's original co-host Chris Evans—the former *Friends* star is making his own decision to step down, citing the extensive time commitments needed to film *Top Gear* in a statement explaining his surprising move.

"\[The\] time commitment and extensive travel... takes me away from my family and friends more than I'm comfortable with," LeBlanc said, [according to the *BBC*.](<https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-44320696>) "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."

https://youtube.com/embed/eExvKtgsYl8

*Top Gear* initially struggled after Clarkson, Hammond, and May left in 2015, with the new hosts struggling to find the chemistry that made the old trio so appealing. But by all accounts, the show has been hitting its stride since LeBlanc, Rory Reid, and Chris Harris took over the main presenting duties, with the latest season [drawing solid reviews](<https://www.thedrive.com/watch-this/8629/the-next-episode-of-top-gear-uk-may-be-the-best-of-the-new-show-yet>) from fans and the press alike. The bizarre battles between LeBlanc and Harris in particular have been fun to watch.

https://youtube.com/embed/Xr_Ooby2P0I

LeBlanc may have seemed an odd choice at first, but the combination of his global appeal ([the *BBC* points out](<https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-44320696>) that Top Gear is shown in over 150 markets around the world) and his actual driving skills made him a great fit for the show. Before becoming a host, he had set the *Top Gear* "Star in a Reasonably Priced Car" course record [with the Kia Cee'd](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/11458/old-top-gears-reasonably-priced-kia-ceed-is-now-for-sale>) as a guest in 2012.

But as the star of two other TV shows—*Man With a Plan* on CBS*,* and *Episodes* on BBC2/Showtime—it appears he's made a choice to pull back from this endeavor. Now the question is, who will replace him? It will likely need to be someone else with a similarly-broad recognition. We'll find out soon enough—[provided they don't demolish the set first.](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/19880/top-gears-test-track-is-approved-for-demolition>)

## Author
Overseeing an expert staff of writers and editors from his lair in Los Angeles, Kyle shapes The Drive’s singular approach to covering the automotive industry and car culture. He’s been with the site as a writer since 2017, taking over as editor in 2019. On a daily basis, Kyle is responsible for directing The Drive's editorial news and car review content strategies, setting special coverage priorities, managing complex reporting projects, and ensuring what you read on the page meets our high internal standards for quality and trustworthiness. He is also the executive producer of The Drive's YouTube channel, which was relaunched in February 2024 to great acclaim and has accumulated over 14M new views in its first year back on the scene. He hosts a biweekly series on the channel where he breaks down fascinating and complicated stories from the automotive world.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/kylecheromcha.bsky.social>)  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/kylecheromcha>)  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-cheromcha-1550248a/>)