Chris Evans has said that he had previously ruled himself out of becoming the new presenter of Top Gear because he didn't want to become a `pawn in a chess game' involving ex-host Jeremy Clarkson.
After weeks of speculation, Evans was officially announced as the show's new frontman last night by the BBC.
Speaking on his BBC Radio 2 show this morning, Evans said he was only offered the job last week but had been contacted by senior BBC management about taking over soon after the Clarkson controversy erupted last March.
Evans will make 18 editions of Top Gear next year with filming due to begin in March or April.
Evans also said said that he contacted Clarkson and his fellow former presenters Richard Hammond and James May, before yesterday's official announcement about the new host.
Clarkson told him: “I knew you would, best of luck.” Evans told his Radio 2 listeners, adding that he also received Hammond's official blessing.
Evans said that he is taking the Top Gear job because it is “the biggest television show in the world and my favourite television show of all time”.
“I love producing TV, you know the kind of TV I love to produce, so I said yes. We had our first meeting about it on Friday and that was that.”
