The BBC has denied claims that it used canned laughter to mask audience silence during last Sunday's opening episode of the new series of Top Gear.
Some viewers on social media had claimed that canned laughter was being used, while a "guest in attendance" told British newspaper The Sun that there were "long, awkward silences" during the taping of the show which is now co-hosted by former TFI Friday presenter Chris Evans and former Friends star Matt LeBlanc.
Chris Evans in action in the opening episode - There are people laughing...
"The episode made it sound as though we were in fits of hysterics throughout the recording but that is far from the truth," said The Sun's source.
"After seeing Chris and Matt do hundreds of takes and spiel out horrendous jokes for four hours straight we were all bored out of our minds - not in stitches like they made it seem in Sunday's show."
Matt LeBlanc also tickled some funny bones
However, The Guardian reports that a spokesman for the BBC said all the laughter had come from the studio audience.
"There were no awkward silences during filming as reported by The Sun newspaper, which clearly has an agenda against the show," he said.
"It's well known that Top Gear isn't a live programme and that the show is edited after filming, but last week's episode was edited in exactly the same way as previous series."
The new series of Top Gear continues on BBC Two and RTÉ2 on Sunday nights.
