Its presenter, Chris Evans, said that the show is already being filmed but gave nothing away about his co-presenters

Top Gear will return to the BBC on Sunday 8 May, its new presenter Chris Evans has said.

Jeremy Clarkson's Top Gear years to feature in BBC special Read more

During an interview with James Martin on BBC1’s Saturday Kitchen, he said the first episode would be screened the Sunday after filming finishes on 5 May. Evans said producers had “already started making the films”.

“We’re going to America to make our first inter-continental in January,” he added. Evans, 49, did not say anything about who his co-presenters would be. There will be 16 episodes when the new incarnation of Top Gear is broadcast on BBC2 next year.

Meanwhile the show’s former presenters Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May were on stage for the last time at London’s O2 on Sunday evening in Clarkson, Hammond and May Live. After 19 countries, 32 cities and 2.2 million visitors, their world tour came to an end with three nights in the capital.

The London shows included James Bond’s Aston Martin DB10 and a Porsche 918.

Clarkson was sacked from Top Gear in March following a “fracas” with the show’s producer. Since the incident, the former Top Gear trio have signed a deal for a new Amazon Prime motor show with a reported budget of £160m.