After a rather tumultuous journey to TV screens, the first episode of the new series of Top Gear will finally air tonight.

We'll just have to see whether this first outing can survive the horde of negative rumours swirling the production, with its filming on Thursday reportedly seeing dozens of audience members leaving the studio before the show had finished filming.

What time is it on and what channel?

The first episode of Top Gear will air 29 May, 8PM on BBC2.

Who's hosting?

Chris Evans was first confirmed as the man tasked with replacing the original trio of presenters. Of course, Top Gear isn't a one-man job and on 4 February, it was announced that Friends actor Matt LeBlanc would be joining Evans as co-host. Also onboard are F1 commentator Eddie Jordan, world record-breaking German racing driver Sabine Schmitz, car reviewer and TV presenter Rory Reid, YouTube star Chris Harris and of course, the Stig.



The post-Clarkson Top Gear era in pictures Show all 21 1 /21 The post-Clarkson Top Gear era in pictures The post-Clarkson Top Gear era in pictures Chris Evans hosting the new Top Gear, replacing Jeremy Clarkson BBC Worldwide The post-Clarkson Top Gear era in pictures Damian Lewis crawls out of his car after a ride with The Stig BBC World Wide/Mark Yeoman The post-Clarkson Top Gear era in pictures Matt LeBlanc has taken over co-hosting duties from Richard Hammond and James May BBC World Wide/Jeff Spicer The post-Clarkson Top Gear era in pictures Damian Lewis seemed to enjoy his time on Top Gear BBC World Wide/Mark Yeoman The post-Clarkson Top Gear era in pictures Damian Lewis and The Stig BBC World Wide/Mark Yeoman The post-Clarkson Top Gear era in pictures Sharleen Spiteri and The Stig BBC World Wide/Mark Yeoman The post-Clarkson Top Gear era in pictures Top Gear introduces some special guests for the second episode BBC World Wide/Jeff Spicer The post-Clarkson Top Gear era in pictures Testing out a McLaren 675 LT BBC World Wide/Mark Yeoman The post-Clarkson Top Gear era in pictures Eddie Jordan, Seasick Steve and Sharleen Spiteri on Top Gear BBC World Wide/Jeff Spicer The post-Clarkson Top Gear era in pictures Chris Evans hits the track on Top Gear BBC Worldwide/Mark Yeoman The post-Clarkson Top Gear era in pictures It's time for a South African challenge on Top Gear BBC Worldwide/Desmond Louw The post-Clarkson Top Gear era in pictures Chris Evans and Matt LeBLanc take Top Gear to Blackpool BBC Worldwide/Mark Yeoman The post-Clarkson Top Gear era in pictures It's tug of war time in Blackpool during the first new episode of Top Gear BBC Worldwide/Mark Yeoman The post-Clarkson Top Gear era in pictures Chris Evans and Matt LeBlanc have a lot to live up to on Top Gear BBC Worldwide The post-Clarkson Top Gear era in pictures Seasick Steve and Tinie Tempah join Chris Evans for an off-road race on Top Gear BBC Worldwide/Desmond Louw The post-Clarkson Top Gear era in pictures Matt LeBlanc on the set of the new Top Gear BBC WORLDWIDE The post-Clarkson Top Gear era in pictures The Stig with the Mini Cooper used as part of new segment Star in a Rallycross Car BBC WORLDWIDE The post-Clarkson Top Gear era in pictures Actor Jesse Eisenberg with Stig BBC WORLDWIDE The post-Clarkson Top Gear era in pictures Chef Gordon Ramsay with Stig BBC WORLDWIDE The post-Clarkson Top Gear era in pictures Jesse Eisenberg does a lap of the Top Gear circuit BBC WORLDWIDE The post-Clarkson Top Gear era in pictures Jesse Eisenberg and Gordon Ramsay in the Top Gear studio BBC WORLDWIDE



Who are the guests and what cars will be driven?

Episode one's guests will be Batman v Superman actor Jesse Eisenberg and chef Gordon Ramsay. It remains unclear exactly which segment the two will be participating in but it's a fair bet to assume one or both could feature in Star in a Rallycross Car - which has been announced as Star in a Reasonably Priced Car's replacement.

Elsewhere, Evans is to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Tom Cruise film Top Gun by driving a 645bhp Dodge Viper ACR in a race against co-host Schmitz's Chevy Corvette Z06 (minus the motion sickness, hopefully).

As was teased in a clip released by the BBC, LeBlanc will tackle Ariel's Nomad in the Moroccan desert and - to even out the playing field - also heads to a rain-specked Blackpool where he and Evans take a roofless Reliant Rialto for a spin.

How many episodes will there be?



Though usually eight episodes in length, this series has been cut down to merely six.

All-new Top Gear trailer

What is Extra Gear?