
Chris Evans was today forced to apologise 'unreservedly' for a Top Gear stunt that saw Matt LeBlanc doing doughnut wheelspins next to the Cenotaph.

The broadcaster used his BBC Radio 2 show this morning to try to quell mounting anger about Sunday's sequence as filming for the new series of the BBC Two show, which is due to air in May, hit another crisis.

Evans, who took over presenting the show after Clarkson was sacked for hitting a producer, said: 'On behalf of the Top Gear team and Matt I would like to apologise unreservedly for what these images seem to portray.

'There's been some very incendiary comments involved and written alongside these pictures and I completely understand all this furore', but in attempt to distance himself from the stunt he added: 'This isn't a shoot I'm particularly involved in'.

Politicians and a former Army chief quickly condemned the BBC for arranging the 'gravely disrespectful' sequence yards from Britain's main war memorial.

Colonel Richard Kemp, a retired commander of British forces in Afghanistan, said: 'It beggars belief that they were ever allowed to film here. This is a sacred tribute to millions of people who have done far more for their country than [show hosts] Chris Evans and Matt LeBlanc ever will.'

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Latest stunt: Chris Evans apologised today after Top Gear co-host Matt LeBlanc incurred the wrath of many by performing wheelspins just yards from the Cenotaph yesterday

Give us a wave! Matt LeBlanc's driving antics upset a lot of people and co-host Chris Evans today admitted: 'I completely understand all this furore'

Leaving their mark: Filming for the new series brought the capital to a standstill for the second day running, with roads closed, areas sealed off from the public and tyre marks left outside the Houses of Parliament (pictured)

CHRIS EVANS: CENOTAPH APOLOGY Chris Evans used a portion of his Radio 2 show to apologise for the anger caused by the Top Gear stunt by the Cenotaph. He said: 'So let me just start by explaining what happened here. If you haven't heard about this or you haven't seen these pictures - and I hadn't seen them until this morning because I was away with family over the weekend - we were making a Top Gear film, we are still making the Top Gear film to do with a car called the Hoonigan and this brilliant stunt driver called Ken Block. 'Matt Le Blanc is making the film alongside Ken and we closed some roads down in London on Saturday and Sunday, and I believe we're doing the same now. 'This isn't a shoot I'm particularly involved in but I do obviously know something about it. 'The images on the front page of the papers today - it doesn't matter what actually happened, it doesn't matter what the circumstances were that could explain this away; what is important about this is what these images look like. 'They look entirely disrespectful, which of course was not, and would never be, the intention of the Top Gear team or Matt. 'These pictures were taken with a long-lens camera from, I believe Parliament Square, but the point is it does not look good at all, whatsoever. 'So, on behalf of the Top Gear team and Matt I would like to apologise unreservedly for what these images seem to portray. 'There's been some very incendiary comments involved and written alongside these pictures and I completely understand all this furore. 'But the Top Gear team would never, ever do that. Retrospectively, it was unwise to be anywhere near the cenotaph with this motorcar. 'I believe the shoot is continuing, I believe Matt is on location now. 'Again, we would like to unreservedly apologise for what these pictures seem to portray, which was never the intention of the Top Gear team.' Advertisement

Questions have also been raised about the road closures agreed by Westminster Council and why Scotland Yard agreed to send a five-strong police motorcycle escort for LeBlanc's Ford Mustang.

Apologising today Chris Evans said: 'The images on the front page of the papers today - it doesn't matter what actually happened, it doesn't matter what the circumstances were that could explain this away; what is important about this is what these images look like.

'They look entirely disrespectful, which of course was not, and would never be, the intention of the Top Gear team or Matt.

'These pictures were taken with a long-lens camera from, I believe Parliament Square, but the point is it does not look good at all, whatsoever.

'So, on behalf of the Top Gear team and Matt I would like to apologise unreservedly for what these images seem to portray.

'There's been some very incendiary comments involved and written alongside these pictures and I completely understand all this furore.

'But the Top Gear team would never, ever do that. Retrospectively, it was unwise to be anywhere near the cenotaph with this motorcar. Again, we would like to unreservedly apologise for what these pictures seem to portray, which was never the intention of the Top Gear team.'

Matt LeBlanc's antics even irked Chancellor George Osborne, who tweeted that he was having trouble writing his Budget because of the noise, while one Tory MP blasted the BBC for the 'extremely distasteful and disrespectful' behaviour.

Andrew Bridgen told MailOnline that it should be a 'career-ending decision' for whoever authorised the stunt.

Mr Bridgen had harsher words for the public broadcaster, pointing out that Charlie Gilmour - son of Pink Floyd frontman David - was handed a 16-month jail sentence for swinging from the Cenotaph. He has called for an inquiry into why the BBC was allowed to film in front of the monument.

The MP for North West Leicestershire told MailOnline: 'It's very disappointing that the new BBC Top Gear programme is being targeted to an audience that thinks it's reasonable to perform doughnuts around the Cenotaph.

The BBC declined to comment and Top Gear insiders said the 'doughnut' took place 130ft from the Cenotaph but long-lens photos made it look closer.

'I think it's extremely distasteful and disrespectful and I would like to know who thought it was a good idea to plan this.

'It's really desperate publicity seeking from our public service broadcaster.

'Jeremy Clarkson was certainly no saint but I don't think he would have performed a stunt in such bad taste. It should be a career-ending decision to have authorised it.'

He added: 'Members of the Armed Forces and the British Legion will find it absolutely appalling that this has been allowed to happen.

'We locked someone up for being disrespectful and swinging on the Cenotaph.'

A number of Metropolitan Police officers have been assisting with the filming, though the force would not confirm how many. But it appears to be at least five.

The Met also refused to say how much the BBC paid them, claiming it was commercially sensitive information, and denied the stunt encouraged dangerous driving.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: The Met's Film Unit is working with BBC Top Gear in mid-March to facilitate the filming of a number of vehicle related scenes.

'All scenes took place in controlled conditions on roads that were closed to the public through pre-planned Traffic Management Orders.

'The Metropolitan Police is an operational police service and filming is arranged outside the core function of policing. Therefore, filming services provided are charged and undertaken only where they do not impede the ability of any police officer or staff to fulfil their primary function. Where assistance is under special services of police it is undertaken on a cost recovery basis.'

It is understood that the production company is footing the bill for policing the filming days. The company will also have to pay Westminster Council for closing of roads. There is also a fee for filming in locations such as Whitehall and Parliament Square.

Road closure orders usually cost in the region of £1,000 - £2,000, with a fee charged either as a set rate or a rate per application and up to six are available per year for each road.

On top of this, the BBC would have been responsible for covering the cost of traffic management plans, stewarding, policing, maintenance and removal of all advance signing, traffic management signs, cones and barriers.

Crowds of onlookers: Top Gear co-host Matt LeBlanc drives along the Mall with five police bikes in tow for the filming of the new Top Gear

On your marks: Matt LeBlanc again took to the streets of London in a Ford Mustang as he filmed scenes for the new series of Top Gear

Wheelspins: Smoke was thrown up as the Top Gear crew began performing doughnuts in a Ford Mustang, with cameramen filming nearby

Escort: Matt Le Blanc and Ken Block are flanked by police officers as they film scenes for Top Gear in London on Sunday afternoon

Support: A number of Metropolitan Police officers have been assisting with the filming, though the force would not confirm how many

Scotland Yard said: The Met's Film Unit is working with BBC Top Gear in mid-March to facilitate the filming of a number of vehicle related scenes. They took place in controlled conditions on roads that were closed to the public through pre-planned Traffic Management Orders'

It comes 24 hours after self-proclaimed petrol-head LeBlanc roared up to the steps of St Paul's in the same Ford Mustang (pictured)

The stunt saw the Top Gear team carrying out wheelspins and doughnuts in front of Big Ben (left), while LeBlanc was seen jogging (right)

LeBlanc's antics even irked Chancellor George Osborne, who tweeted that he was having trouble writing his Budget because of the noise

HOW IS TOP GEAR ALLOWED TO SHUT DOWN CENTRAL LONDON? RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR TV AND FILM CREWS When it comes to filming stunts such as those for the new Top Gear series, certain permissions are required for roads to be shut down. London is divided into 33 separate boroughs and each has its own Borough Film Service to deal with filming requests for all local authority managed locations. These include for streets, Commons, town halls, schools, shopping centres and leisure centres. Meanwhile, the London Local Authorities and Transport for London Act 2008 means that Traffic Authorities have the authority to close roads specifically for the purpose of filming on London's streets and highways. Stop and stare: A bewildered 'wedding party' could only watch on as new Top Gear presenter Matt LeBlanc performed stunts in a mean-looking muscle car outside the iconic St Paul's Cathedral during filming for the show in London on Saturday Here comes the bride: The pair simply shrugged their shoulders as they made their way down the steps of the famous landmark All initial enquiries for about closing a road have to go through the Borough Film Service. Road closure orders usually cost in the region of £1,000 - £2,000, with a fee charged either as a set rate or a rate per application and up to six are available per year for each road. On top of this, an applicant is responsible for covering the cost of traffic management plans, stewarding, policing, maintenance and removal of all advance signing, traffic management signs, cones and barriers. There is also a fee for filming in locations such as Parliament Square. Though certain areas may appear 'public', they are in fact managed by a number of agencies, including The Royal Parks, Trafalgar Square, Parliament Square, The South Bank and London Underground. The amount of notice needed depends on the size of the production and type of shoot. As a general rule, a minimum of 10 days is needed for large crews and complex shoots. Advertisement

It comes 24 hours after self-proclaimed petrol-head LeBlanc roared up to the steps of St Paul's in a Ford Mustang. A blushing 'bride' then watched on alongside groups of tourists as rally driver Ken Block did doughnuts with LeBlanc in the passenger seat.

While the pair were all smiles as they completed the stunt, motorists were left furious as Tower Bridge was entirely shut earlier in the day for filming, which caused delays across London.

The 'happy couple', later revealed to be actors, were pictured shrugging their shoulders at the intrusion on their special day.

Playing the groom was Simon Bond, a BBC Worldwide digital communities manager working on Top Gear, who acted stunned as he called someone from his phone on the steps of the cathedral.

He then wandered down and casually spoke to LeBlanc, who got out of his car in the shadow of St Paul's.

Onlookers hoping to photograph the bride instead captured the moment the car sped onto the square, with smoke billowing from the back wheels, screeching deafeningly before the crowds.

The mean-looking Ford Mustang was being driven as part of a show that had shut off Tower Bridge yesterday morning, causing chaos for local motorists.

Earlier in the day, LeBlanc produced a huge grin in between takes outside another famous landmark, the Tower of London, as he stood with the crew in a padded North Face coat, a red zip-up jacket and navy jeans.

While LeBlanc and rally driver Ken Block were all smiles as they completed their stunts yesterday, motorists were left furious as Tower Bridge was entirely shut earlier in the day for filming, which caused delays across London. More scenes were filmed today (pictured)

It is understood that the production company is footing the bill for policing the filming days. The company will also have to pay for the closing off of roads, usually applied for through the Borough Film Service of the relevant London borough authority

The Ford Mustang was being driven as part of a show that caused chaos for motorists yesterday and threatened the same today

Motorists will have been less pleased with the road closures, which slowed traffic flow through the city for hours as the Mustang was filmed by a truck with a huge mounted camera in tow. Smoke can be seen from the doughnuts being performed earlier today

The filming has been taking place in central London, including on The Mall (left), with LeBlanc assisted by rally driver Ken Block (right)

When they arrived at St Paul's, many of the 'wedding' guests looked astonished when the muscle car burst onto the cobbles, carrying LeBlanc in the supposedly unannounced stunt. He was back in the same car today, appearing to be studying a map of London

The shoot was nearly thrown into jeopardy at one stage yesterday after the car broke down, but the crew managed to get the motor running again to complete the scenes. They were back up and running again today

At the wheel: LeBlanc is pictured filming a sequence for the new series of Top Gear, which forced the closure of several roads in London

Filming for the new series of Top Gear brought the capital to a standstill for the second day running, with roads closed, areas sealed off from the public and tyre marks left outside the Houses of Parliament

It comes 24 hours after self-proclaimed petrol-head LeBlanc roared up to the steps of St Paul's in a Ford Mustang. A blushing 'bride' then watched on alongside groups of tourists as rally driver Ken Block did doughnuts with LeBlanc in the passenger seat

Drawing a crowd: Members of the public looked on as the Top Gear crew filmed the Ford Mustang being driven around central London

The Top Gear crew have been filming in a number of locations including Canary Wharf, Horse Guards Parade, Tower Bridge and St Paul's.

Meanwhile, during yesterday's stunt at St Paul's, many of the 'wedding' guests looked astonished when the muscle car burst onto the cobbles, carrying LeBlanc in the supposedly unannounced stunt.

The shoot was nearly thrown into jeopardy at one stage after the car broke down, but the crew managed to get the motor running again to complete the scenes.

Show mechanics were seen attaching jump leads from the 'stunt safety unit' in order to re-start the car, while a double-decker London tour bus waited behind.

Last month, LeBlanc suffered a similar fate while filming on the M1 in a Reliant Rialtos alongside co-host Chris Evans.