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Dozy BBC bosses missed a chance to sign Chris Evans on an exclusive deal – delaying Top Gear’s launch.

Insiders said the Beeb was due to offer Evans a golden handcuffs contract worth millions but dragged their feet, allowing Channel 4 to get him to host TFI Friday.

A source said: “The BBC never got out of first gear, and they paid the price for it. TFI will be back on our screens before the new series of Top Gear.”

Channel 4 signed up Evans for 10 episodes of TFI after a one-off show proved a hit.

The series, set to start in October, will mean delays to filming parts of Top Gear.

BBC TV boss Danny Cohen admitted on Monday he was shocked Evans had signed up for TFI as well as the BBC2 car show.

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He said: “I was a little bit surprised. He had a commitment, he’s finishing it, but after that he will be solely focused on Top Gear.”

However, Channel 4 bosses insist Evans can “go on making TFI if he likes”, because their contract was in place before the BBC’s one.

Evans was announced as the new Top Gear host on June 16.

(Image: Splash)

But TFI went out on Friday June 12 and was such a hit with bosses and viewers that Channel 4 already had a deal in place within hours, meaning the BBC could not tie him to an exclusive deal when he signed for them four days later.

TFI is set to return in October, with the one-off episode bringing in huge ratings for the channel of 3.7 million.

The insider also rejected claims by Evans that Nick Grimshaw had been lined up to front the resurrected show - saying Evans was always going to do it.

The source added: “It is Chris’ show and it only really works with him back in the hosting chair."