Chris Evans (Picture: Tony Barson/WireImage)

Another day, another Top Gear drama.

But this one may be more serious, as it has been claimed that new presenter Chris Evans may quit six months into his three-year contract because he is unhappy with ‘meddling’ BBC executives who are thought to be ‘micro-managing’ the hit show.

Chris signed a three-year contract to host the driving show, which saw huge changes in 2015 when host Jeremy Clarkson was let go from the channel after a fracas with a producer.

But now The Mirror have claimed that Chris has been ‘driven to distraction’ by the ‘constant interference’ by former BBC2 controller Kim Shillinglaw.


Chris and Sabine (Picture: FameFlyNet)

Setbacks and behind-the-scenes staffing issues have also dented his enthusiasm for the reboot of the programme which will reportedly not give Chris and his German co-host Sabine Schmitz as much freedom as the past presenters.



A source told the newspaper: ‘Chris isn’t a quitter but it was all getting on top of him and he began wondering if it was all worth the hassle.’

‘He was being driven to distraction by all this when all he wanted to do was make good television,’ added the insider.

‘Things got so bad that he made his feelings very clear. It was more or less a “butt out or I’m out” situation. Whether he would have carried out the threat is another issue – but the message was obvious.’

However a BBC spokesperson told Metro.co.uk that Kim did not interfere at all and that ‘production is continuing as planned on schedule’.

MORE: James May reckons ‘ballsy’ Chris Evans will be brilliant on Top Gear

Chris was feeling the heat (Picture: FameFlyNet)

‘BBC Two Controller Kim Shillinglaw’s departure has absolutely nothing to do with Top Gear or the utter nonsense suggesting she has been ‘meddling’ in the show,’ the spokesperson added.

Filming for the new series, admittedly, has been beset by a huge amount of problems including reports that Chris is allegedly unable to talk and drive simultaneously and that he has been car-sick from a test drive of a fast car.

But not everyone is convinced that the new version of the show will fail, as former presenter James May told the Radio Times that he would ‘like to see Chris’s ​Top Gear ​do well’.

‘I think the stories about Chris’s version being in trouble might be an elaborate hoax, before it explodes onto our screens in brilliance.’

Here’s hoping, James, here’s hoping.

Metro.co.uk has contacted the BBC for comment.

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