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Top Gear host Chris Evans and co-presenter Matt LeBlanc looked far from being Friends as they arrived at Heathrow.

Amid rumours of a rift, Evans reportedly hailed a taxi rather than jump into a waiting Top Gear car with the American after their return from filming in Venice.

A witness claims that moments earlier they saw Evans, 49, arguing with one of his party in the terminal building.

The source said: “There were raised voices and Chris looked utterly fed-up.”

It comes days after the BBC confirmed it had handed editorial control of the programme to Clare Pizey, a former head of factual entertainment at the channel.

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The corporation insists it has nothing to do with the furore around the Cenotaph stunt earlier this month in which LeBlanc and rally driver Ken Block performed wheelspins and doughnuts close to the London war dead memorial.

Read more:Top Gear hit with ANOTHER problem after attempting to film without permission

Evans later issued a public apology.

(Image: FameFlynet)

But show insiders say the new appointment and recent controversy has done nothing to help Evans and LeBlanc’s fragile alliance.

The presenters have tried to put on a united front, with Matt posting a photo of himself, Evans, F1 commentator Eddie Jordan and German racing driver Sabine Schmitz on Twitter earlier this week.

(Image: FameFlynet)

But a show insider said there was tension between them on the road trip from Turin to Venice, via Brescia, Verona and Milan.

The insider said: “Chris felt Matt didn’t take the Cenotaph incident seriously enough.

(Image: FameFlynet)

"And Matt hasn’t been happy about being blamed for it, with Chris saying he knew nothing about it.

“Another issue is Chris is involved in sorting out filming and the nuts and bolts of the show as ‘creative lead’.

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"Matt, on the other hand, just turns up and treats the whole thing as a blast.

“It’s been quite a stressful time for Chris. He feels his neck is on the block and he was never mad keen on Matt being part of it.”

(Image: FameFlynet)

LeBlanc, 48, has reportedly formed a stronger alliance with Jordan.

The insider added: “Eddie really bonded with the team in South Africa. He knows Matt from Formula One – Matt often attended races.

"They both love a party. Chris is great company when he’s not under pressure, but right now he’s ratty and tired.”

The new BBC2 Top Gear returns in May.

Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May will debut their new Amazon Prime series in the autumn.