Matt LeBlanc Joins 'Top Gear'

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Top Gear's new co-host will be Joey from Friends - Top Gear's former hosts may have moved on to start again on Amazon, but the show lives on in Britain — with a surprising new addition. Actor Matt LeBlanc, best known for his role as Joey in Friends, will be the new co-presenter for the show alongside British present Chris Evans. LeBlanc said in a statement that as "a car nut and a massive fan of Top Gear, I’m honored and excited to be a part of this iconic show’s new chapter. What a thrill."

Blanc has already appeared on Top Gear twice before

The BBC noted in a press release that LeBlanc is already a "familiar face" on Top Gear, having been a guest on the show twice as parts of its regular "Star In A Reasonably-Priced Car" feature. He also recently presented the recent spin-off compilation show Top Gear: The Races. The British network's official release said that "LeBlanc’s international appeal has never been stronger despite filming the finale of his global hit Friends almost 12 years ago."

Evans said in a statement: "Matt’s a lifelong fellow petrolhead and I’m thrilled he’s joining Top Gear. Acting out our craziest car notions on screen is a dream job and I know we’ll both be debating some epic road trip ideas. We can’t wait to share what we’ve been up to on screen later this year."

And although LeBlanc might seem an odd choice for the Top Gear role, he does have name recognition on both sides of the Atlantic. A BBC source told The Guardian: "Le Blanc’s presence on the show will also be a boost when selling it internationally, particularly in the US where it is due to air on BBC America." He's also proved that he's no slouch behind the steering wheel either, and currently holds the record for the fastest time ever around the Top Gear track.