When the BBC announced that Joey from Friends was taking over the biggest car show on the planet, the internet collectively lost its mind. People were confused. They were skeptical. Honestly, some were just flat-out angry. But looking back from 2026, the Matt LeBlanc Top Gear era feels like a fever dream that actually kind of worked. It wasn't the disaster everyone predicted after the "steakgate" fallout involving Jeremy Clarkson.
The show was in a tailspin. Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May—the "Holy Trinity" of motoring—had jumped ship to Amazon. The BBC was desperate. They needed a global face. Enter Matt LeBlanc. He wasn't just a sitcom star; he was a guy who genuinely loved fast things. He’d already set the fastest-ever lap in the "Star in a Reasonably Priced Car" segment. The man could drive.
Why Matt LeBlanc Top Gear Was a Necessary Gamble
The initial rollout was rough. Chris Evans—the "shouty" radio host, not Captain America—was the lead. It was a mess. Ratings for the first episode of the new era saw a massive drop-off, losing nearly a third of the US audience compared to the Clarkson days. Fans hated the "forced" energy. They hated the screaming. But through the smoke and the awkward studio banter, LeBlanc started to emerge as the stable, cool-headed center of the storm.
He wasn't trying to be Clarkson. That was the secret. While Evans seemed like he was auditioning for a role he couldn't quite grasp, LeBlanc was just... Matt. He was American, sure, but he was a legit gearhead. He knew his way around an engine. By the time Evans quit after just six episodes, the BBC realized they had their real lead. They doubled his salary to a reported £1 million a year and let him take the wheel.
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The chemistry shift with Chris Harris and Rory Reid
Something clicked when the "Three Musketeers" vibe returned. LeBlanc, Chris Harris, and Rory Reid actually felt like they liked each other. Harris brought the technical "God of YouTube" drifting skills. Reid brought the everyman enthusiast energy. LeBlanc? He was the big brother. The one with the Hollywood budget but the dirt-under-the-fingernails attitude.
- Series 24 felt like the show finally exhaled.
- The "forced friendship" critiques started to fade.
- Segments like the Kazakhstan road trip in a Mercedes, a Volvo, and a London taxi proved they could handle the classic Top Gear absurdity.
It wasn't perfect. Some critics argued it was still "boring" or that LeBlanc looked like he was "phoning it in" because of his deadpan delivery. But if you watch his solo film on the Porsche 911 R, you see the passion. He wasn't bored; he was just cool. There’s a difference.
The Reality of Why He Left
In 2018, the bombshell dropped. LeBlanc was quitting. Fans were actually sad this time—a far cry from the pitchforks they held in 2016. The reason wasn't a "fracas" or a falling out. It was much simpler and kind of relatable.
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The travel was killing him.
Top Gear is a global production. You're in Norway one week, Sri Lanka the next, and then back in a cold hangar in Surrey. LeBlanc had his "day job" in LA with the sitcom Man with a Plan. He was spending more time on planes than with his family and friends. In his official statement, he admitted the "time commitment and extensive travel" was more than he was comfortable with. He chose his life over the lap times.
The Legacy of the American Host
Can we call the Matt LeBlanc Top Gear years a success? Ratings never hit the 8-million-viewer peaks of the 2000s, but he saved the brand from total irrelevance. He proved that Top Gear could exist without the original trio. He stabilized a sinking ship and paved the way for Paddy McGuinness and Freddie Flintoff to take the show into its next high-energy (and ultimately final) chapter.
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He also brought a different flavor to the humor. It wasn't the "edgy" schoolboy banter of Clarkson. It was more relaxed. He was happy to be the butt of the joke, whether it was getting "stuck in second gear" or dealing with his "bored" public persona.
What You Should Watch if You Miss That Era
If you're looking to revisit the best of LeBlanc's tenure, skip the first series with Evans. Go straight to Series 24 and 25.
- The Porsche 911 R Review: Pure car porn. Matt’s genuine appreciation for a manual gearbox shines here.
- The Tuk-Tuk Tea Race: High-speed racing in three-wheeled taxis through Sri Lanka. It’s peak Top Gear chaos.
- The "Sideways LeBlanc" Clips: Watch him drift a Panamera while explaining why it’s a good car for the school run. It’s funny because it’s Joey, but it’s impressive because he’s actually a pro.
The truth is, Matt LeBlanc was exactly what the show needed: a professional. He didn't bring drama; he brought a $2.6 million contract and a love for the internal combustion engine. He walked away on his own terms, which is more than most Top Gear hosts can say.
Actionable Insight for Fans:
If you're a car enthusiast who skipped the LeBlanc years because of the Chris Evans era, go back and give Series 24 a chance. It’s the closest the "new" show ever got to the magic of the original format, largely because the chemistry between LeBlanc, Harris, and Reid was authentic. You can find most of these episodes on BBC iPlayer or various streaming platforms depending on your region. Keep an eye on the cinematography during this period too—it was arguably the most beautiful the show ever looked.