While BBC is gearing up the new season of the Clarkson-free Top Gear, Chris Evans took a break from his busy scandal-filled schedule to share some thoughts about the man he’s replacing.
In an interview with GQ Magazine, Evans seemed surprised that the famous quarrel and dispute with Oisin Tymon got Clarkson sacked, instead of the other – much more serious – misconducts and controversies he’s been involved over the years:
"What is fascinating is that he went for what he went for, considering what had gone on before. If you look at the chronology of controversy of Top Gear over the last five or six years, it is bizarre that he went for losing his rag over his dinner when there had been international incidents before that…"
When asked about his relationship with Clarkson, Evans said, straight off the bat, that they used to get along (although they haven’t met in a long time), considering “Jezza” a master at what it does and one of his heroes.
"We used to get on. I don’t know if we still get on because I haven’t seen him in ages. But he is one of my heroes. He’s entertaining. He was great on Top Gear and I love his writing. I agree [that he is a bit of a bigot], but I just take the things I like. He is funny. He deconstructs things really well. They say if you can explain complicated things to a six-year-old you know what you’re talking about, and I am like his six-year-old."
Evans also added that you don’t need to be “Hercule Poirot” to figure out there-s an anti-Top Gear/anti-Chris Evans agenda in some British publications, but without the involvement of Jeremy Clarkson.
Clarkson himself denied sabotaging Evans’ or the BBC, especially as he stands to earn some money if the show lives-on:
‘It’s been suggested that I am behind it, that I am trying to scupper him. But I discovered the other day that every time it gets recommissioned I get paid, so that’s a curious bit of BBC contract but I wish them all the very best," stated Clarkson.