We’ve already heard about how much of a shit-show the new Top Gear seems to be, particularly because of the allegedly temperamental attitude of the main host, Chris Evans. Well, now thanks to The Sun, more reports of Chris Evans being a bit of a tyrant are flowing in.
According to The Sun’s anonymous BBC staffers, Evans behaves even worse than his predecessor, the always-controversial Jeremy Clarkson. That’s quite a feat, considering Clarkson has been kicked out of entire countries and even got canned for punching a dude in the face over some food.
But yep, it seems Evans is having some hissy-fits, in part because he’s trying to keep his job as a radio host at the same time as being host for Top Gear:
Evans, 50, has upset staff at BBC Radio 2 as he struggles to balance his TV role with his hit breakfast show... And The Sun can reveal his radio backroom team are becoming increasingly concerned about his outbursts and diva-style behaviour.
One of The Sun’s sources at the BBC went on to claim that the host even went so far as to make someone cry, recalling an incident where Evans “shout so viciously that the producer was reduced to tears and an engineer had to tell him to stop.”
Yikes.
The sources went on, saying:
Chris’s ego is out of control and he’s behaving far worse than Clarkson ever did — which is the opposite of what the Top Gear change was meant to create.
The source then talked about how Chris’ workload is likely affecting his behavior:
The Radio 2 show is the country’s most popular. But Chris is turning up exhausted and miserable and his staff have noticed a huge difference. Top Gear’s a full-time job, but Radio 2 involves waking at dawn every day. It’s probably no surprise he seems close to breaking point.
So yes, more drama from the new Top Gear, but who knows if any of it’s true. The Sun does mention that Mark Linsey, BBC Director of Studios, and Bob Shennan, Radio 2 head, are both backing Evans:
Since taking on Top Gear alongside his Radio 2 breakfast show, Chris has displayed even greater commitment and professionalism.
But of course they would! They have a vested interest in making sure the entire show doesn’t fall apart. In fact, it’s in their vested interest to make sure not only that everything about the new show is great, but that every member of the public thinks it’s great. Because it’s not like Clarkson, Hammond, and May just evaporated into the ether. They’re still doing their own show, and the BBC is surely mindful of the competition.
So rail all you want, with your unearned media criticism of British tabloids. Maybe The Sun is wrong. Maybe everything really is wonderful over in Top Gear land. But the tabloids have been right before.
We’ve reached out to the BBC for comment, and will update if we hear back.