Lethal Bizzle wants to host Top Gear: ‘I have more bants than Chris Evans’

The rapper said Evans failed to inject humour into the revamped motoring show
Replacement: Lethal Bizzle is keen to join Top Gear
Tom Nicholson/REX/Shutterstock
Emma Powell11 July 2016
The Weekender

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Lethal Bizzle has set his sights on fronting Top Gear, saying he has more “bants” than former host Chris Evans.

The rapper, real name Maxwell Ansah, claimed he was approached by show bosses to front the revamped show following the departure of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May, but said he feared he wouldn’t be taken seriously.

Speaking to the Daily Star Online he said: “They did contact me and asked me to try out for the gig but I thought they wouldn't take me seriously.

"I should have gone to the audition but I didn't and after that they gave Chris the job.

"Now ratings keep going down I may be in luck. I have more bants than Chris does anyway."

The musician - who started the hastag '#BizzleforTopGear' - said he is a “big fan of cars” and could bring a “total different energy to the show”. He also admitted he is the ideal candidate for the job because “to relate to a younger audience you need people who they respect and can relate to”.

Fans threw their support behind Bizzle as host with one saying they would pay "top dollar" to see him on the show while others said it would make them tune in.

Evans stepped down after one series following plummeting ratings and weeks of criticism.

Bizzle said Evans failed to bring humour to the reboot and echoed the sentiments of some viewers who accused him of being “too shouty”.

Addressing Evans’ failures, Bizzle said: "No one really likes change, I think they did an OK job but I would have been an better presenter than Chris Evans.

"I get that they have revamped it but I am still very supportive of Clarkson and the lads.

"The show did need a transformation though but I'm not sure it worked.

"The first few episode you could really tell Chris wasn't used to it, the thing is you have got to have bants – it's a car show but it needs bants.

"He just needed to get the balance right, he was too shouty, it was a bit weird."

The BBC recently announced there are "no immediate plans" to replace Evans for the next series.

Top Gear Media Launch - In pictures

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