Chris Evans (The Guitar Mann/Bigstock.com)

BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show presenter Chris Evans will be the lead presenter of the revamped Top Gear, after former frontman Jeremy Clarkson was sacked for assaulting one of the show’s producers.

After the news broke, Evans tweeted: "First tweet as new Top Gear host. I would like to say Jeremy, Richard & James are the greatest. And NO I'm not leaving the R2 Breakfast Show."

Later Evans explained his passion for the hit show in a statement: "I'm thrilled, Top Gear is my favourite programme of all time.

"Created by a host of brilliant minds who love cars and understand how to make the massively complicated come across as fun, devil-may-care and effortless.

"When in fact of course, it's anything but and that's the genius of Top Gear's global success."

Evans has taken the role despite insisting he was not interested.

The 49-year-old said he will not be leaving the Radio 2 Breakfast Show.

Top Gear is one of the BBC's most popular shows, attracting more than 350 million viewers globally. It is also a big money-spinner for the corporation, making around £50m each year.

It is not yet known who will present the new Top Gear show alongside Evans, but Richard Hammond and James May have been ruled out; the team will be “all-new”, according to the BBC.

The Top Gear format has been tried overseas with different presenters, with limited success. The formula of Clarkson, Hammond and May has always proved more popular – even when the trio were dubbed into another language.

The BBC will be hoping Evans can fill Clarkson's charismatic shoes.