After months of speculation the BBC has announced UK broadcaster Chris Evans will replace sacked Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson as the lead presenter of the show, with a whole new team.

The Radio 2 DJ will fill a large gap left behind by the controversial Clarkson, who was sacked by the BBC for assaulting a producer in March.

In another shock for fans, the BBC revealed Evans would not be flanked by former co-presenters, James May and Richard Hammond, confirming the popular pair won’t be returning to the show.

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Following the fracas, May and Hammond threatened to leave the show in March if Clarkson did not return.

The pair are now out of contract with the BBC, after declining to sign new deals to present the next series of Top Gear, stuff.co.nz reported.

Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond during happier times. Photo: Getty

It is believed the trio will work together on a different project going forward.

A BBC spokesperson said Evans, 49, had signed a three-year deal with the new-look program, and his co-presenters would be announced in “due-course”, with production of the new series starting in a fortnight.

A BBC investigation this year found Clarkson guilty of an “unprovoked physical and verbal attack” on Top Gear producer Oisin Tymon that was “halted by the intervention of a witness”.

Despite pleads from fans and threats by his co-hosts that they would walk away without him, Clarkson was then dropped from the show in March.

Evans said he was “thrilled” to get the job, describing the motoring show as his “favourite program of all time”.

He had initially been considered the front-runner to present the show after Clarkson’s relationship with the corporation ended.

“I promise I will do everything I possibly can to respect what has gone on before and take the show forward,” he told BBC News.

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

— Chris Evans (@achrisevans) June 16, 2015

The BBC’s David Sillito said that while Evans was a household name, Clarkson had a long-running association with Top Gear and left big shoes to fill.

Evans publicly supported Clarkson, who gave him his first radio interview after his much-publicised exit from the show, The Telegraph reported.