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Top Gear‘s Matt LeBlanc talks possibility of a Friends reunion

Matt LeBlanc will take centre stage as one of three main hosts on the fresh season of Top Gear.

Matt LeBlanc will take centre stage as one of three main hosts on the fresh season of Top Gear. Photo: BBC

Matt LeBlanc is well and truly done with his Friends days, if our recent chat with the American actor is anything to go by.

The 49-year-old, who played Joey on the hit sitcom for 10 years, all but shot down the possibility of a Friends reunion when he spoke to The New Daily to promote the upcoming season of Top Gear.

“I think no one wants to see Joey get a colonoscopy,” LeBlanc joked of his beloved character.

Although we were briefed to avoid talk of personal life, politics and pay, there was no indication LeBlanc’s memorable stint on Friends was off-limits.

Regardless, he wasn’t keen to linger on the past, shutting down the interview soon after the topic arose.

Rather, LeBlanc is more concerned with living up to the high standards set by his predecessors Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May, who skyrocketed the BBC series to massive success.

“I think the films that are in the show this year are a little more ambitious,” Le Blanc explained.

“They are bigger, they are broader, we’ve gone to more countries than we’ve ever gone to before and the cast of cars we have is a pretty fantastic collection.”

Last season, LeBlanc’s hosting skills were overshadowed by reports of on-set tension with former host Chris Evans, who quit the show shortly after the final episode aired.

Asked about the vibe on set this year compared with last year, LeBlanc was quick to jump on the defensive.

“The vibe is great, there’s no bad vibe. There was no bad vibe on set last year as far as I knew. What vibe are you talking about?” he said.

“I mean there was a lot of pressure on last year because it was the first of the new Top Gear, the revamped Top Gear … it doesn’t feel like there is as much pressure on us, or maybe I’m just used to that pressure now and it doesn’t bother me as much.”

Matt LeBlanc (centre) with co-hosts Chris Harris (left) and Rory Reid (right). Photo: BBC

Matt LeBlanc (centre) with co-hosts Chris Harris (left) and Rory Reid (right). Photo: BBC

As for the vibe now Clarkson, Hammond and May have launched their own acclaimed motoring show, The Grand Tour, on Amazon Prime?

“I have seen it and I think it’s great,” LeBlanc said.

“In terms of a sense of competition, I don’t look at it that way, I look at it as two great car shows to watch and I wish there were more.

“And also, if you wanted to try and make a competition out of it, they are on Amazon, we are on BBC, I don’t know how you would compare, because Amazon doesn’t announce what their viewing figures are.”

LeBlanc’s approach to hosting is very much rooted in his comedy past.

“My preference would be that every time someone opens their mouth it’s funny, but you can’t do that, it’s too much, maybe,” he said.

I think the show is funnier than it was last year.

 

One laughable rumour he’s been attempting to shrug off was spread by his co-host Chris Harris, who told a British tabloid LeBlanc had been forced to eat a horse’s reproductive organ during filming.

“Horse offal – didn’t happen,” was LeBlanc’s definitive statement on the matter.

Before the star continued on his endless round of interviews, we managed to squeeze in one last Friends question, this time with some Top Gear crossover.

What car would Joey drive if money were no object?

“Didn’t you see the episode?” Le Blanc said. “If he hit the lottery he would probably drive a Porsche GT2 RS.”

Far more fun than a colonoscopy.

All new Top Gear starts Monday March 13 at 8.30pm on BBC Knowledge.     

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