Chris Evans calls former Top Gear hosts 'Zippy, Bungle and George'

The Top Gear presenter also hit backs at rumours the new series has been facing a troubled production

Chris Evans has decried the former hosts of Top Gear Jeremy Clarkson, James May, and Richard Hammond as 'Zippy, Bungle, and George'; though who's meant to be who in that situation is but a mystery.

Evans took to his Mail on Sunday column (via The NME) to hit back at critics of the new series; of which he was named host last year after Clarkson left the show under distinctly troublesome circumstances, specifically the infamous 'fracas' with a BBC producer. Evans has also already been forced to apologise after photographs appeared to show filming taking place next to the Cenotaph in central London.

However, it's not exactly been smooth sailing for the news series; with several significant departures behind the scenes, as well as rumours surfacing that Evans was both struggling with simultaneously driving and talking on top of suffering from bouts of travel sickness.

"Today I will be mostly on my travels again, this time going to Venice with That Car Show," Evans wrote. "Good title, don’t you think? For a car show. That’s what I would have retitled Top Gear had Zippy, Bungle and George announced some irretrievable divine right over the original name. Either that or Carmageddon, which I’ve always fancied."

Following his reference to the Rainbow characters, he continued; "Just a small point here. We don’t actually have a set yet for me to misbehave on. Not only has it not been built, but we have only just signed off the final design. Once it is built, however, I promise I will try not to let the “insider” down."

The new series of Top Gear is set to air in May.