Top Gear: Chris Evans 'swore at audience' because they didn't laugh at his jokes

Actor Brad Pitt also dropped out of the interview segment

Chris Evans and his Top Gear team prepare to go head-to-head with Clarkson's new motoring show

Chris Evans’s Top Gear really isn’t getting off to the best start. The first episode has yet to broadcast and already there have been complaints about Matt LeBlanc’s ‘disrespectful’ cenotaph stunt, reports of the hosts’ relationship being heated, and now Evans allegedly swearing at the studio audience.

Filming for the first episode of the newly revamped show took place at Dunsfold Aerodrome on Thursday, with mixed reports coming in soon after.

On the one hand, The Guardian's source reported a positive response from the audience, the pair’s “on-screen banter and one-liners” going “down well”.

However, they also noted Evans only really relaxed in the interview segment of the show and decided to end things with Jeremy Clarkson's famous line "on that bombshell".

The Sun, meanwhile, has reported how Evans grew impatient with the audience, swearing at them, saying: “Don't fold your arms, don't have your hands in your pockets. F***, f***, f***, f***, f***. Don't be quiet. Talk among yourselves. Jesus Christ! Can you all hear me?”

According to both reports, filming took almost four times longer than intended, Evans having previously mocked Clarkson for taking three hours to film Top Gear (the same amount of time he ended up taking).

There was also annoyance on set after Brad Pitt pulled out of his interview, being replaced by celebrity chef Gordon Ramsey and Batman v Superman star Jesse Eisenberg.

The BBC's Mark Linsey, Director, issued the statement: "We don't recognise The Sun's account of Top Gear's first studio recording on Thursday. Chris and Matt were consummate, and, clearly much loved, professionals throughout. They both had great chemistry with the audience and we can't wait to share all new Top Gear with viewers come May 29th."

In 'Clarkson, Hammond, and May' news, the trio finally have a name for their new Amazon Car show, The Grand Tour, which will air later this year.

Read everything you need to know about the first episode of Top Gear here.