Top Gear: Chris Evans was 'so close' to getting Jenson Button on show

He nearly joined the likes of Matt LeBlanc and Eddie Jordan

Jenson Button was 'so close' to joining BBC's new series of Top Gear (Getty)

After months of speculation, the new Top Gear line-up has finally been announced, with seven members replacing the infamous trio of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May.

One person many expected would make the line-up was F1 driver Jenson Button, yet he decided against joining Chris Evans and Matt LeBlanc’s squad.

It wasn’t for lack of trying, though, as Evans revealed on his BBC 2 Radio show (via Digital Spy) he was “so close” to getting the driver.

Button appeared as a guest on the show, saying to Evans he knew the subject of Top Gear would be brought up and confirming he was close to signing on.

Instead, Evans managed to get F1 commentator Eddie Jordan, world record-breaking German racing driver Sabine Schmitz, car reviewer and TV presenter Rory Reid, YouTube star Chris Harris and the Stig.

Meanwhile, Clarkson and hit motley crew are working on their Amazon Prime show which still doesn’t have a name, and definitely won’t be called ‘Gear Knobs’.