Top Gear with Chris Evans a 'bigger global hit' than with Jeremy Clarkson

Evans has since left the show after ratings plummeted to an all-time low over the course of the series

LeBlanc hosting ‘Top Gear’

The dust is finally settling on the BBC's revamped take on Top Gear; an opportunity now to deconstruct its precise hits and misses.

On its home turf, the series seems a resolute failure; ratings steadily slipping as episodes progressed, with the finale marking an all-time low for the show. In its wake, Chris Evans departed as host - saying he "gave it my best shot" - and urged Matt LeBlanc to take the spotlight, becoming the Top Gear's main host; with the BBC announcing there are no plans to replace Evans.

Yet, conversely, the show appears to have found its fans abroad; racking up higher ratings than Jeremy Clarkson's previous iteration of the series (via The Guardian). Top Gear is considered the BBC's largest global brand with sales of the series, DVDs, books, live shows, and other merchandise estimated to be worth more than £50 million a year.

"I am very happy with programme sales," stated Tim Davie, BBC Worldwide chief executive. "[Chris Evans’s Top Gear] has sold into over 130 territories which is very strong and marginal growth versus the previous season [Clarkson’s last]. It is absolutely the case I think that Top Gear remains in very good health It is a work in progress and we will have to see how it goes. I remain optimistic about Top Gear and its growth potential over the coming years."

Davie admitted ratings had suffered "ups and downs", but it appears as if the BBC's international branch are far from losing confidence in the show; which may go some way to relieving the pressure on LeBlanc, now that the show's future has seemingly shifted onto his shoulders.

That said, there's little news from the service on future plans for Top Gear; a Christmas DVD release has not yet been confirmed, and there are no current plans to revive Top Gear Live after its scrapping on the departure of Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May.