BBC announces Jeremy Clarkson Top Gun replacement

Following a physical altercation with a producer back in March, the BBC did not invite former Top Gear co-presenter Jeremy Clarkson to reprise his role on the show. Tuesday, the BBC announced Chris Evans will be filling the spot left empty by Clarkson. (And no, that’s not the same Chris Evans who plays Captain America.)

“I’m thrilled,” U.K. TV and radio personality Evans said in a statement. “Top Gear is my favourite programme of all time.”

Evans signed a three-year deal with the show, and BBC correspondent David Sillito says Clarkson’s former co-presenters James May and Richard Hammond may no longer be involved with Top Gear due to the shakeup.

Still Evans, a car enthusiast, says he’ll do everything he “possibly can to respect what has gone on before and take the show forward.” With over 400,000 fans signing a petition asking the BBC to reinstate Clarkson after his initial suspension, that could prove to be a formidable task for Evans.

The new season of Top Gear goes into production in the next few weeks.