London, England - Veteran US television actor Matt LeBlanc was unveiled Thursday (February 4) as the new co-presenter of the BBC's revamped Top Gear motoring show, joining main host Chris Evans.
The 48-year-old 'Friends' star is the first non-British host in the four-decade history of the show, being relaunched after flamboyant host Jeremy Clarkson was dropped last year for punching a producer.
LeBlanc holds the record for the programme's Star in a Reasonably Priced Car segment, in which he has twice appeared.
'Massive fan of Top Gear'
LeBlanc said after his appointment: "As a car nut and a massive fan of Top Gear, I'm honoured and excited to be a part of this iconic show's new chapter."
"What a thrill!" added the actor, who played Joey Tribbiani on the NBC sitcom 'Friends' - which ended 12 years ago but whose cast members will reunite for a one-off special announced last month.
Read: 'Joey' lands hot new gig as Top Gear host
British broadcaster Evans, named last year to front the revamped show to be broadcast from May, added: "Matt's a lifelong fellow petrolhead and I'm thrilled he's joining Top Gear.
He added: "Acting out our craziest car notions on screen is a dream job and I know we'll both be debating some epic road trip ideas. We can't wait to share what we've been up to on screen later this year."
Hey everyone,I'm really honored and looking forward to working on Top Gear with @achrisevans , damn he's tall. pic.twitter.com/XGrcLP0NCl
— Matt LeBlanc (@Matt_LeBlanc) February 4, 2016
Internet reacts to 'Joey' joining Top Gear:
Who would've thought....? #TopGear #Joey pic.twitter.com/G4iRqzzNmz
— Abdullah Pirani (@AbdullahPirani) February 4, 2016
We're just please Estelle finally landed Joey a decent job #baabar #topgear #joey pic.twitter.com/8euEBpMytx
— Baa Bar Victoria St (@BaaBarVictoria) February 4, 2016
I hope this happens #TopGear #joey #moment (taken from @JamieFretwell ) pic.twitter.com/DgVxdz3OnX
— Holly Bartolo (@BartoloCreation) February 4, 2016
So, did you hear who the next Top Gear presenter is? #friends #howyoudoing #joey #TopGear pic.twitter.com/y7pDsLCLcZ
— Good Girl Gone Blog (@goodgirlgoneblg) February 4, 2016
About right #TopGear #MattLeBlanc pic.twitter.com/klrTXLUzvW
— Matt Connelly (@Mattcatdog) February 4, 2016
Porsche-a #TopGear #MattLeBlanc #Genus #News pic.twitter.com/1yrEbKsDSR
— Genus Leasing (@genusleasing) February 4, 2016
Matt LeBlanc's early Stig impression. We should've seen this coming. #TopGear pic.twitter.com/gdqIjrzn01
— Josh Barrie (@joshbythesea) February 4, 2016
Matt Leblanc right now #TopGear pic.twitter.com/jVxa2VlYzS
— Kane Hewson (@kane_hewson) February 4, 2016
The new Stig's identity has also been revealed. #TopGear pic.twitter.com/GGWSc2A24Y
— Robin Morgan (@robinjaymorgan) February 4, 2016
When you weren't asked to host Top Gear. pic.twitter.com/5vV1l1DHGr
— Anne T. Donahue (@annetdonahue) February 4, 2016
[Top Gear filming]
— TechnicallyRon (@TechnicallyRon) February 4, 2016
Chris: "Stalled again?"
Matt: "No"
Chris: "It's like"
Matt: "don't"
Chris: "It's like you're always stuck in second gear"
The Golden Globe-winning actor - he won the award for his work on the BBC Two/Showtime series "Episodes" - recorded the fastest ever celebrity lap of the famous Top Gear track at 1min42.1 second in the Kia C'eed in an episode aired in February 2012.
LeBlanc also presented a recent standalone spin-off 'Top Gear: The Races', which featured some of the most memorable racing moments from the previous 22 series.
He joins production of the show immediately, said the BBC, adding that additional Top Gear cast members "will be confirmed shortly."
Clarkson was dropped in 2015 from 'Top Gear', the high-profile BBC motoring show which has millions of fans worldwide, after hitting producer Oisin Tymon in March.
In July, it was announced that he plus co-stars James May and Richard Hammond had signed a deal with streaming service Amazon Prime to make a new series about cars.
Watch: Best Joey car moment on Friends
Watch: Matt Le Blanc's lap in the reasonably priced car