The new cast of Top Gear, which has already faced controversy. Picture: Supplied

“We are very, very nervous,” Evans admits, over the phone from the UK, where he’s chatting alongside his new co-host, ex-Friends star, LeBlanc.

“No. That was irony. We are not nervous at all. The show’s in the can, so it’s all done. There’s nothing to feel worried about. All we can do now is see whether people like it or not — they either will, or they won’t.”

Bravado? It may well be. Just last week it was announced that Top Gear’s phenomenally popular ex-hosts, James May, Richard Hammond and Jeremy Clarkson — who was famously sacked from the BBC program after punching one of the show’s producers — will soon begin filming their own car show, titled The Grand Tour, for subscription TV service Amazon Prime.

And it sounds an awful lot like their previous series.

Matt LeBlanc puts the Rolls Royce Dawn through its paces in Ireland's Ring of Kerry. Picture: SuppliedSource:Supplied

Since filming began a few months ago, Top Gear has also been plagued by a swath of negative publicity. Stories have begun circulating that UK radio and TV host Evans and LeBlanc don’t get along, that Evans is an onset bully prone to aggressive outbursts, and that the show is destined for failure (we’ve been asked not to bring up any of this during our interview).

As if that’s not bad enough, just two months ago, the show’s producers were left red-faced after footage emerged of LeBlanc doing “doughnuts” around The Cenotaph in London, a public war memorial — Evans later apologised “unreservedly”, saying the footage was disrespectful and should never be shown.

Top Gear host Chris Evans is ready to go. Picture: SuppliedSource:Supplied

In light of all this, surely palms are just a little bit sweaty? Do they feel that some, at least, are almost willing the show to fail before it’s even begun?

“I think there are a lot of diehard fans in terms of the old show, who will want to compare the new version to the old version.,” Le Blanc says diplomatically.

“But that’s like comparing apples to oranges.

“You just really can’t compare the two. I think the old version of the show was great, and I think the new version of the show will be different, but it will be great [as well.]”