Has Chris Evans just announced his female Top Gear co-host?

Top Gear has barely been out of the headlines since Jeremy Clarkson decided to punch someone over a steak back in March.

Since then we've had the rumours of what would happen in the aftermath, the sacking of Clarkson, the rumours over whether Hammond and May would continue, their departure, the rumours over their replacement, the rumours over their replacement(s), the announcement of Chris Evans, and then the rumours over whether anyone would be joining him, and if so who?

So TL;DR - rumours, rumours, rumours, rumours.

And the latest to come out may have been sparked by accident. Chris Evans appears to have let slip that he will be joined on the program by Gadget Show and MotoGP host Suzi Perry. After initially saying that the new Top Gear would "definitely, 100 per cent" have at least one female presenter, he then recently claimed that he might step away from the group presenter style and "go solo". He even said early in October that all would become obvious within weeks as filming was due to begin - but then we heard nothing.

However, it now seems he may have signed up his first pal to join him on the much-loved motoring show.

Whilst reading a list of incentives for his Children In Need auctions, Evans said on his Radio 2 show this morning: "The first Top Gear of the brand new run, you'll get there the day before. You'll have your own hot lap with The Stig. You'll be the star in the reasonably priced car. We'll then reveal who was quickest at a dinner hosted later that night by Suzi Perry at my pub, which I had forgotten about. Then you will come to the recording of the first show the next day."

It's not conclusive, but then why else would she be involved?

Listen for yourself on BBC iPlayer (2:21.48) - either way, it's yet another delicious rumour, and the series doesn't even go out until May next year, so there's bound to be plenty more yet...

(Image: Rex)