Matt LeBlanc is overwhelmed by the response to his new job on Top Gear, and has declared his pairing with Brit Chris Evans will be like "Joey and Chandler" from hit sitcom Friends.
The actor, best known for playing Joey Tribbiani in 10 seasons of Friends, will team up with the British TV and radio host to present a new version of the popular motoring show, which is reportedly the most widely watched factual television programme in the world.
Matt reveals he was stunned by the response to his appointment, which hit headlines across the globe on Thursday (04Feb16), and he retreated to the sanctuary of a bar at his home in California to escape the attention.
"I can't believe the response. I mean I knew Top Gear was a big show, but, wow, it was on the front page of The New York Times, did you know that?" he tells Chris on his BBC Radio 2 show. "There was so much I couldn't read it all, my publicist said 'Did you know it's on the front page of The New York Times?' My day has been, thanks to Top Gear and the BBC, my day has been ducking paparazzi all day long, and now I'm relaxing with a glass of wine at my bar."
The actor goes on to reveal he is looking forward to "mashing up some cars" with Chris, and describes their pairing as like Friends duo "Joey and Chandler" - referring to Matt's character and Chandler Bing, played by Matthew Perry.
Matt also admits he spent Thursday fielding phone calls from famous friends who are keen to make an appearance on the show, revealing Formula One driver Romain Grosjean and his Episodes co-star Stephen Mangan had been in touch.
