'Top Gear' stalls as ratings plummet; host Evans quits


              FILE - In this file photo dated May 25, 2016 showing the new BBC flagship car show Top Gear presenters, left to right, Chris Harris, Rory Reid, Sabine Schmitz, Chris Evans, Eddie Jordan and The Stig, during the launch of the car show at Dunsfold Aerodrome, England, Monday June 27, 2016. Figures released Monday July 4, 2016, show the revamped TV show featuring lead presenters Matt LeBlanc and Chris Evans, has failed to attract high numbers of viewers. (Andrew Matthews / PA FILE via AP)
FILE - In this file photo dated May 25, 2016 showing the new BBC flagship car show Top Gear presenters, left to right, Chris Harris, Rory Reid, Sabine Schmitz, Chris Evans, Eddie Jordan and The Stig, during the launch of the car show at Dunsfold Aerodrome, England, Monday June 27, 2016. Figures released Monday July 4, 2016, show the revamped TV show featuring lead presenters Matt LeBlanc and Chris Evans, has failed to attract high numbers of viewers. (Andrew Matthews / PA FILE via AP)

LONDON (AP) - Host Chris Evans says he's quitting the BBC's flagship car show "Top Gear," saying "standing aside is the single best thing I can do."

The show has struggled to draw a big audience since it was relaunched in May, hosted by Evans and Matt LeBlanc.

The revamped show attracted just 1.9 million viewers to its season finale on Sunday.

Mark Linsey, director of BBC Studios, says Evans believes that the remaining producing and presenting team will be able to "take the show forward and make it the hit we want it to be."

The show was rebooted following the high-profile departures of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May. May and Hammond quit after Clarkson was fired for hitting a producer. The trio will host a new car show on Amazon Prime.

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