Top Gear: Chris Evans and Matt LeBlanc relationship 'deteriorating' after Cenotaph stunt

The relationship between Top Gear hosts Chris Evans and Matt LeBlanc has "deteriorated" following the controversial Cenotaph stunt, according to reports.

LeBlanc, 48, sparked outrage when footage emerged showing him performing ‘donuts’ near the war memorial in Whitehall.

Evans – who took over as host from Jeremy Clarkson – apologised "unreservedly" for what was deemed a “gravely disrespectful” stunt and made clear that he was not involved.

"On behalf of the Top Gear team and Matt I would like to apologise unreservedly for what these images seem to portray,” he said on his BBC Radio 2 show.

"There's been some very incendiary comments involved and written alongside these pictures and I completely understand all this furore.”

He added: “This isn't a shoot I'm particularly involved in."

But a source close to the motoring show said relations have been tense as Evans feels the stunt "damaged" the brand.

"Since the Cenotaph their relationship has deteriorated," the source told The Sun. "Chris thinks Matt has severely damaged the brand.

"Behind the scenes it is very frosty between them."

LeBlanc later denied the reports tweeting: “I'm at war with @achrisevans? That's funny, I thought we were pals.”

The report comes days after viewers slammed the show's trailer with one deeming it the “biggest mistake of the BBC”.

More than 60,000 people have clicked the thumbs down icon on YouTube compared to just 14,000 who indicated their approval.

One branded it a “load of rubbish” while another described it simply as “s***”.

A representative for Evans declined to comment.

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