Chris Evans admits Top Gear desire on TFI Friday and takes Jeremy Clarkson driving

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Chris Evans and Jeremy Clarkson did not race around the Top Gear track
Clarkson appeared on the 20th anniversary of TFI Friday on Channel 4
The former Top Gear host did not speak about his plans after the hit show
Evans admitted that 'never say never' when it comes to Top Gear job

Published: 16:40 EST, 12 June 2015 | Updated: 13:37 EST, 13 June 2015

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Chris Evans has admitted he may be interested in taking over from Jeremy Clarkson as host of Top Gear during his TFI special on Channel Four.

Evans, 49, made the admission while talking to Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton, who appeared on the 20th anniversary of TFI Friday.

The Radio 2 host, who is a firm favourite to take over from Clarkson told Hamilton: 'I did say "never", but I downgraded it to "never say never".

'Never say never': Chris Evans and Jeremy Clarkson on TFI Friday

Jeremy Clarkson appeared on the 20th anniversary of Chris Evans' hit show TFI Friday on Channel 4

The former Top Gear host, left gave Chris Evans, right, advice on the best way of describing a super car

Clarkson asked Evans if he wanted his old job who revealed the BBC have not spoken to him about the role

Top Gear fans tuned in to the special after Evans admitted last week that he was filming a special at the hit BB2 motoring show's test track.

Channel 4 also said in advance of tonight's broadcast, that Jeremy Clarkson was appearing on the show. But instead of giving details of what brought around his Top Gear demise, Clarkson gave Evans tips on how best to describe a super car for a television audience.

Clarkson asked Evans, during the pre-recorded segment, whether the BBC had offered him his old job on Top Gear, Evans replied that they hadn't.

It was rumoured that Evans and Clarkson were going to race around the Top Gear track at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey in a La Ferrari. Instead the car was driven by British Touring car racer Jason Plato.

Plato failed to beat the record time around the track, which Evans revealed, could be the last time it was ever used.

Interestingly, the track has not yet been booked for the next series of Top Gear, which is due to return in 2016.

Clarkson's appearance only lasted a few seconds, despite the massive hype all week.

Much about the future of the show is still uncertain, with the new presenting line-up yet to be announced.

Evans, right, with Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton, was quizzed on his Top Gear intentions

Clarkson, left, did not mention anything about his future plans to Chris Evans, right, during the segment

Clarkson’s return to television comes three months after he was suspended by the BBC for assaulting a producer in a row over steak. The BBC then decided not to renew his contract. He later pulled out of a planned appearance on BBC1’s Have I Got News For You.

Evans sparked an online frenzy last weekend when he revealed he was making a ‘secret Top Gear film’. He told The Sun: ‘We will be doing one or two of what might end up being the last recorded laps around the Top Gear track. One will be a bit of a curveball and the other should be the fastest lap ever recorded there.

‘It is the lap Top Gear wanted to do before they were taken off air, in a LaFerrari.’

Jeremy Clarkson at the BBC for Radio 2 interview with Chris Evans

Clarkson has been reunited with his former hosts James May and Richard Hammond on their live show

Top Gear is worth an estimated £40 million a year to the BBC in foreign sales and merchandising

An extended episode of Top Gear made up of footage from the latest series is set to be broadcast at some point over the coming weeks.

Last weekend, Evans caused a major stir when he revealed he was filming some scenes for Top Gear, although these were for the TFI anniversary.

The BBC has been slow to announce a replacement for Clarkson, although they have claimed the show will continue.

Both Hammond and May have filmed additional scenes for a couple of Top Gear films shot before Clarkson's 'fracas' with producer Oisin Tymon which led to the current crisis.

The BBC is expected to broadcast two final episodes using the unused footage and the new scenes before a final decision is made about the future of the show.

The source added: 'Clarkson had his faults, but his importance to the show cannot be understated. He wrote it, came up with ideas and was its heart. It will need about three or four good operators to replace him.'

Clarkson is understood to be returning as a guest host on BBC quiz show Have I Got News for You, and is believed to have also filmed an episode of QI, also for the BBC.

Interestingly, the BBC did not 'sack' Clarkson following the incident earlier this year and instead, failed to renew his contract.

Meanwhile, the Top Gear trio - including Jeremy Clarkson - are together again on stage as part of a show tour, which has been renamed Clarkson, Hammond and May Live.

Hammond and May - pictured entering BBC headquarters together in April - might continue on Top Gear

Lord Tony Hall, the BBC’s director-general, refused to renew Clarkson’s Top Gear contract, saying a ‘line had been crossed’.

But sources claim that the Corporation is paving the way to welcome him back again in the future.

‘Hammond and May will go back to the BBC. Jeremy Clarkson goes back a season later. Then it’s all like it never happened.

In a bizarre turn of events, the BBC could end up paying much more for the show than it did before Clarkson assaulted his colleague.

It has already promised May, 52, and Hammond, 45, a pay rise - and Clarkson is unlikely to accept a pay package which is smaller than theirs.

However, ITV could still put the show out of reach. The broadcaster is struggling in the ratings, and could open its chequebook ‘out of panic’, an ITV source said.

The company would not be able to use the Top Gear format or name, but it could launch a new motoring show fronted by the same team.

ITV does not face the same commercial restrictions as the BBC, so it could come up with more creative ways of cutting Clarkson and his cohorts into a deal to sell the programme around the world.

However, it would also have to consider the risk to its advertising income if car manufacturers took offence at remarks the three men made about their vehicles.

Richard Hammond was spotted with Top Gear executive producer Andy Wilman (right) in Hyde Park last month

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Clarkson, Hammond and May – together with Top Gear’s former executive producer, Andy Wilman – have all met with ITV’s programming chief, Peter Fincham in recent weeks.

An ITV spokesman said today: ‘We haven't commented, and aren't planning to comment, on the continual Top Gear speculation which is swirling around the television industry.’

Elaine Bedell, the broadcaster’s head of entertainment – who has previously been photographed embracing Clarkson – was also present.

In the past month, both May and Hammond have been spotted entering the BBC headquarters in West London and Hammond was also pictured chatting with Wilman, 52, before they and friends boarded pedaloes in Hyde Park.

However, representatives for both presenters have declined to comment on the reports.

It comes after May had previously appeared to rule out claims that they could film the programme with a stand-in for Clarkson, with speculation they too would leave the BBC.

Speaking in April, he said: 'Me and Hammond with a surrogate Jeremy is a non-starter, it just wouldn't work. That would be lame, or "awks" as young people say.

'It has to be the three of us. You can't just put a surrogate Jeremy in and expect it to carry on. It would be forced. I don't believe they would be stupid enough to try that.'

Hammond has also appeared to dispel any such move, tweeting: 'Not about to quit my mates.'