Matt LeBlanc has reportedly been offered £1 million to return to ‘Top Gear’.
Bosses of the revamped motoring show are determined to pull out all the stops to get the 48-year-old star – who was paid an estimated £500,000 for the last series – back on the programme and are believed to have slapped down the eye-watering sum in order to coax him back.
A source told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "Matt was one of the positive aspects of the last series, he is keen to return and we definitely want him back so it will happen, we just need to dot the ‘i’s’ and cross the ‘ts’.
"We think he will be back filming soon and he is excited about some of the ideas we have lined up."
However, it seems it won’t take much persuasion to get the former ‘Friends’ star to present the next installment as he recently admitted he’d love to return.
When asked if he’ll return to the show, he said recently: "I don’t know. I’d like to. There’s nothing officially happening yet. Follow the BBC."
Meanwhile, it’s been reported in recent weeks that Matt will front the show alone after his co-host Chris Evans quit in June – a year into his three-year contract – after the final episode pulled in its lowest viewing figures since 2002.
A source said recently: "Matt is going to get the big job on his own. There are already active negotiations and he’s almost certain to sign now that he doesn’t have to work with Chris. Chris won’t be replaced but Matt will become the star presenter surrounded by the existing team."