Former 'Top Gear' presenter brands show's Cenotaph stunt 'ill-advised'

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Former Top Gear presenter James May has branded the new lineup's recent Cenotaph stunt "ill-advised".

The often controversial BBC Two show was widely criticised after new host Matt LeBlanc was pictured driving near the war monument in central London for a future segment.

During shooting, he and rally driver Ken Block performed a series of wheelspins and doughnuts near the Cenotaph which left large tyre tracks on the surrounding roads.

Discussing the stunt with The Guardian, May said: "It was possibly a little unwise, ill-advised."

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The Top Gear veteran added: "I have driven up and down that road, yes, but no, I don't do doughnuts – it's inappropriate wherever you do it in my view."

LeBlanc's new Top Gear co-host Chris Evans has apologised "unreservedly" for the controversy caused by the stunt, saying: "It doesn’t matter what actually happened, it doesn't matter what the circumstances were that could explain this away. What is important about this is what these images look like and they look entirely disrespectful which is not and would never be the intention of the Top Gear team or Matt (LeBlanc)."

The new series of Top Gear will air in May. The show's former presenting trio - James May, Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond - are now working on a new and reportedly very expensive car series for Amazon Prime.