Chris Evans: New Top Gear is a hit - and that's a fact

The first episode used its hosts to pit the UK against the US Credit: PA

Top Gear co-host Chris Evans said the revamped Top Gear is a solid hit after the hotly-anticipated first episode got a lukewarm reception from viewers and critics.

Evans and Matt LeBlanc were at the helm for the first show since the departure of the old team led by Jeremy Clarkson.

Overnight figures show 4.4 million viewers tuned in, which peaked at 4.7 million.

The BBC 2 show was watched by 3.8 million when it was launched in 2002 though the last series of Top Gear bowed out with an audience of 5.8 million.

Today Evans said the new format "won its slot" as he took on critics this morning.

Evans has been the subject of intense scrutiny since he took on the Top Gear mantle from Clarkson, who was sacked after he mounted an attack on a producer.

Clarkson will rejoin his former co-hosts Richard Hammond and James May on a new Amazon Prime motoring show called The Grand Tour, which starts later this year.

Many fans of the old presenting trio have been willing Evans to fail from the start, while others have been hoping that the much-loved show returns with a new spark under its refreshed line-up.

There was plenty of comment on Twitter as the show aired last night: