'Friends' star Matt LeBlanc has been announced as the new co-presenter of Top Gear

Matt LeBlanc will be joining Chris Evans as co-presenter of 'Top Gear,' it has been announced.

The news was confirmed by Evans who tweeted a picture alongside LeBlanc and the show's famous masked racing driver, The Stig.

In a statement released by the BBC, LeBlanc said: "As a car nut and a massive fan of Top Gear, I'm honoured and excited to be a part of this iconic show's new chapter. What a thrill!"

The 'Friends' star will be the first non-British personality to present the show since it first aired in 1977 - but he's no stranger to the show. He was the fastest ever "star in the reasonably priced car," drove The Stig around the track in a McLaren MP4-12C, and also presented Top Gear spin-off series, "Top Gear: The Races."

"Matt's a lifelong fellow petrolhead and I'm thrilled he's joining Top Gear," Evans said. "Acting out our craziest car notions on screen is a dream job and I know we'll both be debating some epic road trip ideas.

My new Top Gear Friends. More to come #TopGear pic.twitter.com/zoGj1cwdNy

- Chris Evans (@achrisevans) February 4, 2016

The actor will be joining Chris Evans on the sofa when the show premieres in May.

Evans' predecessor, Jeremy Clarkson, was sacked last year after a high-profile "fracas" with a producer. The BBC found that Clarkson launched an "unprovoked physical and verbal attack" on the crew-member.

Following the BBC's decison to fire Clarkson, his co-hosts - Richard Hammond and James May - also announced their departure.