Matt LeBlanc in Middle of 'Top Gear' Turmoil

The addition of Friends star Matt LeBlanc to the British auto show Top Gear was supposed to help the series rebound from the loss of its original host. The debut of the show's new season drew unprecedentedly low ratings, though, and the ratings continued to fall as subsequent episodes aired. Now there are rumors that LeBlanc is threatening to leave unless his co-host is fired.

LeBlanc shares the Top Gear stage with Chris Evans - a British presenter, not the Captain America actor - and The Sun reports that there's growing tension between the two hosts. The tabloid quotes an anonymous source as saying that the relationship between LeBlanc and Evans is "frosty" and that LeBlanc has told producers that he will walk away from the series if Evans is not fired.

A representative for LeBlanc has denied the rumors, however, and claimed that there have been no negotiations to settle the alleged discontent between the two presenters.

LeBlanc has signed on to be with the series for at least two years, but the disastrous beginning to LeBlanc's first season has the entire future of the series in question. Fan displeasure does seem to center around Evans, but other measures to stall the series' decline, including moving the show to a new time slot, are reportedly also under consideration.