Paul Hollywood has said Chris Evans will be “great” as Top Gear’s new presenter.

The Great British Bake Off star, who has a passion for racing, said he holds no grudge against Chris as he prepares to take the driving seat on BBC’s motoring show, following the departure of Jeremy Clarkson.

Chris Evans
Chris Evans (BBC)

“Top Gear is Chris’s and I think Chris will be great at it and I wish him all the best,” Paul said.

“I know Chris personally and he’s doing really well with that he’s coming up with some really good ideas.”

Paul kick-started his racing career in 2015, making his debut in the Beechdean AMR Aston Martin Vantage GT4 with Andrew Howard, founder of Beechdean Dairies. The pair qualified second in the Britcar Trophy Championship’s first round at Silverstone taking second in class in both races.

“I’ve been racing for six months. I’ve already won a race, came third last week again,” he said. “I was at Le Mans this year. I’m enjoying my racing, I’m doing the full championship ever.”

But the 49-year-old star has yet to find himself racing against fellow chef and good friend James Martin.

James Martin
James Martin also loves cars (BBC)

“I’ve never raced him. He does a lot of historic stuff, I do a lot of modern stuff,” he explained.

“If I go down the historic route maybe we’ll meet one day but I’m in the more modern race cars.”

Paul will reprise his judging role alongside Mary Berry for the new series of The Great British Bake Off, and will discover his family roots in BBC’s genealogy show Who Do You Think You Are?

Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry in The Great British Bake Off
Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry in The Great British Bake Off (BBC)

He admitted it has taken him time to adjust to his TV fame.

“I’m not shy on camera as much as I used to be but I’m in a very comfortable place and I don’t mind it now,” he said.

“I’m really quite happy doing it. I’ve done quite a lot of stuff on my own. When I did the Racing Legends with John Surtees, I loved that and I’m doing another one which comes out later this year for the BBC. Finished that yesterday, that’s top secret.”

The Great British Bake Off returns to BBC One on August 5, while Paul Hollywood’s episode of Who Do You Think You Are? airs on BBC One on Thursday, August 13.