Poll: Was the new-look Top Gear any good?

The first outing for the new-look show failed to reach the viewing figures of the last series with Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May.

The show drew 4.4 million viewers, with a peak of 4.7 million, while the last series bowed out with 5.8 million viewers.

However, the BBC Two motoring show was still the most-watched programme in the 8pm time slot, beating Antiques Roadshow on BBC One and the British Soap Awards on ITV.

It also trumped the last time the show launched in 2002, when it got 3.5 million viewers.

The first episode of the new series saw Evans and LeBlanc driving Reliant three-wheelers from London to Blackpool in a UK vs USA competition, with Evans enjoying significantly more luck.

The show also featured the unveiling of new segment Star in a Rallycross Car, which replaced the popular feature Star In A Reasonably Priced Car.

Chef Gordon Ramsay and actor Jesse Eisenberg became the first celebrities on the leaderboard after racing a Mini Cooper around the track.

The new presenting team joined after the old team left following a fracas between lead presenter Jeremy Clarkson and a producer over hot food.

Chris Evans had a light-hearted dig at Jeremy Clarkson minutes after the revamped Top Gear was unveiled.

Previous frontman Clarkson was sacked for an "unprovoked physical and verbal attack" on a producer, apparently over catering, and Evans could not resist bringing it up during his opening segment.

He introduced a group of people from an Indian restaurant and asked the audience what they thought they were doing there.

One person suggested they were there to prepare the food, and Evans said playfully: "By the way, we don't talk about catering on this show any more."

During the first episode, Evans, 50, visited a US Naval Base - better known as the home of Top Gun - where he raced a Dodge Viper ACR against a Corvette Z06.

LeBlanc, who is the first non-British host in the programme's 39-year history, went for a spin through the Moroccan desert in an Ariel Nomad.

The pair also braved the cold British weather as they raced from London to Blackpool in roofless Reliant Rialtos, and welcomed celebrity guests Gordon Ramsay and Jesse Eisenberg who took part in the new Star In A Rallycross Car part of the show.

Viewers were quick to slam the show on social media.

One tweeted: "Is it possible to axe a TV show half way through the first episode? #TopGear. We could watch something else for the next 30 minutes."

Much of the criticism was levelled at Evans' performance as host, with fans accusing him of shouting and being "too excitable".

US star LeBlanc, 48, escaped most of the barbs and some fans said that his segment with the Nomad was one of the few highlights.

Within minutes of the show starting there were calls to bring back Clarkson and his co-presenters Richard Hammond and James May.

The popular trio will be back with a new Amazon Prime motoring show called The Grand Tour, which will make its debut on the streaming service in the autumn.

TV presenter Carol Vorderman was among those to comment online.

She tweeted: "Sorry #TopGear ... switching off ... looking forward to the proper boys on @amazonprimenow soon ... night all xxx."