TFI Friday: Chris Evans clings on to Top Gear dream in awkward sketch with Jeremy Clarkson

Recently departed Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson did not appear impressed

Jeremy Clarkson and Chris Evans in the car (Channel 4, via YouTube)

Chris Evans refuses to let go of his ambition to present Top Gear.

Presenting Channel 4’s ill-advised resurrection of TFI Friday on the show’s 20th anniversary, Evans appeared to use the show as a platform to give an audition for Jeremy Clarkson’s old job.

The 49-year-old Radio 2 host told Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton: "I did say 'never,' but I downgraded it to 'never say never'," regarding speculation surrounding his application for the seemingly coveted role.

Later in the show - which overran and was widely panned by critics and social media users alike - Evans and Clarkson, 55, are shown in a car together with the radio presenter driving.

"You're not going to get my old job," Clarkson tells Evans.

"Don't want it," the ginger presenter claims. "I ruled myself out!"

To which point Clarkson – who throughout the segment can only be described as looking spectacularly bored – replies: “You haven’t been asked.”

It was probably the most exciting moment for many in the overly long anniversary episode of the once controversial Britpop classic entertainment.

It also cleared up speculation from earlier this week when Evans appeared to suggest he was filming a “Top gear sequence,” which many fans took to mean he was being lined up to present the BBC show.

Former Top Gear presenters Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May, were quick to ridicule his remarks, parroting him on social media and leading to Evans issuing a denial and ruling himself out of the job.