The actor, who played Joey in the hit US comedy Friends, will join Chris Evans on the revamped show.
He will be the show’s first non-British host in 39 years of broadcasting.
The previous presenting trio of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May left the show in 2015 and are set to host a new motoring show on online platform Amazon Prime.
The identity of the new BBC presenters has been subject to intense speculation since Evans was announced as the first name last summer.
LeBlanc will be a familiar face to Top Gear viewers, having been a guest in the show’s “Reasonably Priced Car” twice and becoming the fastest celebrity to go round the test track.
He also presented the recent standalone spin-off Top Gear: The Races, where he led fans through some of the most memorable racing moments from the previous 22 series.
Chris Evans said of his new Top Gear presenter: “Matt’s a lifelong fellow petrolhead and I’m thrilled he’s joining Top Gear. 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. We can’t wait to share what we’ve been up to on screen later this year.”
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!”
Additional presenters are still to be announced.
The best of social media’s reaction…
But Matt Le Blanc will always be stuck in second gear ?
— chlo ? (@chlochandler) February 4, 2016
LOL @Matt_LeBlanc on his first day at #TopGear @achrisevans!!!#banter ??? pic.twitter.com/kAsoQyVGTP
— Utah (@JohnnyUtah100) February 4, 2016
I like Matt Le Blanc #TopGear #justsaying
— Suzi Perry (@suziperry) February 4, 2016
If Matt Le Blanc doesn't open every show with "How you doin?" then we might as well forget about it. #TopGear @achrisevans
— Thomas Matthew Ward (@IngloriousTward) February 4, 2016
https://twitter.com/CraigTRobertson/status/695216970258472961
Matt Le Blanc is the new Top Gear presenter? They've clearly chose the wrong man. pic.twitter.com/aQNRVrmx3r
— Laura Brannan (@_LauraBrannan) February 4, 2016
Matt LeBlanc joining Top Gear is abit of masterful casting!
— Roddy Ross (@RoddyRoss86) February 4, 2016
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