Chris Evans to take over as Top Gear host

Plus: Paris Hilton's younger brother gets community service; Salman Khan painting inspired by his new film; The Beatles sessions turned into stage show; and the Foo Fighters forced to cancel tour after Dave Grohl accident.

Chris Evans will take over as the new Top Gear host. Ian West / AP File

The National staff with wires

TV and radio broadcaster Chris Evans will replace Jeremy Clarkson as main presenter of the BBC's hit motoring show Top Gear. The BBC said Evans, 49, had signed a three-year deal to present the world's most popular factual TV programme and, after months of speculation, confirmed that Clarkson's co-presenters, James May and Richard Hammond, would not be returning. A spokeswoman said new co-presenters would be announced soon, with production due to start in a few weeks. "I'm thrilled," said Evans. "Top Gear' is my favourite programme of all time, created by a host of brilliant minds who love cars and understand how to make the massively complicated come across as fun, devil-may-care and effortless. I promise I will do everything I possibly can to respect what has gone on before and take the show forward." Evans, a familiar face on British TV, is a well-known motoring enthusiast who has an impressive collection of expensive fast cars. He presents the breakfast show on BBC Radio 2, considered the biggest job in British radio, and will continue to do so. He shot to fame in the early 1990s as host of Channel 4's Big Breakfast and music and entertainment show TFI Friday. Clarkson, 55, was dropped from the programme, which has 350 million viewers in 170 countries, after punching a producer in the face in March during a row about food at a hotel. – AFP

Hilton brother gets community service

Paris Hilton’s youngest brother, Conrad, has been sentenced to community service and a $5,000 fine for disrupting a flight from London to Los Angeles last year. The 21-year-old was ordered to complete 750 hours of community service and undergo mental-health and substance-abuse treatments. He pleaded guilty in March to misdemeanour assault. He was on a British Airways flight in July when he called other passengers “peasants” and threatened to kill crew members. Flight attendants were so concerned that they handcuffed him. Hilton still faces charges of reckless driving and evading police during an August chase that ended with him breaking a hand when he crashed into other vehicles. – AP

Khan painting inspired by his new film

Bollywood star Salman Khan has tweeted an image of a painting titled Bajrangi Bhaijaan that seems to have been inspired by his upcoming romantic drama of the same name. The black-and-white artwork, created in bold strokes, depicts the faces of a man and woman, the latter with a red bindi (auspicious mark) on her forehead. Khan, 49, is a successful artist and has held solo exhibitions. Bajrangi Bhaijaan, due out on July 16 in the UAE, also features Kareena Kapoor, Deepti Naval and Nawazuddin Siddiqui. – The National staff

Beatles sessions turned into stage show

The story of Beatles' recording sessions in London's Abbey Road Studios are being turned into a stage show at the city's Royal Albert Hall. The Sessions at Abbey Road will recreate the legendary British band's studio work at the Victorian concert hall on April 1, next year. The performance will span their recording career from 1962 to 1969, with 39 musicians and eight singers using period equipment. The show will be a "musical documentary", said executive producer Stig Edgren, "giving audiences an honest, respectful and accurate recreation of how musical history was made". Abbey Road's Studio Two will be recreated exactly, complete with a mixing booth. The show's creative consultant is The Beatles' studio engineer Geoff Emerick, and it is inspired by his recollections. "All instrumentation, arrangements and vocals will be performed identically to the original recordings," said producer Jef Hanlon. "This show does not seek to be a look-a-like show, but rather a sound-a-like, with the singers being the best Beatles imitators in the world." Kim Gavin, the show's director, said: "The performance will be a technical ballet, a constant flow of movement of cast and musicians. e are trying to create the look, feel and atmosphere of those famous sessions in Abbey Road." – AFP

Foo Fighters forced to cancel tour

Dave Grohl finished a concert with a broken leg after falling off the stage during the show, but won’t be able finish his band’s tour. The Foo Fighters have announced that they are cancelling the rest of their European tour following the injury in Sweden. Grohl had surgery on Monday and said he had to recover and had been advised to keep his leg elevated. He thanked fans for their support and apologised, saying it killed him to have to cancel the shows. He added: “I’m afraid it’s just not physically possible for me at the moment.” The cancelled dates include gigs in the United Kingdom and Belgium. – AP