New-look Top Gear names Wilman replacement

Former Big Breakfast and Don’t Forget Your Toothbrush producer Lisa Clark will reunite with presenter Chris Evans on the new-look BBC petrol-head series Top Gear.

Clark and Evans (pictured) have worked together on various shows through her 25 year career, and she will now be executive producer of Top Gear, which said goodbye to former EP Andy Wilman after the exit of disgraced former host Jeremy Clarkson.

The news came on the same day after it emerged Clarkson, plus former co-hosts James May and Richard Hammond, had signed a deal Amazon Prime Instant Video for a three-season series.

Clark is the former head of comedy at former ITV franchise holder LWT, and a senior commissioner at the BBC.

She counts shows such as Shooting Stars and, more recently, Vic & Bob’s House of Fools, and co-created Pett Television with the stars of the those series, Bob Mortimer and Vic Reeves.

“This is an incredibly exciting and challenging opportunity, which I couldn’t resist,” she said. “I’m confident that after 14 years, Pett can continue to make original and probably funnier shows in my absence.”

“Lisa is as good as it gets when it comes to making big, important television shows,” said Evans. “She’s funny, sassy, super-experienced and has always absolutely loved cars.”

Evans succeeded Clarkson after the long-serving host of the show was found to have struck a show producer over an argument about food provisions while filming.

Top Gear is a huge money-spinner for the BBC and its commercial arm, BBC Worldwide, while Evans has been host of daily magazine series The One Show since 2010.