Lisa Clark announced as BBC show’s executive producer, as speculation continues that Jenson Button may join as co-host

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

Chris Evans has signed up an old friend to help him rebrand Top Gear – the producer who worked with him on The Big Breakfast.

Lisa Clark, whose CV includes Shooting Stars with Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer, is the show’s new executive producer.

Evans said: “Lisa is as good as it gets when it comes to making big, important television shows.

“She’s funny, sassy, super experienced and has always absolutely loved cars.”

Clark, who set up a production company called Pett in 2001 with Reeves and Mortimer, said: “This is an incredibly exciting and challenging opportunity, which I couldn’t resist.

“I’m confident that after 14 years, Pett can continue to make original and probably funnier shows in my absence.”

Clark takes on the role previously held by Andy Wilman who left the show after his old school friend, Jeremy Clarkson, was dropped following a fracas with another member of the production staff.

Wilman, Clarkson and co-stars Richard Hammond and James May are widely expected to team up again to produce another motoring show for a rival broadcaster.

The four oversaw the rise of Top Gear from a mainstream car show into a broadcasting success story which pulled in millions of viewers around the world and spawned live shows and international imitations.

It was reported on Wednesday that Formula One driver Jenson Button is set to sign for the show as co-host and Evans fuelled the speculation by reading out a story about it on his BBC Radio 2 show.