Vic & Bob's colleague Lisa Clark joins BBC

The producer behind Vic & Bob’s House Of Fools is to take the wheel of Top Gear.

Lisa Clark first worked with new host Chris Evans on The Big Breakfast 25 years ago, and also produced his gameshow Don’t Forget Your Toothbrush.

And she is specially known for comedy, having been a former head of comedy at LWT and commissioner at the BBC.

In 2001 she set up Pett Television with Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer and helped create Tittybangbang on BBC Three, Angelos Epithemiou’s Channel 4 show and Matt Berry Does.. on BBC iPlayer, as well as taking over as producer of Vic and Bob’s Shooting Stars when it returned to BBC Two after a five-year break.

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.’

And Clark 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.’

She takes over her new job as executive producer on Top Gear from Monday.

There was also speculation today that F1 ace Jenson Button is to join the Top Gear presenting team, but no names have yet been confirmed by the BBC.

She takes on the role previously held by Andy Wilman who left the show after his friend, Jeremy Clarkson, lost his job after punching producer Oisin Tymon in the face in a row over hot food earlier this year. The move prompted co-stars Richard Hammond and James May decided not to renew their contracts, too.

The BBC told Chortle they 'won't be commenting' on whether Tymon is still with the show.

Published: 30 Jul 2015