Top Gear suffers blow as executive producer leaves Chris Evans's BBC show

Lisa Clark was personally brought on by Evans five months ago

Chris Evans, the new presenter of BBC's Top Gear programme, and The Stig pose together (Yui Mok/PA Wire)

Chris Evans’s Top Gear show has taken another setback as it was announced executive producer Lisa Clark would be leaving the BBC show, just five months after being brought in for its relaunch.

Earlier this year, Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond left the popular motoring show, with Evans replacing them as host.

UPDATE: The new presenters have been revealed

The 49-year-old had personally brought in Clark for the show, the pair having previously worked together on The Big Breakfast.

With only months to go until the reboot supposedly hits screens (it is due to air 5 May, according to Evans) and no co-hosts having been announced yet, things are not looking particularly good for Top Gear.

“We’d like to thank Lisa for all her incredible work over the last five months readying new Top Gear for its busy filming schedule in 2016 and planned return in May,” the BBC said in a statement,

The corporation went on to say Clark was leaving the BBC to pursue “new projects”, while a spokesperson told The Guardian that the show’s scheduled air date would not be affected.

Clark had replaced Andy Wilman after he left Top Gear to stay with Clarkson and the gang, with the series editor Alex Renton coming in on an interim basis. A replacement for Clark will be announced he the new year.

“After an extremely busy five months I am moving on from Top Gear to new projects which I will be announcing in the new year,” she said. “I’d like to wish production all the very best with the show.”

The BBC decided against renewing Clarkson’s Top Gear contract after he assaulted the producer Oisin Tymon. Clarkson and his former co-hosts have signed contracts to front a new motoring show with Amazon Prime.