Did Chris Evans' 'Dictatorial Behaviour' Cause 'Top Gear' Producer To Quit?

  • 27 February 2016

‘Top Gear’ producer Lisa Clark reportedly left the series due to Chris Evans’ dictatorial behaviour, it has been claimed. A source told The Sun that Evans’ behaviour was the reason Clark quit the show in December, after just five months on the job.

Image caption Chris Evans and new 'Top Gear' co-host Matt LeBlanc.

A source told The Sun that Evans’ was “control freak who thinks he can trample over everyone” and workers were fed up with his ranting. The claims come after it was announced that the launch of the new series had been put back a fortnight to May 22nd and it would now consists of six episodes, due to filming delays.

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“Evans didn’t normally turn up to a lot of meetings, but at this one he said he had completed some footage with Jenson Button,” a source said. “Lisa replied, ‘Yes but we need to make more than 30 films. It’s not enough’. He shot her a look for undermining him and she was soon gone.”

Evans and Clark are also said to have clashed over the producer’s decision to hire former ‘Friends’ actor Matt LeBlanc. “It was Lisa who suggested Matt, but Evans’ reply was, ‘He’s old hat, what do we want him for?,’” the source added.

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A spokesperson declined to comment on Lisa Clark’s resignation, but said: “We’ve always said we were working towards a May transmission for Top Gear and further detail on the date and series structure will follow nearer the time.”