It's almost a year now since that whole Jeremy Clarkson 'fracas' on the Top Gear set which led to the host being fired from the BBC show, while his fellow co-presenters walked with him. There was much speculation as to who would replace Clarkson, but we have known for some time now that it's Chris Evans who is stepping into the driving seat, with filming of the new series taking place these last few months.

Apparently though, it hasn't been all plain sailing, with Evans said to be fed up by the micromanaging of the BBC, particularly former BBC2 controller Kim Shillinglaw.

A source told the Daily Mail; “Chris isn’t a quitter but it was all getting on top of him and he began wondering if it was all worth the hassle.

"He was working his behind off and just didn’t feel the love coming back from certain BBC executives.

“They were constantly on the case - and getting involved with production issues. It wasn’t something Chris is used to dealing with. He was being driven to distraction by all this when all he wanted to do was make good television.

“Things got so bad that he made his feelings very clear. It was more or less a ‘butt out or I’m out’ situation. Whether he would have carried out the threat is another issue - but the message was obvious."

However, the departure of Shillinglaw last week is said to have boosted morale on the show, with the BBC2 controller apparently departing after being overlooked for a promotion. Evans is said to have a "good professional relationship" with her replacement, former BBC1 controller Charlotte Moore.

Another source added; "Chris has a huge respect for Charlotte - and she has a huge respect for him. She is also brilliant at soothing the furrowed brows and egos of top stars and giving them her full backing."

However, Mark Linsey, acting director of BBC Television, said: “BBC2 controller Kim Shillinglaw’s departure has absolutely nothing to do with Top Gear or the utter nonsense that she has been ‘meddling’ in the show.

“She has chosen to leave because BBC TV is restructuring and will have fewer controllers. Kim has brought viewers countless brilliant programmes and we’ll be sorry to see her go.”

Anything else just thinks this sounds like a storyline from W1A??