Jeremy Clarkson marked a return to BBC television last night as he recorded a new episode of QI.

Last night the former Top Gear presenter took part in a recording for the upcoming thirteenth series of the popular panel show, alongside Jimmy Carr and actress Shelia Hancock, who was making her debut appearance on the programme.

The episode was the thirteenth of sixteen due to be recorded for the 'M' series of QI, although it is not yet known which order the programmes will be broadcast in. Additionally, it was the motoring journalist's thirteenth QI appearance.

Clarkson left the employment of the BBC in March, having made media headlines after punching a Top Gear producer in a drunken argument.

Contrary to common belief, he was not sacked by the corporation, but his contract - which had been due to expire on 31st March - was simply not renewed.

Together with co-presenters Richard Hammond and James May, Clarkson has recently embarked on BBC Worldwide's high-earning Top Gear Live tour - now renamed Clarkson, Hammond and May Live after the controversy.

This is, however, not the first programme for the BBC that Jeremy Clarkson has made since his departure. Last month, promoting the live tour, Clarkson made an appearance on Chris Evans's BBC Radio 2 programme, where he described the furore as "my own silly fault".

Unlike Top Gear and the Chris Evans programme, QI is not made by the BBC. The series is produced by independent company Talkback, part of German-owned Fremantle Media.

Clarkson had also been booked to appear in the current, 49th, series of Have I Got News For You. He was to host the third episode in the series, recorded on Thursday 23rd April, but cancelled his appearance earlier in the month and was replaced by actor Stephen Mangan. HIGNFY, like QI, is also not made by the BBC themselves, but by Hat Trick Productions.

Series M of QI has three more recordings to complete, which will take place on 8th and 9th June. Other guests making their debuts during the series have included Tommy Tiernan, James Acaster, Sara Cox, Cariad Lloyd, Dermot O'Leary, Greg Davies, Danny Bhoy, Romesh Ranganathan, Matt Lucas, and Pakistani comedian Sami Shah.