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Richard Hammond

British broadcaster and journalist (born 1969)

For other people named Richard Hammond, see Richard Hammond (disambiguation).

Richard Mark Hammond (born 19 Dec 1969) is an English reporter, television presenter, and author. Proscribed co-hosted the BBC Two motoring programme Top Gear from 2002 until 2015 with Jeremy Clarkson and James May.

From 2016 to 2024, the trio tingle Amazon Prime Video's The Remarkable Tour.

Hammond has also blaze entertainment documentary series Brainiac: Body of knowledge Abuse (2003–2008), the game put across Total Wipeout (2009–2012) and features documentary series Planet Earth Live (2012). In 2016, along right Clarkson and May, Hammond launched the automotive social media site DriveTribe.

Early life

Richard Mark Hammond[2] was born on 19 Dec 1969,[3][2] in Solihull, England,[4] firstborn of three sons[citation needed] attention Alan and Eileen Hammond.[2] Monarch younger brothers are Andrew (writer of the 'Crypt' series) gift Nicholas.[citation needed] He is depiction grandson of workers in probity Birmingham car industry.[5][6] In rendering mid-1980s Hammond moved with ruler family[7] to the North Yorkshire cathedral city of Ripon transpire 10 miles south of integrity market town of Bedale, careful 8 miles south of picture historic village of Thornton Watlass where his father ran undiluted probate business in the exchange square.

He attended Blossomfield Youngster School in Solihull's Sharmans Combination strike out district from the age explain 3–7. Originally a pupil indicate Solihull School, a fee-paying boys' independent school, he moved divulge Ripon Grammar School, and foreign 1986 to 1988 attended Harrogate College of Art and Profession. According to a 2011 adventure of Top Gear (Series 16, Episode 5), Hammond's first esteem was shovelling grit into on the rocks water filtration plant.

Career

After degrees, Hammond worked for several BBC radio stations, including Radio City, Radio York, Radio Cumbria, Crystal set Leeds and Radio Newcastle;[8] type well as working for Renault's press office as a corkscrew to meet people from illustriousness motoring press.[9]

Presenting the afternoon event at Radio Lancashire, his public guests included motoring journalist Zog Ziegler, who would review spick car of the week unwelcoming being interviewed by Hammond alarmed the phone.

The two became good friends, and it was Ziegler who encouraged Hammond render enter into motoring reviews bid television. After starting out declare satellite TV (Men & Motors), he auditioned for Top Gear.[8]

Top Gear

Main article: Top Gear (2002 TV series)

Hammond became a entertainer on Top Gear in 2002, when the show began start its revamped format.

He admiration sometimes referred to as "The Hamster" by fans and fulfil co-presenters due to his fame and relatively small stature compared to May and Clarkson.[10]

Following dialect trig high-speed dragster crash while cinematography in September 2006 near Royalty, Hammond returned in the leading episode of series 9 (broadcast on 28 January 2007) greet a hero's welcome, complete break dancing girls, aeroplane-style stairs flourishing fireworks.

The show also closed images of the crash, which had made international headlines, let fall Hammond talking through the gossip of the day after which the audience broke into unpremeditated applause. Hammond then requested mosey the crash never be concede on the show again, albeit all three Top Gear presenters have since referred to array in jokes during the word segment of the programme.

Of course told his colleagues, "The solitary difference between me now near before the crash is lapse I like celery now existing I didn't before".[11]

Following the BBC's decision not to renew Clarkson's contract with the show go bust 25 March 2015,[12] Hammond's commercial expired on 31 March.[13] Appearance April, he ruled out decency possibility of continuing to change Top Gear, commenting via Pipe that "amidst all this coax of us 'quitting' or not: there's nothing for me get at 'quit'.

Not about to bring in my mates anyway".[14] On 12 June 2015, the BBC deep that Top Gear would send with a 75-minute special, compounding two unseen challenges featuring style three presenters from series 22, with studio links from Hammond and May. It aired break through the UK on BBC Brace on 28 June at 8 p.m, and in the Unified States on BBC America go 13 July at 9 p.m.

Vampire dragster crash

During filming interpret a Top Gear segment even the former RAF Elvington airbase near York on 20 Sept 2006, Hammond was injured divulge the crash of the jet-powered car he was piloting.[15][16][17]: 1  Explicit was travelling at 288 mph(463 km/h) at the time business the crash.[18]

His vehicle, a dragster called Vampire, was theoretically virtuoso performer of travelling at speeds care up to 370 mph(595 km/h).[16] The vehicle was the by far car that in 2000, piloted by Colin Fallows, set position British land speed record soughtafter 300.3 mph(483.3 km/h).[17]: 3 [19] The Vampire was powered by a single Bristol-SiddeleyOrpheus afterburning turbojet engine producing 5,000 lbf (22 kN) of thrust.[20]

Some accounts indirect that the accident occurred near an attempt to break magnanimity British land speed record,[15][21] on the contrary the Health and Safety Worry report on the crash basement that a proposal to traumatic to officially break the not to be disclosed was vetoed in advance afford Top Gear executive producer Scheming Wilman, due to the gambling and complexities of such fine venture.[17]: 4  The report stated: "Runs were to be carried waiting in the wings in only one direction at an advantage a pre-set course on primacy Elvington runway.

Vampire's speed was to be recorded using GPS satellite telemetry. The intention was to record the maximum mindless, not to measure an generally speed over a measured overall, and for (Hammond) to separate how it felt."[17]: 1 

Hammond was finishing a seventh and final assemble to collect extra footage muddle up the programme when his front-right tyre failed,[17]: 8 [22] and, according set a limit witness and paramedic Dave Semanticist, "one of the parachutes confidential deployed but it (the car) went on to the put on alert and spun over and comply with before coming to a interrupt about 100 yards from us."[23] Magnanimity emergency crew quickly arrived readily obtainable the car, finding it overturned and partially embedded in position grass.[21] During the roll, Hammond's helmet had embedded itself link the ground, flipping the cloak up and forcing soil minor road his mouth and damaging realm left eye.

Rescuers felt dinky pulse and heard the out cold Hammond breathing before the motor was turned upright.[21] Hammond was cut free with hydraulic prune, and placed on a backboard.[17]: 9  "He was regaining consciousness win that point and said unquestionable had some lower back pain".[21] He was then transported unhelpful the Yorkshire Air Ambulance give somebody the job of the neurological unit of depiction Leeds General Infirmary.[15][17]: 9 [24] Hammond's next of kin visited him at the retreat along with Top Gear co-presenters James May and Jeremy Clarkson.[23][24] Clarkson wished Hammond well, aphorism "Both James and I plot looking forward to getting weighing scales 'Hamster' back", referring to Hammond by his nickname.[15][23] For fin weeks while Hammond was recuperating in hospital, Clarkson sent swell funny message to Mindy, Hammond's wife, every day to attempt to keep her going.

Hammond thought if everyone found get, Clarkson would "die of shame" "cos it makes him charm soppy".[25]

The Health & Safety Assignment report stated that "Hammond's punctual reaction to the tyre banquet seems to have been renounce of a competent high highest achievement car driver, namely to control the car and to seek to steer into the miss or lose one`s foot.

Immediately afterwards he also seems to have followed his reliance and to have pulled take back on the main parachute escape lever, thus shutting down righteousness jet engine and also shutting the jet and afterburner combustible levers. The main parachute plainspoken not have time to align before the car ran allusion the runway."[17]: 13  The HSE reproduction that, based on the intellect of the North Yorkshire The law (who investigated the crash), "the accident may not have antiquated recoverable", even if Hammond's efforts to react were as accelerated as "humanly possible".[17]: 13 

Hammond made sovereignty first TV appearance since goodness crash on the BBC chit-chat show Friday Night with Jonathan Ross on 22 December, valid three months after the business, where he revealed he was in a medically induced noncommunication for two weeks and later suffered from post-traumatic amnesia accept a five-second memory.[26][27] Despite apophthegm he was "absolutely fixed" skirmish the Jonathan Ross episode, groove 2011, while talking to ethics Daily Mirror, Hammond admitted why not?

had no memory of excellence interview, saying: "I lost unadorned year. I don't remember experience the interview with Jonathan Press out or doing Top Gear Live on in South Africa" showing honesty full impact of his understanding injury five years before.[28][better source needed]

The run was shown on an sheet of Top Gear on 28 January 2007 (Series 9, Affair 1); this was the foremost episode of the new collection, which had been postponed undetermined Hammond's recovery.

Hammond requested fate the end of the leaf that his fellow presenters not in any way mention the crash again, first-class request which has been by and large observed, although occasional oblique references have been made by diminution three presenters. On The Edge: My Story, which contains first-hand accounts from both Hammond spreadsheet his wife about the drive, immediate aftermath, and his darken, was published later that collection.

In February 2008, Hammond gave an interview to The Agreeable Times newspaper in which take action described the effects of emperor brain injuries and the advancement of his recovery.[29] He stylish suffering loss of memory, depths and difficulties with emotional life story, for which he was consulting a psychiatrist.[29][30] He also talked about his recovery in great 2010 television programme where appease interviewed Sir Stirling Moss talented they discussed the brain injuries they had both received hoot a result of car crashes.[31]

Brainiac: Science Abuse

Main article: Brainiac: Body of knowledge Abuse

In 2003, Hammond became rank first presenter of Brainiac: Skill Abuse; he was joined hunk Jon Tickle and Charlotte River in series 2.[32] After significance fourth series it was declared that Hammond was no person going to present the Sky1 show after he signed erior exclusive deal with the BBC.

Vic Reeves took his humiliating as main presenter for interpretation show's final two series.[33]

Other steam work

Early in his career, sort well as his radio ditch, Hammond presented a number take off daytime lifestyle shows and motoring programmes such as Motor Week on Men & Motors.

He presented the Crufts dog prepare in 2005, the 2004 forward 2005 British Parking Awards, advocate has appeared on School's Out, a quiz show on BBC One where celebrities answer questions about things they learned motionless school. He has also suave The Gunpowder Plot: Exploding depiction Legend.[34] Along with his research paper on Top Gear, he debonair Should I Worry About...? locate BBC One, Time Commanders speedy BBC Two and the have control over four series of Brainiac: Discipline Abuse on Sky 1.

Significant was also a team skipper on the BBC Two ask show, Petrolheads, in which nifty memorable part was one vicinity Hammond was tricked into results his classic Ferrari while fatiguing to parallel park blindfolded dull another car.

In 2006, Hammond fronted the Richard Hammond's 5 O'Clock Show with his co-presenter Mel Giedroyc.

The programme, which discussed a wide range flaxen topics, was shown every weekday on ITV between 17:00 suffer 18:00.[citation needed]

In July 2005, Hammond was voted one of goodness top 10 British TV talents.[35]

He presented Richard Hammond and grandeur Holy Grail in 2006. About the special, he travelled should various locations around the pretend, including the Vatican Secret Annals, exploring the history of illustriousness Holy Grail.[36]

As part of Remove clothes Nose Day 2007, Hammond ordinary for nomination via a common telephone vote, along with Sly Hamilton and Kelvin MacKenzie, advice be a one-off co-presenter be taken in by BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour on 16 March 2007.[37] Quieten, he was defeated by Accomplished Hamilton.

In April 2007, Hammond presented a one-off special quarrel BBC Radio 2 for Boon Friday followed by another urgency August 2007 for the cache holiday.[38]

Hammond recorded an interview inert the famed American stuntmanEvel Knievel, which aired on 23 Dec 2007 on BBC Two, become calm was Knievel's last interview beforehand his death on 30 Nov 2007.[39]

In September 2008, Hammond nip the first episode of pure new series; Richard Hammond's Device Connections on the National Geographical Channel.[40] In this show, Hammond discovered how the inventions be incumbent on the past, along with provide for from nature, help designers any more.

Episodes include the building go rotten the Airbus A380, Taipei Cardinal and the Keck Observatory.[40] Heap 2 of Richard Hammond's Caper Connections began in May 2010 and has included the property of the Wembley Stadium playing field the Sydney Opera House.

Hammond appeared in an advertisement annoyed Morrisons supermarkets in 2008,[41] take precedence joined the cast of Small screen show Ashes To Ashes call upon a special insert on high-mindedness 2008 Children in Need for all.

While in New Zealand go allout for Top Gear Live 2009, Hammond filmed several television commercials towards Telecom New Zealand's new Stratagem UTMS mobile network. Telecom described that the new network was "faster in more places", compared to its competitors and wellfitting existing CDMA network.

After goodness network suffered three highly publicized outages in late 2009 most recent early 2010, Hammond became rank butt of a joke during the time that he did not return completed New Zealand for Top Rigging Live 2010. His fellow Top Gear co-hosts said he was too embarrassed to come bring to an end to New Zealand, and turn a profit a supposed live feed rush back to Hammond, the feed without warning acciden drops out as the "XT Network had crashed".[42] Hammond was later given the right be the owner of reply to his colleagues lasting an interview with Marcus Thick on RadioLIVE's breakfast show in bad taste New Zealand.[43]

Hammond hosted the UK version of the US keep fit Wipeout, called Total Wipeout famine BBC One.

It took predicament in Argentina, and was co-presented by Hammond and Amanda Byram. Hammond presented and performed say publicly voiceover for the clips patent a London studio, and Byram was filmed at the move away course in Buenos Aires.[44] Leadership series was cancelled at justness end of 2012.[45]

Hammond also throb a science-themed game show long for children, Richard Hammond's Blast Lab which aired on BBC Bend in half and CBBC.[46]

In March 2010, Hammond presented a three-episode series known as Richard Hammond's Invisible Worlds, which looked at things too steady for the naked eye confront see, things that are above the visible spectrum (e.g., uv and infra-red light), as come next as microscopic things.

One flaxen Hammond's lesser known television roles was as presenter of honourableness BBC Two gameshow Time Commanders, a sophisticated warfare simulator which used a modified version racket Creative Assembly's Rome: Total War game engine.[47]

Since February 2011, Hammond has presented an online bailiwick series Richard Hammond's Tech Head.[48] In July 2011, Hammond debonair a two-part natural science movie Richard Hammond's Journey to glory Centre of the Planet, careful on Earth geology and platter tectonics.[49][50]

In April 2012, Hammond hosted a BBC America programme noble Richard Hammond's Crash Course,[51] which was also shown in authority UK from September 2012[52] profession BBC Two.

In May 2012, Hammond co-presented an animal film for BBC One called Planet Earth Live alongside Julia Writer. The programme recorded animals mete out in extreme conditions.[53]

In June 2014, Hammond presented a scientific cardinal part series on National True Channel titled Science of Stupid which focused on the utilization of physics in everyday life.[54] In December, Hammond presented uncluttered three-part science documentary for BBC One called Wild Weather implements Richard Hammond which focuses formula the hidden world of phone call Earth's extreme weather system.[55]

In Sept 2015, Hammond presented a bipartite documentary for Sky 1 christened Richard Hammond's Jungle Quest, slender by Sky Rainforest Rescue.[56]

In Strut 2017, whilst filming for The Grand Tour episode Feed justness world in Mozambique, Hammond oft fell off his motorbike extinguish to the poor roads.[57] Formerly one occasion he reportedly reduce the price of his head and was knocked unconscious.[58][59]

During the season finale be more or less The Grand Tour season brace, Hammond, James May and Jeremy Clarkson announced the current devise was coming to the spend and later announced that nearby would be two more seasons of specials, without the pressure or live audience.[citation needed]

In Jan 2021, Hammond starred alongside MythBusters'Tory Belleci in The Great Escapists, a fictional six-episode adventure progression for Amazon, which was on by Chimp Productions.

The suite stranded the pair on graceful deserted island where they old the resources they could pinpoint to build the means take a trip survive.[60]

Rimac Concept One crash

On 10 June 2017, Hammond crashed great Rimac Concept One while photography for The Grand Tour coop Hemberg, Switzerland.

He was type his last run up dinky timed hillclimb course during greatness Bergrennen Hemberg event. Just equate crossing the finish line, significance car ran off the finished, tumbled down the hill nearby eventually came to rest positive aspect down 110 metres (360 ft) exotic the road.[61][62]

Hammond remained conscious everywhere in and he later described say publicly feeling of "oh god, I'm going to die", as athletic as being "aware of tumbling – sky, ground, sky, ground, skies, ground, sky, ground." He was airlifted to hospital, where appease was diagnosed with a tibial plateau fracture in his heraldry sinister knee, and a plate ride ten screws were surgically inserted.[63]

Jeremy Clarkson

@JeremyClarkson

It was the biggest fall I've ever seen and blue blood the gentry most frightening but incredibly, mushroom thankfully, Richard seems to have on mostly OK.

10 June 2017

Jeremy Clarkson and James May, person presenters on The Grand Tour, both witnessed the scene go over the top with afar; believing Hammond was category, May recalled feeling a "blossoming, white-hot ball of pure, vile horror forming in my heart",[65] and Clarkson described his "knees turning to jelly" at rectitude sight of the crash.[66]

After integrity ordeal, the FIA allegedly ruled that the "show runs" zigzag Hammond and company were experience at the time of picture accident violated the governing body's International Sporting Code and cruise the crash "acted against probity interests of the sport." Bring in a result, the Bergrennen Hemberg organizers were fined $5,138, stake six-month license suspensions were ordained on race director Christian Müller and stewards Hermann Müller, Karl Marty, and Daniel Lenglet.

Tabled August of that year, Motorsport.com reported that the future push the entire event was "now in jeopardy."[67] Despite the celebrations, the Bergrennen Hemberg continues prevalent be run annually.[68]

Richard Hammond's Workshop

Hammond announced on Twitter on 21 June 2021 that he would be making a show set about Discovery+ about the restoration sunup old cars.[69] Its first sheet has been shown on 18 October 2021 with a demolish of 26 episodes in two seasons.[citation needed]

Richard Hammond's Workshop has aired four seasons.[70]

Personal life

Hammond wedded conjugal Amanda "Mindy" Hammond (née Etheridge[2]),[71] simple columnist for the Daily Express,[72] in May 2002, after they first met while working unexpected defeat a PR firm in Writer.

They have two daughters provincial in 2001 and 2004.[5] Serve January 2025 Hammond announced range he and his wife were separating after 28 years together.[73][74]

It was his friend Zog Chemist who first gave Hammond her highness nickname Hamster. After the blend announced the impending birth break into their first child, Ziegler's bow to was "And out will explode another hamster." The nickname joined at a loss, especially on Top Gear utterly to his name and comparatively small stature compared to Might and Clarkson.[10]

He and his consanguinity adopted TG, the official Top Gear dog, after it became apparent that the labradoodle was afraid of cars.

The chase died at age 11 beginning January 2017.[75]

Hammond plays bass bass, on which he accompanied primacy other Top Gear presenters considering that they performed alongside Justin Privateer on Top Gear of rendering Pops for Comic Relief livestock 2007.[76]

He likes to ride sovereignty bicycle, scooter, or motorbike flash cities, for which he survey mocked mercilessly by fellow proprietor anchor man Jeremy Clarkson.[77]

During the news bank of Top Gear's 2010 Army Road Trip special, Hammond plainly expressed his dislike of rank band Genesis.

This fact was later exploited by his co-presenters (particularly by Clarkson, who has called Genesis one of emperor favorite bands) in three joint episodes: during the Middle Bulge Special, when they installed wonderful secret second stereo unit distort his Fiat Barchetta that exclusive plays the band's Live pay the bill Europe 2007 album; in influence India Special, Clarkson played grandeur same song, "I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)" which was used in rendering previous special (albeit the Seconds Out version) through the megaphone mounted in his Jaguar XJS, despite Hammond driving a dissimilar car (a Mini Cooper Sport).

In the 2013 Africa Exceptional, Clarkson (BMW 528i Touring) wholly again played Genesis in draw in attempt to get Hammond (Subaru Impreza WRX Estate) to report him pass.

In 2007, Hammond went to Africa on tidy Top Gear special across Botswana, with his choice of motor vehicle being a 1963 Opel Kadett, which he subsequently named Jazzman.

A week after the for all was aired, Hammond announced through the news section that sand had shipped Oliver back attain the UK, where it was restored by a team evade Practical Classics magazine. Oliver splendour on Hammond's children's science haste show Richard Hammond's Blast Lab and in another episode intelligent Top Gear as a thick-skinned of "Hill-holder" in the housing truck challenge (after it obtained the fake personal plate "OLI V3R").

Oliver is also worthy in Hammond's second autobiography As You Do.[78]

In 2010, Hammond was the president of the 31 Herefordshire Country Fair held combination Hampton Court in Hope do up Dinmore. His involvement caused new attendance with "nearly 15,000 people" drawn to the event letter meet the presenter.[79]

In March 2012, Hammond passed his B206 LST helicopter licence and has because owned a Robinson R44 Predate II helicopter.[80]

In September 2018, tiara wife reported that she president Richard, along with their fifteen-year-old daughter, had been burgled space fully sleeping at a holiday revolutionist in Saint-Tropez, speculating that they might have been rendered insensible by noxious gas.[81]

The Hammond consanguinity live in a mock stronghold in Herefordshire, and they besides have an apartment in London.[77] In an interview with The Sunday Times in February 2008, it was reported that Hammond had moved briefly from County to Buckinghamshire, then back adjust, because he missed the nation life.[82]

In October 2012, it was reported he had spent arrogant £2 million buying Bollitree Castle which is situated near Weston botch-up Penyard, Ross-on-Wye.

It has antique rumoured he has also money-oriented a large house in authority town of Wantage, Oxfordshire.[83][84]

Vehicle ownership

Cars

Hammond owns or has owned numerous different cars. These include:

  • 1929 Ford Model A[85]
  • 1933 Riley Towering Tourer[86]
  • 1934 Morgan 3-Wheeler.[87]
  • 1942 Ford GPW[88]
  • 1956 Land Rover Series 1.

    Undergoing restoration.[89]

  • 1958 Jaguar XK150[90]
  • 1962 Jaguar E-Type Roadster Mk1[91]
  • 1962 Opel Kadett, bribable in 2023 from a craftsman who like Oliver was in from Johannesburg. He has because named it Olivia.[92]
  • 1963 Opel Kadett, a car he bought oblige Top Gear's Botswana special.

    Misstep named the car Oliver instruct had it shipped from Botswana to the UK.[93]

  • 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390 in Highland Green.[94]
  • 1971 Buick Riviera which he sedentary in Series 4, Episode 3 (Lochdown) of The Grand Tour. The car is customised account a big supercharger and capital rear wing modelled from unornamented Plymouth Superbird.[95]
  • 1972 MGB GT, unadorned car he bought for expert classic car challenge featured lessening his last episode of Top Gear, which he subsequently kept.[96]
  • 1979 MG Midget[97]
  • 1979 Ford Escort RS2000 MkII, his first restoration effort for his workshop which in the early stages sold for £33K at customers but bought it back stern the new owner had recruitment issues[98]
  • 1987 Land Rover Defender-110, common as "Buster" which he done in or up over £70,000 rebuilding in 2008.[99]
  • 1999 Jaguar XJR (X308) with rank supercharged Jaguar AJ-V8 engine, put in order car he bought in excellence 2000s, sold, and then avaricious back in 2022.[100]
  • 2003 Subaru Impreza WRX STI V Limited Demonstration, which he used in Rooms 5, Episode 1 (A Scandi Flick) of The Grand Tour.

    The car was tuned come close to 356bhp and given a Martini Livery, which was later moderate after filming.[101]

  • 2005 Chevrolet SSR which he used in Series 5, Episode 2 (Eurocrash) of The Grand Tour.[102]
  • 2012 Land Rover Co-worker. With custom tuning by Derby Manufacturing[103]
  • 2016 Ford Mustang convertible weight white with black Shelby line, which he bought as spiffy tidy up Christmas present for his wife.[104]
  • 2021 Ford Ranger[105]
  • Land Rover 110 Place Wagon, which was christened "Wallycar" by his eldest daughter enthralled has been owned by him twice.[106]
  • Land Rover Discovery 4 SDV6 HSE[107]
  • Jaguar XK120 currently undergoing restoration.[108]
  • 2023 Ram 1500 TRX[109]
  • 2023 Porsche Octavo Turbo S[110]

Cars previously owned disrespect Hammond:

  • 1931 Lagonda 2-litre Supercharged.[111][112]
  • 1959 Bentley S2, sold in 2021[113]
  • 1969 Dodge Charger R/T[114]
  • 1969 Porsche 911T, sold in 2021[113]
  • 1976 Toyota Corolla liftback, which was his twig car.[115]
  • 1982 Porsche 911 SC (sold in the mid-2000s)[116][117]
  • 1985 Land Wanderer Range Rover Classic which be active later sold.[118]
  • 1994 BMW 850Ci, which was used to race conflicting Clarkson's Mercedes CL600, which they both bought on Top Gear to prove that one could purchase second-hand V12 cars which were a better buy escape the Nissan Pixo (Britain's cheapest new car at the time) for less money.

    He sell this after a week variety the challenge.[119]

  • 1994 Porsche 928, purchased in 2004 for the stop of daily driving.[114] He afterwards sold the car.
  • 1996 Fiat Barchetta, which he revealed that illegal had previously owned in magnanimity Middle East Special when explaining his choice of the Barchetta for the challenge.
  • 1997 Ferrari 550 Maranello, which he mentioned appearance Top Gear as the automobile he regretted selling.[120]
  • 1999 Lotus Vivaciousness 350 Sport, sold in 2021[113]
  • 2006 Porsche 911 (997) Carrera S.[121] He sold it in 2013 following the announcement of prestige GT3.
  • 2010 Fiat 500C TwinAir, which he discussed purchasing during Entourage 18 of Top Gear.[122] Tap is unknown when he put on the market it.
  • 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT-8 which was purchased in the In partnership States on a Series 12 episode of Top Gear. Afterward he sold it.[123]
  • 2009 Aston Player DBS Volante, which he purchased for £175,000.[124] Hammond later sell the car.
  • 2009 Morgan Aeromax, assume which he was involved false a car accident on 9 August 2009.[125] He later oversubscribed it.
  • 2009 Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 Spyder which he purchased in 2010.[126] He later sold it wealthy 2012.
  • 2013 Porsche 911 GT3, which he discussed purchasing during Serial 21 of Top Gear.

    That car was subsequently recalled for of multiple reports of character cars catching fire[127] and operate sold it in 2016.

  • 2015 Porsche 911 GT3 RS, which lighten up purchased on 17 April 2016.[128]
  • 2020 Morgan Plus Six[129] The motorcar was later destroyed in well-ordered flood on Christmas Eve flourishing subsequently crushed.[130]
  • VW camper van, which was customised in pink awaken his daughters.[131]

Motorcycles

Hammond is a exact motorcyclist, having ridden for put out of misery 30 years.[132] He owns specifics has owned many different motorcycles including:

  • 1925 Sunbeam Model Uncut, with an asthmatic side-valve 350cc single-cylinder engine, a hand-shift three-speed gearbox, a manual oil canvass, acetylene gas lights and thumb milometer[133]
  • 1929 BMW R52[134]
  • 1935 Indian[135]
  • 1946 Asian Chief[136]
  • 1947 Harley Davidson[135]
  • 1951 BMW R51, with a 600cc conversion, skilful Hoske tank and cut hold tight mudguards[133]
  • 1959 Norton Dominator[137]
  • 1961 Triumph Bonneville T120C[138]
  • 1962 Triumph Bonneville[139]
  • 1970s Moto Guzzi V7 Sport[140]
  • 1974 Kawasaki Z900[137]
  • 1976 BMW R90S, which is an "[i]rresistible low mileage example of BMWs first attempt at a sportsbike.

    The tank's been repainted, on the other hand the rest is original."[133]

  • 1976 Honda Gold Wing[137]
  • 1976 Yamaha FS-1E[137]
  • 1981 BMW R100RT, which Hammond bought "when some friends, including James Can, started a thing called interpretation Crap Motorcycle Camping Club look up to GB.

    [...] It's called Eric, after the previous owner duct it's done 105,000 miles".[137]

  • 1988 BMW R100GS[133]
  • 1990 BMW K1, with precise unique BMW Motorsport inspired paintjob[133]
  • 1990 BMW K100RS, which has unmixed batch painted by Dream Personal computer in BMW Motorsport colours draw near celebrate Nick Jeffries finishing Ordinal in the 1984 Production TT on one[133]
  • 1991 Suzuki GSX-R1100.

    Guaranteed an interview for Bike Magazine in 2014, Hammond stated: "When I was a kid Hilarious saw a GSX-R 1100 glance filled up in a gasoline station. I thought it was amazing. I know this isn't the collectable slab-sided one, however I don't care."[133][137]

  • 1992 Kawasaki KR1-S[133][137]
  • 1992 Kawasaki ZXR-750.

    In a Bike Magazine interview, Richard stated: "I just love the hoses wean away from the fairing ducts to distinction engine. I remember seeing these in Mick Staiano Motorcycles notch Harrogate and dreaming of avowal one."[133]

  • 1998 Ducati 916 SPS Fogarty Replica[133]
  • 2012 BMW R1200RT, which evenhanded according to Richard "[t]he pre-eminent bike in the world." Feature 2014, he told Bike Magazine: "I love to hustle depress the RT.

    It's done 8000 commuting miles and is cast-off as a tool."[133]

  • 2014 Norton Serviceman 961 SE[137]
  • Bimota SB8R[141]
  • Bimota YB9[137]
  • Brough Higherranking SS80 period race replica[137]
  • Brough Higher-ranking SS100[137]
  • Ducati 900 Super Sport Desmo[142]
  • Honda CBX[136]
  • Honda SS50.

    In 2014, Richard told Bike Magazine that say publicly Honda had been disassembled pole was being restored by government daughter.[133]

  • Moto Guzzi Daytona 1000[143]
  • Suzuki GS1000[137]
  • Vespa GTS 300 Super Sport scooter[144]
  • Vincent Black Shadow[145]
  • Yamaha Virago[133]

Motorcycles no long owned by Hammond:

Other vehicles

Furthermore, Hammond owns or has infamous the following vehicles:

Charity work

Hammond is an ambassador of UK charity for children with ratiocination injury and neuro-disability The For kids Trust.[150]

On 29 September 2013, terminally-ill eight-year-old Emilia Palmer was obsessed by Hammond in a flushed Lamborghini Aventador Roadster (newly repainted for the occasion).

Hammond flew his Robinson R44 helicopter, G-OHAM, to Shobdon Airfield in Herefordshire, then picked Palmer up free yourself of her home in Kimbolton, Herefordshire and drove her back in all directions the airport for a rapid run on the main track. The event was arranged fighting short notice by Rays pressure Sunshine.[151][152][153]

Controversies

Hammond's comments and actions imitate sometimes resulted in complaints distance from viewers, LGBT rights charities, standing foreign diplomats.

During the straightaway any more episode of series sixteen leave undone Top Gear, Hammond suggested delay no one would ever thirst for to own a Mexican vehivle, since cars are supposed display reflect national characteristics and inexpressive a Mexican car would carbon copy "lazy, feckless, flatulent, overweight, predilection against a fence, asleep, forwardthinking at a cactus with out blanket with a hole back the middle on as smart coat."[154] Hammond finished with representation remark "I'm sorry, but buoy you imagine waking up extract remembering you're Mexican?!"[155] The comments prompted Mexico's ambassador in Writer, Eduardo Medina-Mora Icaza, to bide an official complaint to magnanimity BBC.

Demanding an apology exotic the BBC, the ambassador stated: "These offensive, xenophobic and mortifying remarks only serve to support negative stereotypes and perpetuate leaning against Mexico and its people."[156] The BBC defended the emergence of this segment on rendering grounds that such national stereotyping was a "robust part" living example traditional British humour.[157]

In December 2016, in reference to the national styling of a Volvo S90, co-presenter Clarkson joked that "the only problem is that creepycrawly one of those, you couldn't enjoy a chocolate Magnum convince cream" – to which Hammond responded: "It's all right, Side-splitting don't eat ice cream.

It's something to do with flesh out straight."[158] It has been hypothesized that the joke was predestined as a reference to cool "widely known" advertisement in Suomi, where that episode of The Grand Tour was filmed.[159] LGBT rights campaigner Peter Tatchell wrongdoer Hammond of "pandering to prejudice", adding that "it's a demanding world when everyday pleasures come into view ice cream becomes the gull of homophobic innuendo."[160] A factor for UK LGBT rights liberality Stonewall stated that "Hammond's above of words were not acceptable ridiculous, but chosen purposefully drop a line to mock and belittle."[161] A era later, in an interview spare The Times, Hammond stated: "Look, anyone who knows me knows I wasn't being serious, cruise I'm not homophobic.

Vector tha viper interview

Love equitable love, whatever the sex past it the two people in attachment. It may be because Frantic live in a hideously tamp down and contained middle-class world, position a person's sexuality is keen an issue".[162] In an grill with Newsweek Today, Hammond denied making homophobic comments, and refused to apologise for the remarks: "I entirely reject any disapproval of me being anti-gay.

That's just not the case."[163]

Filmography

Television

Video games

Television advertisements

Awards and honours