Over the years, the trio of James May, Richard Hammond and Jeremy Clarkson have provided us automotive fans with plenty of laughs and great content. The three first joined forces in the early days of the revived Top Gear and stayed together after they left the show to join Amazon and start The Grand Tour while also presenting videos on own platform – DriveTribe. Over the years, the three have also fronted their own shows, ranging from Clarkson’s war documentaries, Hammond’s science shows and the Toy Stories series from May.
Of the three, we are all going to have our favorite. Some will prefer Clarkson, some will prefer Hammond and some May. But we think May might be the best presenter to have ever fronted the show. Not just because of what he has done on Top Gear or The Grand Tour, but because of what he has done away from them as well. The presenter is perhaps the most dynamic and entertaining of the three and also seems like the perfect chap to pop to the pub with for a pint or two. If you are in the UK of course.
May’s Time On The Revived Top Gear
May first appeared on the revived Top Gear in Series 2 of the show, and that first segment is available for those in the UK to watch on BBC iPlayer, as well as on YouTube for those who can’t watch it. The segment shows May driving his own old Bentley, and its classic May. The car suits him perfectly, and from then on his fame on the show was sealed. Captain Slow would soon become his nickname, mostly down to his much more relaxed driving style compared to the other two.
May became something of an antidote to the other two presenters. His OCD nature endeared him to many who had the same when coming to arranging tools, and his love for everything mechanical was a joy to watch, even if the other two found it boring. He loved going fast when he wanted too, see his run in the record-breaking Bugatti Veyron. It's little surprise then that there is a video with nearly 3 million views on YouTube simply entitled “James May being iconic for 8 minutes.” His humor is very British, and his calm nature is one of huge contrast to short and shouty Hammond and loud and brash Clarkson. Plus, who can forget his love for the Dacia Sandero? The famous "Good News" line is probably something everyone says now if they spot a Sandero.
The Range Of Programs May Has Created Is Incredible
May isn’t just famous for his automotive programs either. Perhaps the best are the Toy Stories series of programs where May takes classic British toys and attempts to do something big with them. There is the longest model railway challenge, attempted twice. Then there is the 1:1 scale Airfix Spitfire that you can see at the RAF Museum in Cosford. Perhaps the best is supersonic Action Man, where they fly Action Man in a rocket at over 800 mph.
Since he has been with Amazon, May has continued to produce these extra programs. James May Oh Cook! was a classic show, seeing May launch his cookbook. The cooking show has been renewed for another series as May confirmed recent in an interview. Our Man in Japan and Italy were equally fantastic, showcasing the best of both countries in a typical James May fashion. And does he roar around Italy in a Ferrari? No. He drives around in a little Fiat Panda, as only James May would. It's simply brilliant viewing. Also, who can forget “Bim, guess what?” from RoboHon in the Japanese series, perhaps the greatest TV segment in the history of TV.
The Hero That All Car Fans Deserve
May’s truly fascinated by the mechanical workings of not just automobiles but all things mechanical. His reassemble series shows him taking things apart and reassembling them, ranging from a model train to a sewing machine. He also has a typically James May car collection. The Alpine A110 is one of his favorite cars, so naturally he has one, and for everyday use he has a Tesla. But what else does he have? The hydrogen Toyota Mirai. It might be virtually impossible to find a hydrogen filling station in the UK, but that does not deter James May at all. Once, he even had an argument with himself!
May Doesn’t Get Enough Attention, And That’s Casual
Just like the modifications in James May Unpimp My Ride, we think it's pretty casual that May doesn’t get enough attention or recognition. There is something very endearing about May, his OCD and the way he can just make you laugh without really saying much or doing much. Plus, his love for the toys from his childhood is heartwarming and reminds us all of simpler times when life was perhaps a bit less complicated. Hopefully we will continue to get more James May moments for many years to come.
Sources: YouTube, IMDB,