Richard Hammond
Richard Hammond | |
---|---|
![]() Hammond in 2024 | |
Born | Richard Mark Hammond 19 December 1969 Solihull, Warwickshire, England |
Education | |
Alma mater | Harrogate College of Art and Technology |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1998–present |
Known for | Presenting
|
Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)[1][2] |
Spouse |
Amanda Etheridge (m. 2002) |
Children | 2 |
Richard Mark Hammond (born 19 December 1969) is an English journalist, television presenter, mechanic, and writer. He is best known for co-hosting the BBC Two motoring programme Top Gear from 2002 until 2015 with Jeremy Clarkson and James May. From 2016 to 2024, the trio presented Amazon Prime Video's The Grand Tour.
Hammond has also notably presented entertainment documentary series Brainiac: Science Abuse (2003–2008), the game show Total Wipeout (2009–2012) and nature documentary series Planet Earth Live (2012). In 2016, again with Clarkson and May, Hammond launched the automotive social media website DriveTribe, where he regularly provides content on their Youtube channel.[3]
Early life
[edit]Hammond was born the oldest of three boys on 19 December 1969[4] in Solihull, England, and is the grandson of workers in the Birmingham car industry.[5][6] In the mid-1980s Hammond moved with his family (mother Eileen (née Dunsby),[7] father Alan, and younger brothers Andrew, writer of the 'Crypt' series, and Nicholas) to the North Yorkshire cathedral city of Ripon located 10 miles south of the market town of Bedale, and 8 miles south of the historic village of Thornton Watlass where his father ran a probate business in the market square. He attended Blossomfield Infant School in Solihull's Sharmans Cross district from the age of 3–7. Originally a pupil of Solihull School, a fee-paying boys' independent school, he moved to Ripon Grammar School, and from 1986 to 1988 attended Harrogate College of Art and Technology. According to an episode of Top Gear (Season 16, Episode 5), Richard's first job was shovelling grit into a water filtration plant.
Career
[edit]After graduation, Hammond worked for several BBC radio stations, including Radio Cleveland, Radio York, Radio Cumbria, Radio Leeds and Radio Newcastle.[8]
Presenting the afternoon programme at Radio Lancashire, his regular guests included motoring journalist Zog Zieglar, who would review a car of the week by being interviewed by Hammond over the phone. The two became good friends, and it was Zieglar who encouraged Hammond to enter into motoring reviews on television. After starting out on satellite TV (Men & Motors), he auditioned for Top Gear.[8]
Top Gear
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/57/Richard_Hammond_1.jpg/220px-Richard_Hammond_1.jpg)
Hammond became a presenter on Top Gear in 2002, when the show began in its revamped format. He is sometimes referred to as "The Hamster" by fans and his co-presenters due to his name and relatively small stature compared to May and Clarkson.[9] His nickname was further reinforced when on two occasions in series 7, he ate cardboard,[10] mimicking hamster-like behaviour.
Following a high-speed dragster crash while filming in September 2006 near York, Hammond returned in the first episode of series 9 (broadcast on 28 January 2007) to a hero's welcome, complete with dancing girls, aeroplane-style stairs and fireworks. The show also contained images of the crash, which had made international headlines, with Hammond talking through the events of the day after which the audience broke into spontaneous applause. Hammond then requested that the crash never be mentioned on the show again, though all three Top Gear presenters have since referred to it in jokes during the news segment of the programme. He told his colleagues, "The only difference between me now and before the crash is that I like celery now and I didn't before".[11]
Following the BBC's decision not to renew Clarkson's contract with the show on 25 March 2015,[12] Hammond's contract expired on 31 March.[13] In April, he ruled out the possibility of continuing to present Top Gear, commenting via Twitter that "amidst all this talk of us 'quitting' or not: there's nothing for me to 'quit' not about to quit my mates anyway".[14] On 12 June 2015, the BBC confirmed that Top Gear would return with a 75-minute special, combining two unseen challenges featuring all three presenters from series 22, with studio links from Hammond and May. It aired in the UK on BBC Two on 28 June at 8 p.m, and in the United States on BBC America on 13 July at 9 p.m.
Vampire dragster crash
[edit]During filming of a Top Gear segment at the former RAF Elvington airbase near York on 20 September 2006, Hammond was injured in the crash of the jet-powered car he was piloting.[15][16][17]: 1 He was travelling at 288 mph (463 km/h) at the time of the crash.[18]
His vehicle, a dragster called Vampire, was theoretically capable of travelling at speeds of up to 370 mph (595 km/h).[16] The vehicle was the same car that in 2000, piloted by Colin Fallows, set the British land speed record at 300.3 mph (483.3 km/h).[17]: 3 [19] The Vampire was powered by a single Bristol-Siddeley Orpheus afterburning turbojet engine producing 5,000 lbf (22 kN) of thrust.[20]
Some accounts suggested that the accident occurred during an attempt to break the British land speed record,[15][21] but the Health and Safety Executive report on the crash found that a proposal to try to officially break the record was vetoed in advance by Top Gear executive producer Andy Wilman, due to the risks and complexities of such a venture.[17]: 4 The report stated: "Runs were to be carried out in only one direction along a pre-set course on the Elvington runway. Vampire's speed was to be recorded using GPS satellite telemetry. The intention was to record the maximum speed, not to measure an average speed over a measured course, and for (Hammond) to describe how it felt."[17]: 1
Hammond was completing a seventh and final run to collect extra footage for the programme when his front-right tyre failed,[17]: 8 [22] and, according to witness and paramedic Dave Ogden, "one of the parachutes had deployed but it (the car) went on to the grass and spun over and over before coming to a rest about 100 yards from us."[23] The emergency crew quickly arrived at the car, finding it inverted and partially embedded in the grass.[21] During the roll, Hammond's helmet had embedded itself into the ground, flipping the visor up and forcing soil into his mouth and damaging his left eye. Rescuers felt a pulse and heard the unconscious Hammond breathing before the car was turned upright.[21] Hammond was cut free with hydraulic shears, and placed on a backboard.[17]: 9 "He was regaining consciousness at that point and said he had some lower back pain".[21] He was then transported by the Yorkshire Air Ambulance to the neurological unit of the Leeds General Infirmary.[15][17]: 9 [24] Hammond's family visited him at the hospital along with Top Gear co-presenters James May and Jeremy Clarkson.[23][24] Clarkson wished Hammond well, saying "Both James and I are looking forward to getting our 'Hamster' back", referring to Hammond by his nickname.[15][23] For five weeks while Hammond was recovering in hospital, Clarkson sent a funny message to Mindy, Hammond's wife, every day to try to keep her going. Hammond thought if everyone found out, Clarkson would "die of shame" "cos it makes him look soppy".[25]
The Health & Safety Executive report stated that "Hammond's instantaneous reaction to the tyre blow-out seems to have been that of a competent high performance car driver, namely to brake the car and to try to steer into the skid. Immediately afterwards he also seems to have followed his training and to have pulled back on the main parachute release lever, thus shutting down the jet engine and also closing the jet and afterburner fuel levers. The main parachute did not have time to deploy before the car ran off the runway."[17]: 13 The HSE notes that, based on the findings of the North Yorkshire Police (who investigated the crash), "the accident may not have been recoverable", even if Hammond's efforts to react were as fast as "humanly possible".[17]: 13
Hammond made his first TV appearance since the crash on the BBC chat show Friday Night with Jonathan Ross on 22 December, just three months after the incident, where he revealed he was in a medically induced coma for two weeks and afterwards suffered from post-traumatic amnesia and a five-second memory.[26][27] Despite saying he was "absolutely fixed" on the Jonathan Ross episode, in 2011, while talking to the Daily Mirror, Hammond admitted he had no memory of the interview, saying: "I lost a year. I don't remember doing the interview with Jonathan Ross or doing Top Gear Live in South Africa" showing the full impact of his brain injury 5 years before.[28][better source needed]
The crash was shown on an episode of Top Gear on 28 January 2007 (Season 9, Episode 1); this was the first episode of the new series, which had been postponed pending Hammond's recovery. Hammond requested at the end of the episode that his fellow presenters never mention the crash again, a request which has been generally observed, although occasional oblique references have been made by all three presenters. On The Edge: My Story, which contains first-hand accounts from both Hammond and his wife about the crash, immediate aftermath, and his recovery, was published later that year.
In February 2008, Hammond gave an interview to The Sunday Times newspaper in which he described the effects of his brain injuries and the progression of his recovery.[29] He reported suffering loss of memory, depression and difficulties with emotional experiences, for which he was consulting a psychiatrist.[29][30] He also talked about his recovery in a 2010 television programme where he interviewed Sir Stirling Moss and they discussed the brain injuries they had both received as a result of car crashes.[31]
Brainiac: Science Abuse
[edit]In 2003, Hammond became the first presenter of Brainiac: Science Abuse; he was joined by Jon Tickle and Charlotte Hudson in series 2.[32] After the fourth series it was announced that Hammond was no longer going to present the Sky1 show after he signed an exclusive deal with the BBC. Vic Reeves took his place as main presenter.[33]
Other television work
[edit]Early in his career, as well as his radio work, Hammond presented a number of daytime lifestyle shows and motoring programmes such as Motor Week on Men & Motors.
He presented the Crufts dog show in 2005, the 2004 and 2005 British Parking Awards, and has appeared on School's Out, a quiz show on BBC One where celebrities answer questions about things they learned at school. He has also presented The Gunpowder Plot: Exploding the Legend.[34] Along with his work on Top Gear, he presented Should I Worry About...? on BBC One, Time Commanders on BBC Two and the first four series of Brainiac: Science Abuse on Sky 1. He was also a team captain on the BBC Two quiz show, Petrolheads, in which a memorable part was one where Hammond was tricked into bumping his classic Ferrari while trying to parallel park blindfolded in 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 of topics, was shown every weekday on ITV between 17:00 and 18:00.[citation needed]
In July 2005, Hammond was voted one of the top 10 British TV talents.[35]
He presented Richard Hammond and the Holy Grail in 2006. During the special, he travelled to various locations around the world, including the Vatican Secret Archives, exploring the history of the Holy Grail.[36]
As part of Red Nose Day 2007, Hammond stood for nomination via a public telephone vote, along with Andy Hamilton and Kelvin MacKenzie, to be a one-off co-presenter of BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour on 16 March 2007.[37] However, he was defeated by Andy Hamilton.
In April 2007, Hammond presented a one-off special on BBC Radio 2 for Good Friday followed by another in August 2007 for the bank holiday.[38]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/76/2007_BritCar24Hours_TopGearBMW.jpg/220px-2007_BritCar24Hours_TopGearBMW.jpg)
Hammond recorded an interview with the famed American stuntman Evel Knievel, which aired on 23 December 2007 on BBC Two, and was Knievel's last interview before his death on 30 November 2007.[39]
In September 2008, Hammond presented the first episode of a new series; Richard Hammond's Engineering Connections on the National Geographic Channel.[40] In this show, Hammond discovered how the inventions of the past, along with assistance from nature, help designers today. Episodes include the building of the Airbus A380, Taipei 101 and the Keck Observatory.[40] Series 2 of Richard Hammond's Engineering Connections began in May 2010 and has included the building of the Wembley Stadium and the Sydney Opera House.
Hammond appeared in an advertisement for Morrisons supermarkets in 2008,[41] and joined the cast of TV show Ashes To Ashes for a special insert on the 2008 Children in Need special.
While in New Zealand for Top Gear Live 2009, Hammond filmed several television commercials for Telecom New Zealand's new XT UTMS mobile network. Telecom claimed that the new network was "faster in more places", compared to its competitors and its existing CDMA network. After the network suffered three highly publicised outages in late 2009 and early 2010, Hammond became the butt of a joke when he did not return to New Zealand for Top Gear Live 2010. His fellow Top Gear co-hosts said he was too embarrassed to come back to New Zealand, and in a supposed live feed back to Hammond, the feed suddenly drops out as the "XT Network had crashed".[42] Hammond was later given the right of reply to his colleagues during an interview with Marcus Lush on RadioLIVE's breakfast show in New Zealand.[43]
Hammond hosted the UK version of the US series Wipeout, called Total Wipeout for BBC One. It took place in Argentina, and was co-presented by Hammond and Amanda Byram. Hammond presented and performed the voiceover for the clips in a London studio, and Byram was filmed at the obstacle course in Buenos Aires.[44] The series was cancelled at the end of 2012.[45]
Hammond also presented a science-themed game show for children, Richard Hammond's Blast Lab which aired on BBC Two and CBBC.[46]
In March 2010, Hammond presented a three-episode series called Richard Hammond's Invisible Worlds, which looked at things too fast for the naked eye to see, things that are beyond the visible spectrum (e.g., ultraviolet and infra-red light), as well as microscopic things.
One of Hammond's lesser known television roles was as presenter of the BBC Two gameshow Time Commanders, a sophisticated warfare simulator which used a modified version of Creative Assembly's Rome: Total War game engine.[47]
Since February 2011, Hammond has presented an online technology series Richard Hammond's Tech Head.[48] In July 2011, Hammond presented a two-part natural science documentary Richard Hammond's Journey to the Centre of the Planet, focused on Earth geology and plate tectonics.[49][50]
In April 2012, Hammond hosted a BBC America programme titled Richard Hammond's Crash Course,[51] which was also shown in the UK from September 2012[52] on BBC Two. In May 2012, Hammond co-presented an animal documentary for BBC One called Planet Earth Live alongside Julia Bradbury. The programme recorded animals living in extreme conditions.[53]
In June 2014, Hammond presented a scientific fourteen part series on National Geographic Channel titled Science of Stupid which focused on the application of physics in everyday life.[54] In December, Hammond presented a three-part science documentary for BBC One called Wild Weather with Richard Hammond which focuses on the hidden world of our Earth's extreme weather system.[55]
In September 2015, Hammond presented a two-part documentary for Sky 1 called Richard Hammond's Jungle Quest, supported by Sky Rainforest Rescue.[56]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e8/The_Grand_Tour_opening_scene_shoot_%2830963619511%29.jpg/220px-The_Grand_Tour_opening_scene_shoot_%2830963619511%29.jpg)
In March 2017, whilst filming for The Grand Tour episode Feed the world in Mozambique, Hammond frequently fell off his motorbike due to the poor roads.[57] On one occasion he reportedly hit his head and was knocked unconscious.[58][59]
During the season finale of The Grand Tour season three, Hammond, James May and Jeremy Clarkson announced the current format was coming to the end and later announced that there would be two more seasons of specials, without the tent or live audience.[citation needed]
In January 2021, Hammond starred alongside MythBusters' Tory Belleci in The Great Escapists, a fictional six-episode adventure series for Amazon, which was produced by Chimp Productions. The series stranded the pair on a deserted island where they used the resources they could find to build the means to survive.[60]
Rimac Concept One crash
[edit]On 10 June 2017, Hammond crashed a Rimac Concept One while filming for The Grand Tour in Hemberg, Switzerland. He was on his last run up a timed hillclimb course during the Bergrennen Hemberg event. Just after crossing the finish line, the car ran off the road, tumbled down the hill and eventually came to rest upside down 110 metres (360 ft) from the road.[61][62]
Hammond remained conscious throughout and he later described the feeling of "oh god, I'm going to die", as well as being "aware of tumbling – sky, ground, sky, ground, sky, ground, sky, ground." He was airlifted to hospital, where he was diagnosed with a tibial plateau fracture in his left knee, and a plate and ten screws were surgically inserted.[63]
Jeremy Clarkson @JeremyClarkson It was the biggest crash I've ever seen and the most frightening but incredibly, and thankfully, Richard seems to be mostly OK.
10 June 2017[64]
Jeremy Clarkson and James May, fellow presenters on The Grand Tour, both witnessed the scene from afar; believing Hammond was dead, May recalled feeling a "blossoming, white-hot ball of pure, sickening horror forming in my heart",[65] and Clarkson described his "knees turning to jelly" at the sight of the crash.[66]
After the ordeal, the FIA allegedly ruled that the "show runs" that Hammond and company were doing at the time of the accident violated the governing body's International Sporting Code and that the crash "acted against the interests of the sport." As a result, the Bergrennen Hemberg organizers were fined $5,138, and six-month license suspensions were imposed on race director Christian Müller and stewards Hermann Müller, Karl Marty, and Daniel Lenglet. In August of that year, Motorsport.com reported that the future of the entire event was "now in jeopardy."[67] Despite the reports, the Bergrennen Hemberg continues to be run annually.[68]
Richard Hammond's Workshop
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/Richard_Hammond_in_Toronto_at_the_2024_Canadian_International_Auto_Show.jpg/220px-Richard_Hammond_in_Toronto_at_the_2024_Canadian_International_Auto_Show.jpg)
Hammond announced on Twitter on 21 June 2021 that he would be making a show with Discovery+ about the restoration of old cars.[69] Its first episode has been shown on 18 October 2021 with a total of 26 episodes in three seasons.[70]
Personal life
[edit]Hammond has been married to Amanda "Mindy" Hammond,[71] a columnist for the Daily Express,[72] since May 2002. They have two daughters born in 2001 and 2004.[5]
It was his friend Zog Zieglar who first gave Hammond his nickname Hamster. After the couple announced the impending birth of their first child, Zieglar's response was "And out will pop another hamster." The nickname stuck, especially on Top Gear due to his name and relatively small stature compared to May and Clarkson.[9] His nickname was further reinforced when on three occasions in series 7, he ate cardboard,[10] mimicking hamster behaviour.
He and his family adopted TG, the official Top Gear dog, after it became apparent that the labradoodle was afraid of cars. The dog died at age 11 in January 2017.[73]
Hammond plays bass guitar, on which he accompanied the other Top Gear presenters when they performed alongside Justin Hawkins on Top Gear of the Pops for Comic Relief in 2007.[citation needed]
He likes to ride his bicycle, scooter, or motorbike in cities, for which he is mocked mercilessly by fellow presenter Jeremy Clarkson.[74]
During the news segment of Top Gear's 2010 USA Road Trip special, Hammond openly expressed his dislike of the band Genesis. This fact was later exploited by his co-presenters (particularly by Clarkson, who has called Genesis one of his favorite bands) in three special episodes: during the Middle East Special, when they installed a secret second stereo unit in his Fiat Barchetta that only plays the band's Live over Europe 2007 album; in the India Special, Clarkson played the same song, “I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)” which was used in the previous special (albeit the Seconds Out version) through the megaphone mounted in his Jaguar XJS, despite Hammond driving a different car (a Mini Cooper Sport). In the 2013 Africa Special, Clarkson (BMW 528i Touring) once again played Genesis in an attempt to get Hammond (Subaru Impreza WRX Estate) to let him pass.
In 2007, Hammond went to Africa on a Top Gear special across Botswana, with his choice of car being a 1963 Opel Kadett, which he subsequently named Oliver. A week after the special was aired, Hammond announced during the news section that he had shipped Oliver back to the UK, where it was restored by a team from Practical Classics magazine. Oliver features on Hammond's children's science television show Richard Hammond's Blast Lab and in another episode of Top Gear as a kind of "Hill-holder" in the trailer truck challenge (after it acquired the fake personal plate "OLI V3R"). Oliver is also mentioned in Hammond's second autobiography As You Do.[75]
In 2010, Hammond was the president of the 31st Herefordshire Country Fair held at Hampton Court in Hope under Dinmore. His involvement caused unprecedented attendance with "nearly 15,000 people" drawn to the event to meet the presenter.[76]
In March 2012, Hammond passed his B206 LST helicopter licence and has since owned a Robinson R44 Raven II helicopter.[77]
In September 2018, his wife reported that she and Richard, along with their fifteen-year-old daughter, had been burgled while sleeping at a holiday villa in Saint-Tropez, speculating that they might have been rendered unconscious by noxious gas.[78]
Residences
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Bollitree_castle_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1684265.jpg/290px-Bollitree_castle_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1684265.jpg)
The Hammond family live in a mock castle in Herefordshire, and they also have an apartment in London.[74] In an interview with The Sunday Times in February 2008, it was reported that Hammond had moved briefly from Gloucestershire to Buckinghamshire, then back again, because he missed the country life.[79]
In October 2012, it was reported he had spent over £2 million buying Bollitree Castle which is situated near Weston under Penyard, Ross-on-Wye. It has been rumoured he has also bought a large house in the town of Wantage, Oxfordshire.[80][81]
Vehicle ownership
[edit]Cars
[edit]Hammond owns or has owned many different cars including:
- 1929 Ford Model A[82]
- 1933 Riley Alpine Tourer[83]
- 1934 Morgan 3-Wheeler.[84]
- 1942 Ford GPW[85]
- 1956 Land Rover Series 1. Undergoing restoration.[86]
- 1958 Jaguar XK150[87]
- 1962 Jaguar E-Type Roadster Mk1[88]
- 1962 Opel Kadett, bought in 2023 from a seller who like Oliver was originally from Johannesburg South Africa. He has since named it Olivia[89]
- 1963 Opel Kadett, a car he bought for Top Gear's Botswana special. He named the car Oliver and had it shipped from Botswana to the UK.[90]
- 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390 in Highland Green.[91]
- 1971 Buick Riviera which he used in Season 4, Episode 3 (Lochdown) of The Grand Tour. The car is customised with a big supercharger and a rear wing modelled from a Plymouth Superbird.[92]
- 1972 MGB GT, a car he bought for a classic car challenge in his last episode of Top Gear, which he subsequently kept.[93]
- 1979 MG Midget[94]
- 1979 Ford Escort RS2000 MkII, his first restoration project for his workshop which initially sold for £33K at auction but bought it back after the new owner had registration issues[95]
- 1987 Land Rover Defender-110, known as "Buster" which he spent over £70,000 rebuilding in 2008.[96]
- 1999 Jaguar XJR (X308) with the supercharged Jaguar AJ-V8 engine, a car he bought in the 2000s, sold, and then bought back in 2022.[97]
- 2003 Subaru Impreza WRX STI V Limited Edition, which he used in Season 5, Episode 1 (A Scandi Flick) of The Grand Tour. The car was tuned to 356bhp and given a Martini Livery.[98]
- 2005 Chevrolet SSR which he used in Season 5, Episode 2 (Eurocrash) of The Grand Tour.[99]
- 2012 Land Rover Defender. With custom tuning by Bowler Manufacturing[100]
- 2016 Ford Mustang convertible in white with black Shelby stripes, which he bought as a Christmas present for his wife.[101]
- 2021 Ford Ranger[102]
- Land Rover 110 Station Wagon, which was christened "Wallycar" by his eldest daughter and has been owned by him twice.[103]
- Land Rover Discovery 4 SDV6 HSE[104]
- Jaguar XK120 currently undergoing restoration.[105]
- 2023 Ram 1500 TRX[106]
- 2023 Porsche 911 Turbo S[107]
Cars previously owned by Hammond:
- 1931 Lagonda 2-litre Supercharged.[108][109]
- 1959 Bentley S2, sold in 2021[110]
- 1969 Dodge Charger R/T[111]
- 1969 Porsche 911T, sold in 2021[110]
- 1976 Toyota Corolla liftback, which was his first car.[112]
- 1982 Porsche 911 SC (sold in the mid-2000s)[113][114]
- 1985 Land Rover Range Rover Classic which he later sold.[115]
- 1994 BMW 850Ci, which was used to race against 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 than the Nissan Pixo (Britain's cheapest new car at the time) for less money. He sold this after a week on the challenge.[116]
- 1994 Porsche 928, purchased in 2004 for the purpose of daily driving.[111] He later sold the car.
- 1996 Fiat Barchetta, which he revealed that he had previously owned in the Middle East Special when explaining his choice of the Barchetta for the challenge.
- 1997 Ferrari 550 Maranello, which he mentioned in Top Gear as the car he regretted selling.[117]
- 1999 Lotus Esprit 350 Sport, sold in 2021[110]
- 2006 Porsche 911 (997) Carrera S.[118] He sold it in 2013 following the announcement of the GT3.
- 2010 Fiat 500C TwinAir, which he discussed purchasing during Series 18 of Top Gear.[119] It is unknown when he sold it.
- 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT-8 which was purchased in the United States on a Series 12 episode of Top Gear. Later he sold it.[120]
- 2009 Aston Martin DBS Volante, which he purchased for £175,000.[121] Hammond later sold the car.
- 2009 Morgan Aeromax, in which he was involved in a car accident on 9 August 2009.[122] He later sold it.
- 2009 Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 Spyder which he purchased in 2010.[123] He later sold it in 2012.
- 2013 Porsche 911 GT3, which he discussed purchasing during Series 21 of Top Gear. This car was subsequently recalled because of multiple reports of the cars catching fire[124] and he sold it in 2016.
- 2015 Porsche 911 GT3 RS, which he purchased on 17 April 2016.[125]
- 2020 Morgan Plus Six[126] The car was later destroyed in a flood on Christmas Eve and subsequently crushed.[127]
- VW camper van, which was customised in pink for his daughters.[128]
Motorcycles
[edit]Hammond is a keen motorcyclist, having ridden for over 30 years.[129] He owns or has owned many different motorcycles including:
- 1925 Sunbeam Model A, with an asthmatic side-valve 350cc single-cylinder engine, a hand-shift three-speed gearbox, a manual oil pump, acetylene gas lights and no milometer[130]
- 1929 BMW R52[131]
- 1935 Indian[132]
- 1946 Indian Chief[133]
- 1947 Harley Davidson[132]
- 1951 BMW R51, with a 600cc conversion, a Hoske tank and cut down mudguards[130]
- 1959 Norton Dominator[134]
- 1961 Triumph Bonneville T120C[135]
- 1962 Triumph Bonneville[136]
- 1970s Moto Guzzi V7 Sport[137]
- 1974 Kawasaki Z900[134]
- 1976 BMW R90S, which is an "[i]rresistible low mileage example of BMWs first attempt at a sportsbike. The tank's been repainted, but the rest is original."[130]
- 1976 Honda Gold Wing[134]
- 1976 Yamaha FS-1E[134]
- 1981 BMW R100RT, which Hammond bought "when some friends, including James May, started a thing called the Crap Motorcycle Camping Club of GB. [...] It's called Eric, after the previous owner and it's done 105,000 miles".[134]
- 1988 BMW R100GS[130]
- 1990 BMW K1, with a unique BMW Motorsport inspired paintjob[130]
- 1990 BMW K100RS, which has a batch painted by Dream Machine in BMW Motorsport colours to celebrate Nick Jeffries finishing 8th in the 1984 Production TT on one[130]
- 1991 Suzuki GSX-R1100. In an interview for Bike Magazine in 2014, Hammond stated: "When I was a kid I saw a GSX-R 1100 being filled up in a petrol station. I thought it was amazing. I know this isn't the collectable slab-sided one, but I don't care."[130][134]
- 1992 Kawasaki KR1-S[130][134]
- 1992 Kawasaki ZXR-750. In a Bike Magazine interview, Richard stated: "I just love the hoses from the fairing ducts to the engine. I remember seeing these in Mick Staiano Motorcycles in Harrogate and dreaming of owning one."[130]
- 1998 Ducati 916 SPS Fogarty Replica[130]
- 2012 BMW R1200RT, which is according to Richard "[t]he best bike in the world." In 2014, he told Bike Magazine: "I love to hustle on the RT. It's done 8000 commuting miles and is used as a tool."[130]
- 2014 Norton Commando 961 SE[134]
- Bimota SB8R[138]
- Bimota YB9[134]
- Brough Superior SS80 period race replica[134]
- Brough Superior SS100[134]
- Ducati 900 Super Sport Desmo[139]
- Honda CBX[133]
- Honda SS50. In 2014, Richard told Bike Magazine that the Honda had been disassembled and was being restored by his daughter.[130]
- Moto Guzzi Daytona 1000[140]
- Suzuki GS1000[134]
- Vespa GTS 300 Super Sport scooter[141]
- Vincent Black Shadow[142]
- Yamaha Virago[130]
Motorcycles no longer owned by Hammond:
- BMW R1150GS[130]
- Honda CBR1000F[134]
- Honda CBX750F[134]
- Honda MTX50, which was his first motorcycle.[134]
- Honda NSR125R[134]
- Honda XL100[134]
- Kawasaki GP100[134]
- Kawasaki ZZR600[134]
- 1976 Kawasaki Z900. A 40th birthday present from his wife.[130][143] Sold in 2021.[144]
- 1977 Moto Guzzi Le Mans (Mk1). "I've always wanted a Guzzi. They've got a tractor-like quality. This one is fitted with a period accessory fairing from Apple Motorcycles", Hammond said in an interview for Bike Magazine.[130][134] Sold in 2021.[144]
- 2019 Norton Dominator Street. Hammond's 50th birthday present. Sold in 2021.[144]
- 1927 Sunbeam Model 2. The first ever vintage vehicle owned by Hammond. Sold in 2021.[144]
- Suzuki GSX-R750WP[134]
- 1929 Velocette KSS. Sold in 2021.[144]
Other vehicles
[edit]Furthermore, Hammond owns or has owned the following vehicles:
- 2005 Robinson R44 Raven II helicopter[145]
- John Deere 6210 SE tractor[104]
- 2022 Ford Transit (used for his restoration company)[146]
Charity work
[edit]Hammond is an ambassador of UK charity for children with brain injury and neuro-disability The Children's Trust.[147]
On 29 September 2013, terminally-ill eight-year-old Emilia Palmer was driven by Hammond in a pink 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 from her home in Kimbolton, Herefordshire and drove her back to the airport for a high-speed run on the main runway. The event was arranged at short notice by Rays of Sunshine.[148][149][150]
Controversies
[edit]Hammond's comments and actions have sometimes resulted in complaints from viewers, LGBT rights charities, and foreign diplomats.
During the second episode of series sixteen of Top Gear, Hammond suggested that no one would ever want to own a Mexican car, since cars are supposed to reflect national characteristics and so a Mexican car would be "lazy, feckless, flatulent, overweight, leaning against a fence, asleep, looking at a cactus with a blanket with a hole in the middle on as a coat."[151] Hammond finished with the remark "I'm sorry, but can you imagine waking up and remembering you're Mexican?!"[152] The comments prompted Mexico's ambassador in London, Eduardo Medina-Mora Icaza, to lodge an official complaint to the BBC. Demanding an apology from the BBC, the ambassador stated: "These offensive, xenophobic and humiliating remarks only serve to reinforce negative stereotypes and perpetuate prejudice against Mexico and its people."[153] The BBC defended the broadcast of this segment on the grounds that such national stereotyping was a "robust part" of traditional British humour.[154]
Alleged homophobia
[edit]In December 2016, in reference to the interior styling of a Volvo S90, co-presenter Clarkson joked that "the only problem is that in one of those, you couldn't enjoy a chocolate Magnum ice cream" – to which Hammond responded: "It's all right, I don't eat ice cream. It's something to do with being straight."[155] The joke was written as a reference to a well-known advertisement in Finland (where that episode of The Grand Tour was filmed);[156] however, LGBT rights campaigner Peter Tatchell who was unaware of the joke accused Hammond of "pandering to prejudice", adding that "it's a perverse world when everyday pleasures like ice cream becomes the butt of homophobic innuendo."[157] A spokesperson for UK LGBT rights charity Stonewall stated that "Hammond's choice of words were not just ridiculous, but chosen purposefully to mock and belittle."[158]
A year later, in an interview with The Times, Hammond stated: "Look, anyone who knows me knows I wasn't being serious, that I'm not homophobic. Love is love, whatever the sex of the two people in love... It may be because I live in a hideously safe and contained middle-class world, where a person's sexuality is not an issue".[159] In an interview with Newsweek Today, Hammond denied making homophobic comments, and refused to apologise for the remarks: "I entirely reject any criticism of me being anti-gay. That's just not the case."[160]
Filmography
[edit]Television
[edit]![]() |
Year | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
1998–2002 | Motor Week and Car File (Men & Motors TV series) | Presenter |
2002–2015, 2021 | Top Gear | |
2003 | Top Gear: Back in the Fast Lane | |
Ready Steady Cook | Contestant | |
2003–2006 | Brainiac: Science Abuse | Presenter, co-producer |
2004–2005 | Crufts | Presenter |
Should I Worry About...? | ||
2005 | The Gunpowder Plot: Exploding the Legend | |
Time Commanders | ||
Inside Britain's Fattest Man | ||
2006 | Richard Hammond's 5 O'Clock Show | |
Petrolheads | Contestant | |
School's Out | ||
Richard Hammond: Would You Believe It? | Presenter | |
Richard Hammond and the Holy Grail | ||
Battle of the Geeks | ||
2007 | Last Man Standing | Narrator |
Helicopter Heroes | ||
Richard Hammond Meets Evel Knievel | Presenter | |
2008 | BBC Timewatch | Narrator |
2008, 2010 | Sport Relief | Presenter |
2008–2012 | Richard Hammond's Engineering Connections | |
2009 | Top Gear: Uncovered | Presenter, co-producer |
2009–2011 | Richard Hammond's Blast Lab | |
2009–2012 | Total Wipeout | Presenter |
2010 | Richard Hammond's Invisible Worlds | |
Hammond Meets Moss | ||
Top Gear: Apocalypse | ||
2011 | Richard Hammond's Journey to the Centre of the Planet | |
Richard Hammond's Journey to the Bottom of the Ocean | ||
Top Gear: At the Movies | ||
Richard Hammond's Tech Head | ||
2012 | Richard Hammond's Crash Course | |
Planet Earth Live | ||
Richard Hammond's Miracles of Nature | ||
Top Gear: 50 Years of Bond Cars | ||
2013 | Richard Hammond's Secret Service | |
Hammond meets Moss | ||
Take Two with Phineas and Ferb | Guest | |
Top Gear: The Perfect Road Trip | Presenter, writer | |
How to Build a Planet | Presenter | |
2014 | Phineas and Ferb | Richard (voice) |
Wild Weather With Richard Hammond | Presenter | |
Top Gear: The Perfect Road Trip 2 | ||
2014–2015 | Science of Stupid | |
2015 | Richard Hammond's Jungle Quest | |
Would I Lie to You? | Himself (guest) | |
2016–2024 | The Grand Tour | Presenter |
2020 | Richard Hammond's Big | |
2021 | The Great Escapists | Himself |
2021–present | Richard Hammond's Workshop | Presenter[161] |
2022 | Richard Hammond's Brain Reaction | |
Richard Hammond's Crazy Contraptions | ||
Britain's Beautiful Rivers with Richard Hammond |
Video games
[edit]Year | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
2013 | Forza Motorsport 5 | Himself |
2019 | The Grand Tour Game |
Television advertisements
[edit]Year | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
2008-09 | Morrisons | Himself |
2017 | LeasePlan |
Awards and honours
[edit]![]() | This section of a biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. (December 2018) |
Year | Accolade | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2004 | National Television Awards | Most Popular Factual Entertainment Programme (shared) | Top Gear | Nominated | [162] |
2005 | Television and Radio Industries Club Awards | Satellite/Digital TV Personality | Won | [163] | |
New TV Talent | Won | [citation needed] | |||
International Emmy Awards | Non-Scripted Entertainment (shared) | Top Gear | Won | [164] | |
National Television Awards | Most Popular Factual Entertainment Programme (shared) | Top Gear | Nominated | [citation needed] | |
2006 | Television and Radio Industries Club Awards | Satellite/Digital TV Personality | Won | [citation needed] | |
National Television Awards | Most Popular Factual Entertainment Programme (shared) | Top Gear | Won | [citation needed] | |
Heat Weird Crush Awards | Heat's Weird Crush | Won | [165] | ||
2007 | Television and Radio Industries Club Awards | Satellite/Digital TV Personality | Won | [citation needed] | |
Royal Television Society Television Awards | Best Presenter (shared with Jeremy Clarkson and James May) | Top Gear | Nominated | [citation needed] | |
National Television Awards | Most Popular Factual Entertainment Programme (shared) | Top Gear | Won | [citation needed] | |
2008 | National Television Awards | Most Popular Factual Entertainment Programme (shared) | Top Gear | Won | [citation needed] |
Television and Radio Industries Club Awards | TV Entertainment Programme (shared) | Top Gear | Won | [citation needed] | |
TV Quick Awards | Best Lifestyle Show (shared) | Top Gear | Won | [citation needed] | |
2009 | British Academy Children's Awards | Best Presenter | Richard Hammond's Blast Lab | Won | [citation needed] |
Television and Radio Industries Club Awards | TV Entertainment Programme (shared) | Top Gear | Won | [citation needed] | |
TV Quick Awards | Best Lifestyle Show (shared) | Top Gear | Won | [166] | |
TV Quick Awards | Best Gameshow (shared) | Total Wipeout | Nominated | [citation needed] | |
TV Choice Awards | Best Lifestyle Show (shared) | Top Gear | Won | [citation needed] | |
2010 | National Television Awards | Most Popular Factual Entertainment Programme (shared) | Top Gear | Nominated | [citation needed] |
2011 | National Television Awards | Most Popular Factual Entertainment Programme (shared) | Top Gear | Won | [167] |
Television and Radio Industries Club Awards | TV Entertainment Programme (shared) | Top Gear | Won | [168] | |
TV Choice Awards | Best Factual Entertainment Show (shared) | Top Gear | Won | [169] | |
2012 | National Television Awards | Most Popular Factual Entertainment Programme (shared) | Top Gear | Nominated | [citation needed] |
TV Quick Awards | Best Factual Entertainment (shared) | Top Gear | Won | [170] | |
TV Choice Awards | Best Factual Entertainment Show (shared) | Top Gear | Won | [171] | |
Guinness World Records Certificate | Most widely viewed factual TV programme (shared) | Top Gear | Won | [172] | |
Banff World Media Festival Rockie Awards | Best Popular Science & Natural History Program (shared) | Richard Hammond's Journey to the Centre of the Planet | Won | [173] | |
2013 | National Television Awards | Most Popular Factual Entertainment Programme (shared) | Top Gear | Nominated | [174] |
National Television Awards | Most Popular Documentary Series (shared) | Planet Earth Live | Nominated | [175] | |
Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival Awards | Best Hosted & Presenter-led Program (shared) | Richard Hammond's Miracles of Nature: Super-bodies | Won | [176] | |
2014 | Emmy Award | Outstanding Science and Technology Programming (shared) | Richard Hammond's How to Build a Planet | Nominated | [177] |
Critics' Choice Television Award | Best Reality Series (shared) | Top Gear | Nominated | [178] | |
2015 | ASTRA Awards | Most Outstanding General Entertainment Program (shared) | Top Gear | Won | [179] |
National Television Awards | Most Popular Factual Entertainment Programme (shared) | Top Gear | Nominated | [180] | |
TV Choice Awards | Best Entertainment Show (shared) | Top Gear | Nominated | [181] | |
2017 | Television and Radio Industries Club Awards | Original OTT Streamed (shared) | The Grand Tour | Nominated | [182] |
GQ Men of the Year Awards | TV Personalities of the Year (shared) | The Grand Tour | Won | [183] |
Bibliography
[edit]Car and motorcycle books
- What Not To Drive. Weidenfeld & Nicolson. 2005. ISBN 9780297848004.
- Richard Hammond's Car Confidential. Weidenfeld & Nicolson. 2006. ISBN 9780297844457.
- Richard Hammond's Caravan Confidential. Weidenfeld & Nicolson. 2010. ISBN 9780753826713.
- A Short History of the Motorcycle. Weidenfeld & Nicolson. 2016. ISBN 9780297609902.
Children's books
- Can You Feel the Force?: Putting the Fizz Back into Physics. Dorling Kindersley. 2006. ISBN 9781405315432.
- Car Science. Dorling Kindersley. 2008. ISBN 9780756640262.
- Great Mysteries of the World. Penguin Random House. 2013. ISBN 9780370332376.
- Blast Lab: More than 30 Mind-Blasting Experiments!. Dorling Kindersley. 2009. ISBN 9780756656485.
Biographies
- On The Edge: My Story. Phoenix. 2008. ISBN 9780753823309.
- As You Do: Adventures with Evel, Oliver and the Vice-President of Botswana. Orion. 2009. ISBN 9780753825624.
- Or Is That Just Me?. Phoenix. 2010. ISBN 9780753825624.
- On the Road: Growing up in Eight Journeys – My Early Years. Weidenfeld & Nicolson. 2014. ISBN 9781780225098.
Racing career
[edit]2CV 24 Hour Race results
[edit]Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Car No. | Laps | Pos. | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2003 | ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
Citroën 2CV | 24 | 14th | [184] |
Britcar 24 Hour results
[edit]Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Car No. | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2007 | ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
BMW 330d | 78 | 4 | 396 | 39th | 3rd | [185] |
References
[edit]- ^ "Who said height matters? Tom Cruise poses with Hammond and Clarkson at premiere". express.co.uk. London. 14 December 2011. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
- ^ "Not just anybody Richard Hammond". The Times. London. 14 January 2006. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
- ^ "DRIVETRIBE - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
- ^ Richard Hammond Bio
- ^ a b Hammond, Richard (2007). On The Edge: My Story. Weidenfeld & Nicolson. ISBN 978-0-297-85327-5.
- ^ Barratt, Nick (12 April 2008). "Family detective: Richard Hammond". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 27 March 2007. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
- ^ Ancestry Library Edition[verification needed]
- ^ a b "Richard Hammond Trivia and Quotes on TV.com". CBS Interactive Inc. 2010. Archived from the original on 12 October 2010. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
- ^ a b Litson, Jo (23 November 2008). "Richard Hammond, Hamster driven by Top Gear". News.com.au. Retrieved 21 June 2009.
- ^ a b "Top Gear – Richard Hammond – BBC Knowledge". BBC. Archived from the original on 15 March 2008. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
- ^ "Why Richard Hammond acquired a taste for celery after his crash // Current". Current.com. 27 May 2008. Archived from the original on 10 October 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2009.
- ^ "Jeremy Clarkson dropped from Top Gear, BBC confirms". BBC News. 25 March 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
- ^ "Top Gear: Richard Hammond and James May no longer work for the BBC". The Telegraph. 31 March 2015. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
- ^ "Top Gear to have all-new team as Richard Hammond rules himself out". The Guardian. 24 April 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
- ^ a b c d "TV presenter 'stable' after crash". BBC News. 21 September 2006. Archived from the original on 17 October 2007. Retrieved 18 June 2009.
The 36-year-old was thought to be driving at about 300mph on an airfield near York when he crashed on Wednesday.
- ^ a b "Hammond talks to Top Gear co-star". BBC News. 22 September 2006. Archived from the original on 3 February 2007. Retrieved 8 December 2008.
Mr Hammond suffered a "significant brain injury" when he crashed a jet-powered car at a speed of up to 300mph during filming near York.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Investigation into the accident of Richard Hammond" (PDF). hse.gov.uk. Health and Safety Executive. 22 June 2007. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 18 June 2009.
The BBC Top Gear programme production team had arranged for Richard Hammond (RH) to drive Primetime Land Speed Engineering's Vampire jet car at Elvington Airfield, near York, on Wednesday 20 September 2006.
- ^ "0-288mph-0 in 20 seconds". topgear.com. BBC Magazines. 28 January 2007. Archived from the original on 21 October 2007. Retrieved 18 June 2009.
Watch the reconstruction step-by-step as we talk you through every stage of the events leading up to the 288mph crash, or play it through at full speed to appreciate the astonishing acceleration and G-force of the 10,000bhp rocket car.
- ^ "Speed king breaks 300mph barrier". BBC News. 6 July 2000. Archived from the original on 9 March 2008. Retrieved 18 June 2009.
Engineer Colin Farrows has smashed the British land speed record with a 300mph run in his jet-propelled car.
- ^ Taylor, John W.R. FRHistS. ARAeS (1962). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1962–63. London: Sampson, Low, Marston & Co.
- ^ a b c d "TV host seriously hurt in crash". BBC News. 21 September 2006. Archived from the original on 18 October 2007. Retrieved 18 June 2009.
He said: "We were down there with Top Gear who were filming him trying to break the British land speed record.
- ^ "Hammond crash report finds safety failings". Uk.reuters.com. 22 June 2007. Retrieved 21 June 2009.
- ^ a b c "Top Gear's Hammond Has Brain Injury". Sky News. British Sky Broadcasting. 21 September 2006. Archived from the original on 12 October 2007. Retrieved 18 June 2009.
Dave Ogden, one of the first on the scene, said Hammond had been travelling at speeds close to 300mph.
- ^ a b "Top Gear star 'making progress'". BBC News. 22 September 2006. Archived from the original on 7 March 2007. Retrieved 18 June 2009.
Doctors at Leeds General Infirmary, where he has been since Wednesday, said his condition was now "stable".
- ^ "Richard Hammond: I'm having a mid-life crisis in reverse". mirror.co.uk. 22 December 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
- ^ "I swore and it went dark but I'm absolutely fixed, Richard Hammond tells Jonathan Ross". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
- ^ "Richard Hammond Emotionally Recalls Horror Top Gear Crash: "Strange Feeling"". 14 October 2022.
- ^ "Richard Hammond: I'm having a mid-life crisis in reverse". mirror.co.uk. 22 December 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
- ^ a b Smith, Emma (24 February 2008). "On the Move: Richard Hammond". The Sunday Times.
He had reached 314mph – an unofficial British land-speed record – before the accident, which was caused by a tyre bursting and sending the car spinning out of control, turning it upside down and leaving Hammond's head effectively to act as a brake as his helmet dug into the ground.
- ^ Atkins, Lucy (26 February 2008). "There was a lot more to fix than I thought". The Guardian.
- ^ "BBC Four – Hammond Meets Moss". Bbc.co.uk. 19 June 2011. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
- ^ "Brainiac: Science Abuse on TV.com – Free Full Episodes & Clips, & Show Info". Tv.com. Archived from the original on 9 May 2009. Retrieved 21 June 2009.
- ^ "Vic Reeves to host Sky's Brainiac". BBC News. 14 September 2006.
- ^ "Richard Hammond's Gunpowder Plot: Exploding The Legend : Documentary". Movie-tv-episode-database.com. Archived from the original on 5 December 2008. Retrieved 21 June 2009.
- ^ "New Doctor Who tops talent list". BBC News. 24 November 2005. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
- ^ "Richard Hammond and the Holy Grail". British Broadcasting Corporation. 20 January 2006. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
- ^ "BBC Radio 4 – Woman's Hour – Comic Relief 2007". BBC. Retrieved 21 June 2009.
- ^ "Top Gear's Hammond to spend Bank Holidays on Radio 2". Retrieved 22 January 2018.
- ^ "Top Gear meets Evel Knievel". TV Tonight. 20 December 2007. Retrieved 21 June 2009.
- ^ a b "Richard Hammond's Engineering Connections | Programmes | National Geographic Channel". Natgeochannel.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 August 2008. Retrieved 21 June 2009.
- ^ Salter, Jessica (9 August 2008). "Richard Hammond paid £750,000 for Morrisons advert". Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 25 August 2009. Retrieved 21 June 2009.
- ^ "Top Gear duo get plenty of mileage out of Telecom's woes". The New Zealand Herald. 20 February 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
- ^ "Has Richard Hammond crashed more times than Telecom XT?". RadioLIVE. 23 February 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2010.
- ^ Rushton, Katherine (17 September 2008). "BBC1 hands Hammond Saturday night Wipeout | News | Broadcast". Broadcastnow.co.uk. Retrieved 21 June 2009.
- ^ Fletcher, Alex (29 March 2012). "'Total Wipeout' axed by the BBC". Digital Spy. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
- ^ "CBBC Programmes – Richard Hammond's Blast Lab". BBC. Archived from the original on 18 July 2010. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
- ^ CVG. "CVG interviews Rome: Total War developers". Retrieved 16 March 2011.
- ^ "Richard Hammond's Tech Head". ChannelFlip. Archived from the original on 18 August 2011.
- ^ ""Richard Hammond's Journey to the Centre of the Planet" previous episode listings". British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
- ^ ""Richard Hammond's Journey to the Centre of the Planet" official programme website". British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
- ^ "Richard Hammond's Crash Course – Launch Trailer". BBC America. BBC. Archived from the original on 3 April 2012. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
- ^ "Richard Hammond's Crash Course, Abrams Tank". BBC. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
- ^ "Planet Earth Live". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
- ^ "Science of Stupid". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
- ^ "Wild Weather with Richard Hammond". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
- ^ "Sky 1 to broadcast Richard Hammond's Jungle Quest supported by Sky Rainforest Rescue". sky.com. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
- ^ "Feed the world", The Grand Tour, series 2, episode 11:
- May "He could publish a book about his journey, and call it The wrong way up."
- ...
- Clarkson: "I never thought I'd say it, but it's actually possible to get bored of watching Hammond fall of his motorbike all the time..."
- ^ "Richard Hammond injured while filming The Grand Tour". RTE. 20 March 2017.
- ^ "I've checked and i'm not dead". drivetribe.com/. 20 March 2017. Archived from the original on 23 March 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
- ^ White, Peter (21 August 2019). "'The Grand Tour's Richard Hammond & 'Mythbusters' Tory Belleci Take On Adventure Format For Amazon – Edinburgh". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
- ^ "Ex-Top Gear host Richard Hammond injured in Swiss crash". BBC News. 10 June 2017. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
- ^ "Richard Hammond recalls horror crash: I thought I was going to die". BBC News. 27 June 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
- ^ "Richard and Mindy Hammond on his life-threatening Grand Tour crash and escaping death for the second time". 8 December 2017. Archived from the original on 24 February 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
- ^ Jeremy Clarkson [@JeremyClarkson] (10 June 2017). "It was the biggest crash I've ever seen and the most frightening but incredibly, and thankfully, Richard seems to be mostly OK" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Hammond Bins It". drivetribe.com. 12 June 2017. Archived from the original on 24 February 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
- ^ "Jeremy Clarkson 'genuinely thought' Richard Hammond was dead in crash after he was referred to as a 'body'". The Telegraph News. 12 June 2017. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
- ^ "Swiss Hill Climb Organizers Fined $5000 Over Richard Hammond's Rimac Crash". thedrive.com. 16 August 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
- ^ "Startseite – Bergrennen Hemberg". Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ "I'm making a new show and I'm putting my money where my mouth is. @discoveryplusuk @drivetribe #RichardHammondsWorkshop". Retrieved 19 January 2022.
- ^ "Richard Hammond's Workshop (TV Series 2021– ) - FAQ - IMDb" – via www.imdb.com.
- ^ "Hammond 'has taken first steps'". BBC News. 23 September 2006. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
- ^ "Columnists". Express.co.uk.
- ^ "Richard Hammond's Top Gear dog has died at age 11". grandtournation.com. 11 January 2017. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
- ^ a b "Hammond 'prefers cycling in town'". BBC News. 29 April 2007. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
- ^ As You Do pp. 8–12, 89, 163, 200–11, 301
- ^
"Richard Hammond attracts record numbers at Country Fair". BBC Online. 2 August 2010. Retrieved 4 August 2010.
The Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond was one of the main reasons for a record attendance at the 31st Herefordshire Country Fair.
- ^ "News". www.heliflightuk.co.uk.
- ^ Gibson, Matt (2 September 2018). "Richard Hammond and wife Mindy fear they were GASSED as they wake to raided home". Sunday Express.
- ^ "The Times | UK News, World News and Opinion". Driving.timesonline.co.uk. 9 July 2012. Archived from the original on 11 May 2008. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
- ^ "Article reporting on Hammond's car abandonment". News.sky.com. Archived from the original on 17 October 2007. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
- ^ "Website Health". Ananova Business Web Hosting. 4 January 2022. Archived from the original on 15 February 2008.
- ^ "Richard Hammond in his Model A Ford on Pinford Rocks at the Hereford Trial". VSSC trials. 20 March 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
- ^ "Richard Hammond tells us his plans for 2020". DRIVETRIBE. 25 March 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
- ^ "Richard Hammond's new ride". DRIVETRIBE. 14 November 2017. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
- ^ "Car-chaeology". drivetribe.com/. 21 December 2016. Archived from the original on 18 March 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
- ^ "Richard Hammond takes his dog for a walk in the new Defender". Youtube. 20 November 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
- ^ "Richard Hammond drives his finished project car for the first time". YouTube. 14 February 2021. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
- ^ "Richard Hammond on the Jaguar E-Type". topgear.com. 29 March 2010. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
- ^ "Introducing Oliver's girlfriend, Olivia! We've been restoring her live at @carfestevent in our little workshop built for us by our friends at @lkqeurocarparts 🔧 What do you think?". 28 August 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
- ^ "Hammond and Oliver". Grand Tour Nation. 27 February 2017. Archived from the original on 19 August 2019. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
- ^ "It's My F***Ing Car". drivetribe.com/. 8 November 2016. Archived from the original on 18 March 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
- ^ Welham, Ben (2 August 2021). "Richard Hammond has kept his Buick from The Grand Tour 'Lochdown' and wants to customise it". DriveTribe. Archived from the original on 3 August 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
- ^ "Hammond does Tour of his Garage". drivetribe.com/. 8 April 2020. Retrieved 11 March 2021.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Baby Drive (R)". drivetribe.com/. 7 August 2017. Archived from the original on 4 April 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
- ^ "Richard Hammond has been hiding this car for over a year!". Youtube. 21 December 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
- ^ Breeze, Joe (18 April 2015). "First his bikes – now Richard Hammond's 'Bigfoot' Defender is for sale". Classic Driver. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
- ^ Richard Hammond has bought back the car he regrets selling!, YouTube, 14 September 2022, retrieved 15 September 2022
- ^ Richard Hammond and James May Reunite After A Scandi Flick Crash, 23 September 2022, retrieved 23 September 2022
- ^ Richard Hammond has bought a 6.0L V8 TV Legend, retrieved 26 August 2022
- ^ "Happy Christmas Me..." drivetribe.com. 31 December 2018. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
- ^ "Mindy Hammond's Christmas Present". Express.co.uk. 18 December 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
- ^ "7 things Richard Hammond LOVES about his new dream car". Youtube. 18 May 2022. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
- ^ "My dirty weekend". drivetribe.com/. 30 January 2017. Archived from the original on 18 March 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
- ^ a b "Perfect coming home present..." drivetribe.com/. 4 March 2017. Archived from the original on 18 March 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
- ^ "Richard Hammond unveils his new project car!". YouTube. 27 October 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
- ^ "Richard Hammond Chooses An American Supercharged V8 Monster As His New Daily Driver". hotcars.com/. 27 April 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
- ^ "Richard Hammond's Bought A New 600bhp Supercar!". YouTube. 10 April 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
- ^ "Richard Hammond: My lovely 1931 Lagonda". dailyrecord.co.uk. 17 October 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
- ^ "Richard Hammond drives his finished project car for the first time". Youtube. 27 October 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
- ^ a b c Kokcha, Tejas (2 August 2021). "Richard Hammond's classics have been sold for more than £190,000". DriveTribe. Archived from the original on 3 August 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
- ^ a b "Mopar Muscle for Top Gear's Hammond – DRC Review News Article". Drcreview.com. 19 November 2004. Archived from the original on 15 December 2010. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
- ^ "It's My F***Ing Car". drivetribe.com/. 8 November 2016. Archived from the original on 18 March 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
- ^ "1982 Porsche 911 SC in "Top Gear, 2002–2012"". IMCDb.org. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
- ^ "Richard Hammond's 1982 Porsche 911 SC". Motorworld.net. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
- ^ "Richard Hammond looks at New Defender". motor1.com. 10 September 2019. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
- ^ "Richard Hammond's 850CI". topgear.com. 12 August 2011. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
- ^ "Richard Hammond's 550 Maranello for Sale". jalopnik.com. 30 October 2008. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
- ^ "2006 Porsche 911 Carrera 2S [997] in "Top Gear, 2002–2012"". IMCDb.org. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
- ^ "Hammond in 500". topgear.com. 20 September 2011. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
- ^ "2008 Dodge Challenger SRT-8 in "Top Gear, 2002–2012"". IMCDb.org. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
- ^ Dumitrache, Alina (21 December 2009). "Richard Hammond Buys Two Cars for His 40th Birthday". Auto Evolution. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
- ^ Johnston, Ian (9 August 2009). "Richard Hammond crashes Morgan". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
- ^ "Richard Hammond buys Gallardo". Motor Authority. 18 April 2011. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
- ^ Barnett, Josh (18 March 2014). "Porsche reveal cause of 991 GT3 fires". Total 911. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
- ^ "Richard Hammond's GT3RS for Sale". SupercarBlog. 22 April 2017. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
- ^ "Richard Hammond bought the car YOU specced". YouTube. 19 January 2020. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
- ^ "One of Richard Hammond's favourite cars has been destroyed". YouTube. 10 March 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
- ^ "It sounds like such a good idea..." drivetribe.com/. 23 December 2016. Archived from the original on 18 March 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
- ^ "Why I love bikes..." drivetribe.com/. 30 November 2016. Archived from the original on 18 March 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Wilson, Hugo (July 2014). "A Ride With Richard Hammond". Bike Magazine. bikemagazine.co.uk. pp. 34–42. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
- ^ "Richard Hammond does his own lockdown 'Long Way Round' bike trip". YouTube. 8 April 2020. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ a b "Hammond's Fob Jockeys". drivetribe.com/. 29 November 2016. Archived from the original on 18 March 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
- ^ a b "Richard Hammond invited us to a party!". YouTube. 1 September 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "Richard Hammond: My life in bikes". motorcyclenews.com/. 8 December 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
- ^ "Ride with: Richard Hammond". bikemagazine.co.uk/. 29 November 2016. Archived from the original on 18 March 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
- ^ Richard Hammond [@RichardHammond] (6 November 2016). "Sunday. And I am Steve McQueen on a Desert Sled in Herefordshire" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Richard Hammond [@RichardHammond] (23 October 2016). "Today's Autumnal playmate" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Richard Hammond [@RichardHammond] (18 September 2016). "You're a bad bike. A bad, bad naughty bike and I'm putting you away now, for both our sakes" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Why I love bikes..." drivetribe.com/. 30 November 2016. Archived from the original on 18 March 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
- ^ "Today i am mostly thinking about summer". drivetribe.com/. 1 February 2017. Archived from the original on 18 March 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
- ^ Richard Hammond [@RichardHammond] (7 July 2016). "@JeremyClarkson Now that is orange. Your car, by contrast, is fucking brown. It is. IT'S BROWN YOU BASTARD" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Hear it roooaaaarrr". drivetribe.com. 18 March 2017. Archived from the original on 19 March 2017. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
- ^ "Story of A biker's sunday". drivetribe.com/. 20 February 2016. Archived from the original on 18 March 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
- ^ a b c d e "Richard Hammond had to sell ALL these cars". YouTube. 8 November 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ Richard Hammond [@RichardHammond] (27 July 2016). "Just parked at work and, don't like to boast, but hello, THAT IS PERFECT. May go on about that a bit today" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Richard Hammond has bought a seriously UNEXPECTED daily driver!". YouTube. 13 July 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
- ^ "Our Ambassadors | The Children's Trust". www.thechildrenstrust.org.uk. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
- ^ "Top Gear star Richard Hammond drives in for Emilia". Shropshire Star. 1 October 2013. Retrieved 28 October 2013.
- ^ "'Top Gear' star gives ailing 8-year-old dream ride in pink Lamborghini". MSN Now. 5 October 2013. Archived from the original on 6 October 2013. Retrieved 28 October 2013.
- ^ Greenfield, Beth; Shine Staff (7 October 2013). "Sick Girl's Pink-Lamborghini Dreams Come True". Yahoo! Shine.
- ^ Hooper, Simon. "Mexican anger over BBC 'feckless, lazy' claims". CNN. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
Richard Hammond said: "Why would you want a Mexican car, because cars reflect national characteristics... Mexican cars are just going to be lazy, feckless, flatulent, overweight, leaning against a fence, asleep, looking at a cactus with a blanket with a hole in the middle on as a coat."
- ^ Camarena, Rodrigo (4 February 2011). "Can Top Gear laugh off its Mexican insults?". The Guardian. London.
- ^ "Top Gear sparks Mexico complaints". BBC. 1 February 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
- ^ "BBC defends "Top Gear" jokes about Mexico". Reuters. 4 February 2011.
- ^ Butterworth, Benjamin (27 December 2016). "Richard Hammond claims ice cream is only for gay people". PinkNews. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
- ^ "Kingis Ice Cream - Have a Big Heart (Unilever Finland 2010)". YouTube. 26 November 2017. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
- ^ Hunt, Elle (27 December 2016). "Richard Hammond under fire for 'ice-cream is gay' line on The Grand Tour". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
- ^ "Richard Hammond is criticised for gay ice cream joke on Amazon show, The Grand Tour". BBC Newsbeat. 27 December 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
- ^ McCormick, Joseph Patrick (3 December 2017). "Richard Hammond defends 'joke' that ice cream is only for gays". PinkNews. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
- ^ Duffy, Nick (7 December 2017). "Richard Hammond angrily denies making homophobic comments". PinkNews. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
- ^ "Richard Hammond's Workshop". discoveryplus.co.uk. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
- ^ "National Television Awards, UK (2004)". IMDb. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
- ^ "Television and Radio Industries Club Awards (2005)". IMDb. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
- ^ "BBC picks up two International Emmy Awards". bbc.co.uk. 23 November 2005. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
- ^ "heat's Weird Crush: Past winners". lifestyle.one. 10 February 2017. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
- ^ "TV Quick & TV Choice Awards: The Winners". Digital Spy. 7 September 2009. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
- ^ "National Television Awards, UK (2011)". IMDb. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
- ^ Kelly, Kristy (8 March 2011). "In Full: TRIC Awards 2011 Winners". Digital Spy. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
- ^ Eames, Tom (13 September 2011). "TV Choice Awards 2011 - The winners". Digital Spy. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
- ^ "TV Quick Awards, UK (2012)". IMDb. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
- ^ Daniels, Colin (10 September 2012). "TVChoice Awards 2012: Winners in full". Digital Spy. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
- ^ "Most widely viewed factual TV programme". guinnessworldrecords.com. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
- ^ "Banff Television Festival (2012)". IMDb. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
- ^ "National TV Awards 2013: Winners". BBC News. 23 January 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
- ^ "Top Gear Awards". Birmingham Mail. 8 January 2013. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
- ^ "2013 Finalist & Winner Clips". jhfestival.org. Retrieved 2 April 2017.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Richard Hammond". IMDb. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
- ^ "Critics' Choice TV Awards 2014: And the nominees are..." ew.com. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
- ^ "Finalists & Winners". astra.org.au. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
- ^ "National Television Awards 2015 shortlist revealed". radiotimes.com. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
- ^ "Entertainment Live: John Noakes missing; Ant-Man premieres". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
- ^ "2017 TRIC Award Nominees". Television and Radio Industries Club. Archived from the original on 1 March 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
- ^ "Men of the Year winners 2017". GQ. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
- ^ "BBC Top Gear - Richard Hammond - 2CV 24 Hour Race - Snetterton 2003". 7 April 2020.
- ^ "Britcar 24 Hours – Provisional Result". DailySportsCar. 2007. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
External links
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Wikiquote-logo.svg/34px-Wikiquote-logo.svg.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Richard Hammond on X
- Richard Hammond at IMDb
- Donations to Yorkshire Air Ambulance double as a result of their life-saving rescue of Richard Hammond
- Q&A – The Guardian – 2009-1-3. Hammond questions about himself. Retrieved 2009-6-29.
- 1969 births
- Living people
- BBC television presenters
- Britcar 24-hour drivers
- British motoring journalists
- English autobiographers
- English broadcasters
- English businesspeople
- English children's writers
- English game show hosts
- English male journalists
- English male non-fiction writers
- English non-fiction writers
- English radio DJs
- English science writers
- English television presenters
- People educated at Ripon Grammar School
- People educated at Solihull School
- People from Solihull
- People with traumatic brain injuries