Richard Hammond

Television presenter, journalist and author

British Solihull, Warwickshire, England Sagittarius 5'6" (1.68 m)

Quick Info

ProfessionTelevision presenter, journalist and author
NationalityBritish
Date of Birth19/12/1969
Age56 years
BirthplaceSolihull, Warwickshire, England
Zodiac SignSagittarius

Latest News about Richard Hammond

06/08/2026

Reports said Richard Hammond, Jeremy Clarkson and James May are expected to make cameo appearances in the rebooted Amazon Prime Video series of The Grand Tour. The cameos are reportedly intended to introduce the show's new presenters, rather than the trio returning as full-time hosts.

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Bio/Wiki

SummaryRichard Mark Hammond is an English television presenter, journalist and author, 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.
Other Presenting WorkBrainiac: Science Abuse, the game show Total Wipeout, and the nature documentary series Planet Earth Live. He has also presented Richard Hammond's Workshop, a restoration series that has been released mainly on YouTube since 2021.

Physical Stats & More

Height5'6" (1.68 m)
NicknameHamster
Other NamesHamster Buttons

Educational Qualification(s)

Schools
  • Solihull School
  • Ripon Grammar School
CollegeHarrogate College of Art and Technology (1987-1989)
Other Qualifications
  • Racing driver's licence
  • Helicopter pilot's licence

Personal Life

ResidenceCountryside home in England; reportedly now lives in Monmouthshire, Wales
Hobbies
  • Restoring classic cars
  • Classic motorcycles

Relationships & More

SpouseAmanda "Mindy" Hammond (separated)
Close Professional TiesLong-time co-presenters Jeremy Clarkson and James May; motoring journalist Zog Ziegler, who encouraged him to move into television motoring reviews

Family

SpouseAmanda "Mindy" Hammond (separated)
Children
  • Isabella "Izzy" Hammond (born 2001)
  • Willow Hammond (born 2004)
FatherPharmacist
SiblingsOldest of three brothers

Career

Early CareerWorked at several radio stations, including Radio Cleveland, Radio York, Radio Cumbria, Radio Leeds and Radio Lancashire before auditioning for Top Gear
Television
  • Presented Brainiac: Science Abuse from 2003
  • Co-presented Top Gear (BBC Two) 2002-2015
  • Co-presented The Grand Tour (Amazon Prime Video) 2016-2024
  • Presented Total Wipeout (2009-2012)
  • Presented Planet Earth Live (2012)
  • Presented Richard Hammond's Workshop (Discovery+)
Business
  • Co-founder of DriveTribe (launched 2016)
  • Founder of The Smallest Cog, a classic car restoration business in Hereford (opened 2021)
Authorship
  • As You Do (2007)
  • On the Edge: My Story (2008)

Some Lesser Known Facts

1. He was the first presenter of Brainiac: Science Abuse.
2. He survived a high-speed crash in September 2006 while testing a jet-powered car at around 300 mph, which left him with a brain injury and in a coma.
3. In June 2017 he fractured a knee in a crash while filming a Rimac Concept One electric hypercar in Switzerland.
4. He directed the series Masterminds of Invention.
5. A false online report claiming his death circulated in January 2026 and was quickly shown to be a hoax.

Also born on 19 December

Information on this page is collected from public sources and may not be 100% accurate. Report an error
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