1. Overview
James Daniel May is an English television presenter, journalist, and author, widely recognized for his extensive career in motoring journalism and his diverse range of television programs. He is best known as a co-presenter, alongside Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond, of the popular motoring show Top Gear from 2003 to 2015 and the subsequent Amazon Prime Video series The Grand Tour from 2016 to 2024. Beyond automobiles, May has significantly contributed to popularizing science, technology, and various cultural interests through his accessible and engaging presenting style. His work often explores themes of innovation, craftsmanship, and the human experience, reflecting a curious and thoughtful perspective. May has also written weekly columns for The Daily Telegraph and authored several books, showcasing his contributions to both automotive and general interest publications.
2. Early Life and Education
James Daniel May was born on 16 January 1963 in Bristol, England. He is one of four children, having two sisters and a brother. His father worked as an aluminium factory manager. May spent his early years attending Caerleon Endowed School in Newport, Wales. His teenage years were spent in South Yorkshire, where he attended Oakwood Comprehensive School in Rotherham and served as a choirboy at Whiston Parish Church.
May pursued higher education at Pendle College, Lancaster University, where he studied music, learning to play the flute and piano. Additionally, he spent a year studying metalwork at a technical college. After graduating, May briefly worked as a records officer at a hospital in Chelsea and had a short period in the civil service. He also held a part-time job as a moulder at the foundry where his father was employed, an experience he suggested in a 2017 interview with The Times fostered his interest in mechanics. He later transitioned into journalism and broadcasting in his thirties.
3. Journalism Career
May's career in journalism began in the early 1980s, where he worked as a sub-editor for The Engineer and later for Autocar magazine. He has since written for numerous publications, including a regular column titled England Made Me in Car Magazine and articles for Top Gear magazine. From 2003 to 2011, he maintained a weekly motoring column in The Daily Telegraph.
As an author, May has published several books. His 2006 book, May on Motors, is a compilation of his previously published articles. He also co-authored Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure (2006), which was based on the television series of the same name. In September 2006, he wrote the afterword for Long Lane with Turnings, the final book by motoring writer L. J. K. Setright. That same month, he co-presented a tribute to Raymond Baxter. His other works include Notes From The Hard Shoulder and James May's 20th Century, a book accompanying his television series, both published in 2007.
3.1. Dismissal from Autocar
In 1992, James May was dismissed from Autocar magazine due to a creative prank involving a hidden acrostic message embedded within one of its issues. The incident occurred during the production of the magazine's "Road Test Yearbook" supplement. May's role was to compile the entire supplement, which featured four reviews on each spread, with each review beginning with a large red letter, known in typography as an initial or a drop cap.
To alleviate the monotony of the task, May meticulously arranged the initial letters of the first four spreads to spell "ROAD", "TEST", "YEAR", and "BOOK". Subsequent spreads appeared to have random letters, starting with "SOYO" and "UTHI". However, when properly punctuated, these seemingly random letters revealed a hidden message: "So you think it's really good, yeah? You should try making the bloody thing up; it's a real pain in the arse." This message was a frank expression of his frustration with the tedious editing process.
Initially, the hidden message went unnoticed through the magazine's pre-printing review processes. However, readers eventually discovered the acrostic and began calling Autocar's offices, mistakenly believing there might be a prize associated with it. Upon learning of the prank, the magazine's management promptly fired May.
4. Television Career
James May has had an extensive and varied career as a television presenter, spanning a wide range of genres from motoring to science, travel, and popular culture, showcasing his broad appeal and versatility.
4.1. Top Gear
May had a brief initial stint as a co-presenter on the original Top Gear series in 1999. According to Jeremy Clarkson, the show's original producers considered replacing him with May in 1999, but May was subsequently fired in 2000, shortly before the program's cancellation the following year. Following the relaunch of Top Gear in 2002, Clarkson convinced producer Andrew Wilman to rehire May as a replacement for Jason Dawe. May first co-presented the revived series of Top Gear in its second series in 2003.
During his long tenure on Top Gear, May earned the widely recognized nickname "Captain Slow" due to his characteristically careful and deliberate driving style, as well as his perceived OCD-like obsessions with order, and his tendency to get lost. Despite this moniker, he has achieved some remarkably high-speed feats. In the 2007 series, he drove a Bugatti Veyron to its top speed of 253 mph. Later, in 2010, he reached an even higher speed of 259.11 mph in the Veyron's newer 16.4 Super Sport edition. In an earlier episode, he also tested the original Bugatti Veyron against the Pagani Zonda F.
May participated in several notable Top Gear challenges. In 2007, he, along with Clarkson and an Icelandic support crew, traveled by car to the magnetic North Pole using a modified Toyota Hilux. Clarkson famously remarked that May was the first person to reach the North Pole "who didn't want to be there." May also drove a modified Toyota Hilux up the side of the erupting volcano Eyjafjallajökull in 2010.
May's cautious nature extended beyond driving; he was often teased for his meticulous preparation, lengthy explanations, and penchant for reading instruction manuals, sometimes leading to humorous on-screen delays. He was also frequently mocked for his poor sense of direction, with Clarkson joking that May could get lost even within a hotel. Despite his general preference for safety, May's mother was reportedly caught speeding twice, which he cited as a reason for his own careful driving.
A running gag on the show involved May's beloved piano, which was often used in challenges and frequently ended up damaged or destroyed. For instance, in one episode, the piano's leg broke during setup, leading to it being propped up with pornography magazines. In another, he crashed his car into a piano as part of a challenge, completely demolishing it. May also showed a surprising musical side, sampling engine sounds to recreate the Top Gear theme song and writing a song about the Volkswagen Scirocco.
May, like his co-presenters, enjoyed sports cars but held a critical view of the industry's reverence for the Nürburgring race track. He questioned why there was such an obsession with a single German circuit, arguing that cars tuned there often had overly stiff suspensions that made them impractical for everyday driving. He believed that unless a car was designed purely as a supercar, it should prioritize a balance between sportiness and daily usability.
Following the BBC's decision not to renew Jeremy Clarkson's contract in March 2015, May stated in April 2015 that he would not continue to present Top Gear with a new lineup of presenters.
4.2. The Grand Tour
After their departure from Top Gear, James May, Jeremy Clarkson, and Richard Hammond signed a deal with Amazon Prime Video to create a new motoring series, The Grand Tour. The show premiered in 2016, continuing their signature blend of car reviews, challenges, and road trips, often featuring their characteristic banter and camaraderie. May also served as a director of the production company W. Chump & Sons, which was involved in the series. The show concluded its run in 2024.
4.3. Science and Technology Programs
May has presented several television programs that delve into scientific concepts, technological advancements, and historical innovations, aiming to make complex subjects accessible to a broad audience. He narrated Inside Killer Sharks, a documentary for Sky.
His series James May's 20th Century investigated significant inventions and technological developments of the 20th century. As part of this program, May flew in a Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon at speeds of around 1.32 K mph, experiencing the cutting edge of aviation technology.
In late 2008, the BBC broadcast James May's Big Ideas, a three-part series where May traveled globally to explore real-world implementations of concepts often considered science fiction, such as personal flight and robotic assistance. He also presented James May's Man Lab from 2010 to 2013, a series dedicated to teaching modern men traditional skills and problem-solving. In 2013, May narrated To Space & Back, a documentary by Sky-Skan and The Franklin Institute that explored the influence of space exploration developments on modern technology.
4.4. Toy-Focused Programs
May has a particular affinity for classic toys and large-scale projects involving them, which he explored in his popular series James May's Toy Stories, celebrating the impact of play and craftsmanship. The six-part series, which began in October 2009, featured iconic toys like Airfix, Plasticine, Meccano, Scalextric, Lego, and Hornby. In each episode, May pushed the limits of these toys, often fulfilling childhood dreams in the process.
One notable project in August 2009 involved building a full-sized house entirely out of Lego bricks at Denbies Wine Estate in Surrey. The house used approximately 3.3 million Lego bricks and included functional elements like a toilet and shower, though its structural frame and floor required wood for stability. May lived in the house for several days. Despite efforts to find a buyer, plans for Legoland to relocate it fell through due to high deconstruction, moving, and rebuilding costs (around 50.00 K GBP). Despite a final appeal on Facebook, the house was demolished on 22 September, with the bricks planned for charity donation.
For the series, May also recreated the banked track at Brooklands using Scalextric track, which was recognized as the world's longest slot car track by the Guinness World Records. He also attempted to build the world's longest working model railway along the Tarka Trail between Barnstaple and Bideford in North Devon. This initial attempt was thwarted by stolen track parts and vandals placing coins on the track, causing a short circuit. However, in 2011, May successfully completed the record attempt with a race between German and British model railroad enthusiasts along a double-tracked mainline.
A Christmas special, Flight Club, aired in December 2012, where May and his team constructed a massive toy glider that successfully flew 22 mile from Devon to the island of Lundy. In 2013, May built a life-size, fully functional motorcycle and sidecar entirely from Meccano parts. Accompanied by Oz Clarke, he completed a full lap of the 37.75 mile-long Isle of Man TT Course on this unique vehicle.
Another remarkable achievement for the series was the creation of a 1:1 scale (life-size) replica of a Supermarine Spitfire 1/48 model (Airfix brand) using FRP. The cockpit featured a figure molded from May himself. This highly detailed model was later sent to the Royal Air Force Museum (Cosford branch) and remains on public display.
4.5. Travel and Culture Series
May has also presented several travel documentaries that explore different countries and cultures, offering insights into global traditions and lifestyles.
In late 2006, the BBC broadcast Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure, a series in which May, a self-proclaimed bitter drinker, traveled around France with wine expert Oz Clarke. A second series followed in late 2007, with May and Clarke exploring the Californian wine country. A third series, Oz and James Drink to Britain, was broadcast in 2009.
In January 2020, May hosted James May: Our Man in Japan, a six-episode travel documentary released on Amazon Prime Video. The series followed May's three-month journey from the northern end of Japan to its south, during which he explored and participated in various activities to understand the country that had long fascinated him. He was accompanied by different guides and translators as he traveled through major cities like Tokyo and Kyoto.
A second series, James May: Our Man in Italy, saw May journeying throughout the regions of Italy, from Palermo to the Dolomites, exploring Italian culture, food, and more. A third series, James May: Our Man in India, followed his travels across India. However, in October 2024, May confirmed that the Our Man in... series was cancelled.
4.6. Documentaries
May has presented significant documentaries that explore historical achievements and human endeavor through a personal lens. James May on the Moon (BBC Two, 2009) commemorated 40 years since the first human moon landing. This was followed by another documentary on BBC Four titled James May at the Edge of Space, in which May was flown to the stratosphere (70.00 K ft) in a US Air Force Lockheed U-2 spy plane. This flight made him one of the highest-flying individuals at that time, alongside the pilot, after the crew of the International Space Station. Highlights from the training and the flight itself were featured in James May on the Moon and shown in full in James May at the Edge of Space.
4.7. Other Television Work
May's diverse presenting roles extend to numerous other television projects and series. His past television credits include presenting Driven on Channel 4 in 1998, narrating the eight-part BBC One series Road Rage School, and co-hosting ITV1's coverage of the 2006 London Boat Show. He also wrote and presented a Christmas special titled James May's Top Toys for BBC One, and James May: My Sisters' Top Toys, which attempted to investigate the gender divide in toy appeal.
In series 3, episode 3 of Gordon Ramsay's The F Word, May famously beat Ramsay in an eating challenge involving bull penis and rotten shark, and with his fish pie recipe. He presented James May's Man Lab from 2010 to 2013, James May's Things You Need to Know from 2011 to 2012, and James May's Cars of the People from 2014 to 2016. In 2014, he voiced Ian in Phineas and Ferb. He also presented Building Cars Live in 2015.
From 2016 to 2017, May presented James May: The Reassembler, a "slow TV" series where he meticulously reassembled various household items, such as a Kenwood food mixer, from hundreds of disassembled parts. In 2019, he presented James May's Big Trouble in Model Britain. He also appeared as a guest on Al Murray's Great British Pub Quiz. From 2020 to 2023, he hosted James May: Oh Cook!, an Amazon Prime Video cooking show where he, a self-proclaimed non-cook, attempted to prepare meals. A second series of Oh Cook! was released in May 2023. In 2023, he guested on Little Trains & Big Names with Pete Waterman and appeared as a Professor in Yuganayak Swami Vivekananda. In 2024, he presented James May and the Dull Men, and is slated to present The Great Explorers with James May in 2025.
May also established an online presence, creating the YouTube channel Head Squeeze (now "BBC Earth Lab," where May no longer features as a presenter) in 2012, which covers science, technology, history, and current affairs. In 2015, after Top Gear was postponed, he launched his own YouTube channel, "JM's Unemployment Tube," featuring cooking videos and Airfix model builds. This channel later evolved into Foodtribe (a spin-off of DriveTribe), often filmed in a small "Bug-out Bunker" kitchen setup, and has since been rebranded as "What Next?". One of his Foodtribe videos went viral when he bluntly uttered "cheese" while preparing sandwiches, leading to it becoming an Internet meme. In 2016, May co-launched DriveTribe, a social network for motoring enthusiasts, with his former Top Gear colleagues.
5. Personal Life
James May resides in Hammersmith, West London, with art critic Sarah Frater, with whom he has been in a relationship since 2000. In July 2010, his alma mater, Lancaster University, awarded him an honorary Doctor of Letters degree, acknowledging his contributions beyond his music studies.
May has publicly expressed his political leanings as "liberal". In August 2014, he was among 200 public figures who signed a letter to The Guardian expressing their hope that Scotland would vote against Scottish independence in the September 2014 Scottish independence referendum. In June 2016, he supported the Remain campaign in the EU referendum.
In 2020, May acquired half ownership of The Royal Oak, an early 18th-century Grade II listed building pub located in Swallowcliffe, Wiltshire.
6. Interests and Activities
Beyond his professional career, James May is known for his diverse personal passions and intellectual curiosity, which often intersect with his public work.
6.1. Automotive Interests
May possesses a lifelong and deep passion for automobiles, reflected in his extensive collection of cars and his expertise in automotive engineering and history. He has owned numerous vehicles throughout his life, including a 2005 Saab 9-5 Aero, Bentley T2, Rolls-Royce Phantom, Triumph 2000, Rover P6, Alfa Romeo 164, a 1971 Rolls-Royce Corniche, Triumph Vitesse, Jaguar XJS, a 1992 Range Rover Classic Vogue, Datsun 120Y, Vauxhall Cavalier Mk1, a Ferrari 308 GTB, a 2015 Toyota Mirai, a 2021 Toyota Mirai, a Ferrari F430, a Ferrari 458 Italia, a 1984 Porsche 911 Turbo, a 2019 Tesla Model S 100D, a 2016 BMW i3, and a 2005 Porsche Boxster S (which he claims was the first car he ever purchased new).
His current collection includes a 2010 Porsche 911 Carrera S facelift, a 2018 Alpine A110, a Fiat Panda, a Volkswagen Polo, a Tesla Model 3 Highland, a prototype 1989 Rover Mini Cooper RSP, "a couple of Land Rovers," a Triumph Stag, a 2015 Ferrari 458 Speciale (which he ordered after leaving Top Gear), and the VW Beach Buggy used in The Grand Tour Special "The Beach Buggy Boys." For commuting, he often uses a Brompton folding bicycle. May passed his driving test on his second attempt, humorously stating, "All the best people pass the second time."
May has also participated in competitive motoring events. In the 2007 Britcar 24 Hour race, he was part of the Team Top Gear alongside Jeremy Clarkson, "The Stig", and Richard Hammond. Driving a BMW 330d (Car No. 78) in Class 4, their team completed 396 laps, finishing 39th overall and achieving 3rd place in their class.
6.2. Aviation
May's interest extends to aviation, and he obtained a light aircraft pilot's license in October 2006, having trained at White Waltham Airfield. He has owned several aircraft, including a Luscombe 8A Silvaire, a Cessna A185E Skywagon, and an American Champion 8KCAB Super Decathlon with the registration G-OCOK, a playful reference to a common phrase attributed to him.
Despite his piloting skills, May has admitted to having a fear of heights. This was evident during a Top Gear special in Bolivia, where he expressed extreme discomfort on the perilous Yungas Road, famously stating, "I hate heights more than anything." He also has a detailed knowledge of fighter jets, demonstrating this by extensively discussing MiG aircraft in Albania to the annoyance of Jeremy Clarkson.
7. Bibliography
James May has authored or co-authored numerous books, contributing to automotive journalism, popular science, and cultural commentary.
- May on Motors: On the Road with James May. Virgin Books. 2006. Reprinted 2007.
- Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure. BBC Books. 2006.
- Notes from the Hard Shoulder. Virgin Books. 2007.
- James May's 20th Century. Hodder & Stoughton. 2007 (H/B). Reprinted 2007 (P/B).
- James May's Magnificent Machines. Hodder & Stoughton. 2008.
- Oz and James Drink to Britain. Pavilion (Anova). 2009.
- James May's Car Fever. Hodder & Stoughton. 2009 (H/B). Reprinted 2010 (P/B).
- James May's Toy Stories. Conway (Anova). 2009.
- James May's Toy Stories: Lego House. Conway (Anova). 2010.
- James May's Toy Stories: Airfix Handbook. Conway (Anova). 2010.
- James May's Toy Stories: Scalextric Handbook. Conway (Anova). 2010.
- How to Land an A330 Airbus. Hodder & Stoughton. 2010 (H/B). Reprinted 2011 (P/B).
- James May's Man Lab: The Book of Usefulness. Hodder & Stoughton. 2011 (H/B). Reprinted 2012 (P/B).
- James May: On Board. Hodder & Stoughton. 2012.
- James May: The Reassembler. Hodder & Stoughton. 2017.
- James May: Oh Cook!. Pavilion. 2020.
- Carbolics: A Personal Motoring Disinfectant. Hodder & Stoughton. 2022.
8. Media Appearances and Works
James May's broad reach and influence in the entertainment industry are evident through his extensive appearances in television, DVDs, video games, and other media.
8.1. Television
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Driven | Presenter |
| 1999 | Top Gear (original run) | |
| 2003-15, 2021 | Top Gear | |
| 2005 | James May's Top Toys | |
| 2006-07 | Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure | |
| 2007 | Top Gear of the Pops | |
| James May's 20th Century | ||
| James May: My Sisters' Top Toys | ||
| 2008 | Top Ground Gear Force | |
| James May's Big Ideas | ||
| 2009 | Oz and James Drink to Britain | |
| James May on the Moon | ||
| James May at the Edge of Space | ||
| 2009-14 | James May's Toy Stories | |
| 2010 | Shooting Stars | Guest |
| 2010-13 | James May's Man Lab | Presenter |
| 2011-12 | James May's Things You Need to Know | |
| 2014-16 | James May's Cars of the People | |
| 2014 | Phineas and Ferb | Ian |
| 2015 | Building Cars Live | Presenter |
| 2016-17 | James May: The Reassembler | |
| 2016-24 | The Grand Tour | |
| 2019 | James May's Big Trouble in Model Britain | |
| Al Murray's Great British Pub Quiz | Guest | |
| 2020-24 | James May: Our Man in... | Presenter |
| 2020-23 | James May: Oh Cook! | |
| 2023 | Little Trains & Big Names with Pete Waterman | Guest |
| Yuganayak Swami Vivekananda | Professor | |
| 2024 | James May and the Dull Men | Presenter |
| 2025 | The Great Explorers with James May | Presenter |
8.2. DVD
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Oz & James' Big Wine Adventure: Series One | Acorn Media |
| James May's Motormania Car Quiz | DMD | |
| 2007 | James May's 20th Century: The Complete Series | ITV |
| 2008 | Oz & James' Big Wine Adventure: Series Two | Acorn Media |
| 2009 | James May's Big Ideas: The Complete Series | DMD |
| James May on the Moon | BBC DVD | |
| James May's Amazing Brain Trainer | DMD | |
| James May's Toy Stories: The Complete Series | Channel 4 | |
| Oz and James Drink to Britain | Acorn Media | |
| 2010 | Top Gear: Apocalypse | BBC DVD |
| 2011 | James May's Man Lab: Series One | Acorn Media |
| Top Gear: At The Movies | BBC DVD | |
| 2012 | James May's Man Lab: Series Two | Acorn Media |
| Top Gear: Worst Car in the History of the World | BBC DVD | |
| 2013 | James May's Toy Stories: Balsa Wood Glider/Great Train Race | Channel 4 |
| 2014 | James May's Toy Stories: The Motorcycle Diaries | |
| James May's Toy Stories: Action Man at the Speed of Sound | ||
| 2016 | James May: The Reassembler: Series One | Spirit Entertainment Limited |
| 2017 | James May: The Reassembler: Series Two |
8.3. Video games
| Year | Title | Developer | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Forza Motorsport 5 | Turn 10 Studios | Voice over |
| 2015 | Forza Motorsport 6 | Turn 10 Studios | |
| 2019 | The Grand Tour Game | Amazon Game Studios |
8.4. Television advertisements
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | London Pride | Himself |
| 2015 | The Tank Museum |
9. Public Persona and Impact
James May's public image is largely defined by his "Captain Slow" persona, characterized by a perceived gentle demeanor, meticulousness, and a measured approach to tasks. This contrasts with his more boisterous co-presenters, Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond, creating a dynamic that has contributed significantly to the success of Top Gear and The Grand Tour. His calm and often pedantic explanations, particularly when dealing with complex machinery or scientific concepts, have resonated with audiences, making him an approachable figure for popularizing cars, science, and various hobbies.
May's commentary often touches upon broader cultural themes, such as the "plight of manliness" in modern times, reflecting his unique contribution to popular discourse. He has also been known for his dry wit and occasional use of colorful language, such as the slang term "Cock!" when frustrated. Despite his seemingly mild-mannered public image, he has been known to be fiercely protective of his possessions, once brandishing a machete at Jeremy Clarkson after a prank on the treacherous Yungas Road.
His programs, particularly James May's Toy Stories and his science-focused series, have celebrated craftsmanship, engineering, and the joy of hands-on creation, inspiring viewers to engage with these fields. His ability to delve into complex subjects like the history of technology or space exploration with clarity and enthusiasm has made him an effective communicator of scientific and cultural knowledge.
May's online presence, including his cooking videos and model-building content, further showcases his diverse interests and approachable personality. One instance of his online impact occurred when a simple utterance of "cheese" in a Foodtribe video went viral, becoming a popular Internet meme and highlighting his unexpected appeal in digital culture. While often teased on Top Gear for traits that some might associate with effeminacy, such as his preference for flower-patterned shirts or his perceived lack of interest in Formula 1, May maintains a long-term relationship with art critic Sarah Frater, indicating these portrayals were largely for comedic effect within the show's dynamic.