James May

James May
Main PhotoPrimeHistoric Photograph of James May as of 2024. James May in the 2000s, at the height of his career. James May in the 1990s, presenting his very first segment on Top Gear in 1999.
Full Name	James Daniel May
Nationality	Great Britain
Birthday	16th January
Sex	Male
Occupation	Writer of The Engineer, Autocar Presenter of Driven Presenter of Top Gear (1977 TV series) Presenter of Top Gear (2002 TV series) Presenter of The Grand Tour
On-screen debut	Driven: Series 1, Episode 1 (1998)
Final appearance	The Grand Tour: One For The Road (2024)

James Daniel May, also known as “Captain Slow”, is an English television presenter and journalist. He is best known as a co-presenter for shows such as “Driven” and Top Gear’’, who became the longest serving host of Top Gear in its entirety, presenting 187 episodes for both the original format of the show from 1999, and for the first iteration of the show's relaunch from 2002 - 2015 for the latter. During his second, more widely-regarded tenure on Top Gear, he helped to transform the show into a global juggernaut along with Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond with a cumulative global audience of 350 million people tuning in worldwide. James appeared from Series 2 to Series 22 of the current format of the show until he left the show in 2015 due to Clarkson's Firing.

Career until 2003

Early Career

In the early 1980s, May worked as a sub-editor for The Engineer and later for Autocar magazine, from which he was eventually dismissed due to a prank made for the 1992 Autocar Yearbook. Since then, he has contributed to numerous publications, including his regular column England Made Me in Car Magazine, (later) articles for the Top Gear Magazine, and a weekly column in The Daily Telegraph.

Initial Decline of Presenting

In the early 1990s, television producer Jon Bentley initially considered James May as a potential presenter and even arranged for him to film a screen test featuring a Caterham. Bentley was keen on bringing May onto the show, believing he had the right qualities for the role. However, his efforts were ultimately thwarted by senior executives, who felt that May bore too much resemblance to Jeremy Clarkson. Specifically, they viewed him as another 'posh-sounding young bloke,' which they feared would result in a lack of contrast between presenters. Consequently, May was passed over for the position at the time. It wasn't until Jeremy Clarkson's unexpected departure in January 1999, that May would finally be brought on board as part of the presenting team.

Main Host of Driven

James May began his television career in 1998 as a co-presenter on Channel 4's motoring show Driven, alongside Mike Brewer, Peter Stevens and Jason Barlow. The programme aimed to rival the BBC's Top Gear by offering entertaining car reviews and automotive insights. However, after the first series, May was replaced by former rally driver Penny Mallory. May has attributed his departure to the producers' desire to include a female presenter, reflecting an early move towards diversity in television.

Short stint of presenting on Top Gear in 1999

​James May's initial involvement with Top Gear dates back to 1999, following Jeremy Clarkson's departure from the original format of the show. During this period, May contributed as a presenter, delivering segments such as test-driving the then-new Mazda MX-5. However, his tenure was brief, and he departed from the show shortly thereafter but remained as an occasional writer for Top Gear Magazine from 2000 to 2002, and was suddenly fired.

Career until 2015

Return to Top Gear

After the first season of the show's 2002 relaunch, Clarkson persuaded Andy Wilman to rehire May in order to keep Richard Hammond on board, unfortunately sacrificing Jason Dawe's position in the process. He made his debut as a co-presenter on the revamped Top Gear during its second series in 2003, where he earned the nickname 'Captain Slow' due to his cautious driving style and his obsessive attention to detail.

Presenting Role in James May's Cars of the People

In 2014, James May presented ​"James May's Cars of the People" a British documentary series which ​explores the history and impact of vehicles that have significantly influenced everyday life

Departure from Top Gear

James May, along with his co-presenters Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond, departed from the BBC's "Top Gear" in 2015 following an incident involving Clarkson and a producer. The BBC's decision to not renew Clarkson's contract led May and Hammond to also leave the show. They subsequently launched "The Grand Tour" on Amazon Prime Video in 2016,

Career since 2015

Presenting Role on The Grand Tour

James May, alongside Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond, later co-presented The Grand Tour from its inception in 2016 until its conclusion in 2024. The show featured a blend of car reviews, adventurous road trips, and engaging challenges, maintaining the dynamic established during their tenure on BBC's Top Gear. In September 2024, The Grand Tour aired its final episode, "One For The Road," marking the end of a 22-year collaboration among the trio.

Selected filmography

^{Unabridged article: Filmography}

• Driven - 1998 (8 episodes)
• Top Gear - 1999 (10 episodes)
• Top Gear - 2003 - 2015 (167 episodes)
• James May's Cars of the People - 2014, 2016 (6 episodes)
• The Grand Tour - 2016 - 2024 (46 episodes)