Richard Hammond

Richard Hammond – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

A comprehensive biography of Richard Hammond — from his early life and rise as a television presenter, through his dramatic crash recovery, to his lasting influence and memorable quotes. Discover Richard Hammond’s journey, philosophy, and legacy.

Introduction: Who Is Richard Hammond?

Richard Mark Hammond (born 19 December 1969) is an English television presenter, journalist, author, and broadcaster. He is best known for co-hosting the revamped Top Gear (2002–2015) and, later, The Grand Tour (2016 onward) with Jeremy Clarkson and James May.

Over decades, Hammond has become a beloved figure in popular culture, admired for his wit, enthusiasm for engineering and motoring, and his resilience in the face of adversity. This article explores his life, career milestones, personal philosophy, and some of his most memorable quotations.

Early Life and Family

Richard Hammond was born in Solihull, Warwickshire, England, on 19 December 1969.

His family has roots connected to the automotive industry: Hammond’s grandfather worked in Birmingham’s car industry as a coachbuilder, and Hammond himself has cited that lineage as a seed for his lifelong passion for cars.

In his youth, the family relocated to North Yorkshire; Hammond spent part of his childhood in Ripon, near Bedale and Thornton Watlass, while his father ran a probate business in the local market square.

Education-wise, Hammond began at Blossomfield Infant School in Solihull (ages 3–7) and initially attended Solihull School. Later, he moved to Ripon Grammar School and then from 1986 to 1988 studied at Harrogate College of Art and Technology.

Youth and Education

While Hammond’s formal education was modest, his real education came through on-the-ground experience in media and motoring. After college, he entered radio, working at several BBC local radio stations (Radio Cleveland, Radio York, Radio Cumbria, Radio Leeds, and Radio Newcastle).

In parallel, he also took a job in the press office of Renault, seeing this as an opportunity to interface with motoring journalists and build connections in the automotive world.

His early media work included presenting motoring shows on satellite TV such as Motor Week and Car File on Men & Motors. This allowed him to refine his presenting style and technical knowledge in motoring.

It was during these early years that Hammond’s enthusiasm, curiosity, and natural ease in front of a camera began to shape his career trajectory, laying the groundwork for his later success.

Career and Achievements

Rise to Television Fame & Top Gear

In 2002, the popular BBC motoring show Top Gear was relaunched (in a new, more dynamic format), and Hammond was selected as one of the three lead presenters alongside Jeremy Clarkson and initially Jason Dawe (later replaced by James May).

Though in the early days there was internal speculation about his future on the show (reportedly, he was close to being dropped after the first series), Hammond survived that phase and became a staple of the show.

Over the years, Top Gear became well-known for its blend of car reviews, adventurous road trips, humorous banter, and “stars in a reasonably priced car” segments. Hammond’s charm, often self-deprecating sense of humor, and willingness to take risks made him a favorite for many viewers.

Crash, Recovery, and Resilience

One of the most dramatic moments in his life was the jet dragster crash in September 2006 while filming for Top Gear. Hammond was piloting a dragster called “Vampire” at a former Royal Air Force base near York.

He was traveling at over 288 mph (462 km/h) when the vehicle lost control. Hammond suffered a traumatic brain injury and was in intensive care.

Remarkably, by January 2007 (the start of Top Gear Series 9), Hammond returned to TV, and part of the episode recounted the crash itself. His return was met with emotional support and applause from the audience.

In interviews and his writing, Hammond has described the recovery as a long, painful process during which he had to re-learn emotional regulation, cognition, and motor coordination.

Beyond Top Gear: Diversification & New Ventures

Hammond’s television career has been diverse:

• He presented Brainiac: Science Abuse (2003–2008), a show combining science and entertainment.

• He fronted Total Wipeout (2009–2012) with Amanda Byram on BBC One.

• He hosted Planet Earth Live alongside Julia Bradbury in 2012.

• He created or presented specialized factual/engineering shows such as Richard Hammond’s Engineering Connections, Invisible Worlds, Crash Course, Science of Stupid, and Richard Hammond’s Jungle Quest.

• In 2016, Hammond, Clarkson, and May launched The Grand Tour on Amazon Prime Video, continuing their collaboration post-Top Gear.

• He co-founded the motoring social media platform DriveTribe in 2016, which became a major automotive content hub.

In addition to his broadcasting work, Hammond is an author. His bibliography includes motoring-focused books (What Not to Drive, Car Confidential, A Short History of the Motorcycle), children’s science books, and multiple memoirs including On The Edge: My Story, As You Do, Or Is That Just Me?, and On the Road: Growing Up in Eight Journeys.

Hammond has also ventured into restoration and car workshop projects. In recent years, he announced Richard Hammond’s Workshop, a show emphasizing car restoration and engineering.

In 2025, he launched an English whisky and London Dry Gin under the “Hammond’s Ratio” brand, produced in collaboration with Hawkridge distillery.

Awards, Recognition & Controversies

Hammond has been part of Top Gear’s success, which earned International Emmys and high viewership.

However, his career has not been without controversy. On at least one occasion during The Grand Tour, he made remarks about Mexican cars that offended the Mexican ambassador, who lodged a formal complaint. Grand Tour episode about a Volvo interior, he made a comment about ice cream that some interpreted as homophobic; criticisms followed, and he later responded by rejecting homophobia and emphasizing acceptance.

Historical Milestones & Context

• 2002: Hammond starts as co-presenter of the relaunched Top Gear.

• 2006: Suffers near-fatal dragster crash during Top Gear filming; begins the long recovery.

• 2007: Returns to presenting Top Gear, openly discusses his crash in the first broadcast.

• 2009-2012: Presents Total Wipeout.

• 2012: Hosts Planet Earth Live, and also works on Invisible Worlds and other science-focused shows.

• 2016: Launches The Grand Tour with his former Top Gear colleagues and also co-founds DriveTribe.

• 2017: Survives a dangerous high-speed crash in a Rimac Concept One during Grand Tour filming in Switzerland.

• 2021–onward: Works on restoration series with Richard Hammond’s Workshop.

• 2025: Launches Hammond’s Ratio whisky and gin.

Through these, Hammond has navigated both the glamour and perils of high-speed entertainment, combining it with educational and scientific programming.

Legacy and Influence

Richard Hammond’s impact is multifaceted:

1. Popularizing Science & Engineering
   He has helped make engineering, mechanics, and the science behind machines accessible to broad audiences through entertainment shows. His approachable style encourages curiosity.

2. Humanizing Risk & Recovery
   By openly sharing his crash, injury, and cognitive recovery, Hammond turned a personal tragedy into a narrative of resilience. He brought visibility to recovery from brain injury and the psychological aspects of trauma.

3. Inspirational Presenter
   His mix of enthusiasm, humor, humility, and willingness to make mistakes (and laugh at them) has influenced a generation of TV presenters, especially in factual entertainment.

4. Bridging Enthusiast Communities
   With DriveTribe and his restoration projects, Hammond connects car fans worldwide, encouraging community, discussion, and hands-on engagement with vehicles.

5. Diversification Across Media
   From broadcasting to books, from restoration workshops to spirits production, Hammond’s ability to evolve suggests a model for media personalities in the digital age.

His nickname “The Hamster” (a play on his name and his comparative size next to his co-hosts) has become endearing among fans, reflecting his underdog appeal.

Personality and Talents

Richard Hammond is often described as energetic, curious, cheeky, and self-deprecating. His ability to weave humor into technical subject matter makes him unique among presenters.

He admits to many flaws—impatience, impulsivity, pride—but frames them as part of what gives him character.

Hammond is also musically inclined: he plays the bass guitar. He performed with his Top Gear colleagues in a special Top Gear of the Pops event for Comic Relief.

His love for mechanical tinkering and restoration is more than a hobby—it’s a lens into how he thinks: hands-on, experimental, unafraid of failure.

In his personal life, he was married to Amanda “Mindy” Hammond (a columnist) from 2002; they have two daughters.

Hammond has also been committed to charitable causes. He is an ambassador for the UK charity The Children’s Trust, which supports children with brain injury and neuro-disability.

Famous Quotes of Richard Hammond

Here is a selection of some of Richard Hammond’s more memorable and revealing quotations:

“Oversteer is best ‘cause you don’t see the scenery.”
“I run a lot. I have this five-mile run that I try and do a few times a week. If I do more, I get shin splints and it drives me mad, so I have to balance it.” “I would love to act. I probably won’t make it to Hollywood at 42 years of age, but I’d love to act.” “My first car was a 1976 Toyota Corolla Liftback in red … I painted a Union Jack on the roof. I was absolutely in love with it until I destroyed it, which broke my heart!” “Forty is brilliant and I love it. I’m happier now than when I was 20.” “Failing my driving test first time; that was a disappointment on a geological scale.” “If I can be cruel; I’m not a big fan of the Audi R8, actually.” “All of us, each and every one, lives a life that is, in its own right, an epic.” “Ask any Ferrari, Porsche or Ray-Ban salesperson about their average customer … he is, in fact, a middle-aged bloke wearing more chins than he started life with.”

These quotations reveal Hammond’s combination of candid self-reflection, humor, passion for motoring, and down-to-earth commentary.

Lessons from Richard Hammond

From Richard Hammond’s life and career, several lessons emerge:

1. Embrace Passion & Curiosity
   Hammond took early roles in radio and motoring TV, following his passion—even when the path wasn’t obvious.

2. Resilience in Adversity
   His recovery from a catastrophic crash teaches the power of persistence, humility, and slow rebuilding.

3. Be Accessible & Human
   His willingness to show faults, fears, and struggles makes him more relatable, not less.

4. Diversify & Adapt
   Rather than staying static, Hammond branched into writing, science shows, restoration, and even spirits—staying relevant across changing media landscapes.

5. Use Humor Wisely
   Many of his statements are tongue-in-cheek or provocative; they entertain, but sometimes provoke controversy. The lesson is to balance humor with thoughtfulness.

Conclusion

Richard Hammond’s journey from Solihull to global television stardom is a story of enthusiasm, risk, reinvention, and resilience. He has carved a distinctive niche blending entertainment with engineering, always with a spark of humor and humanity.

He reminds us that life is full of unexpected turns—sometimes wildly dangerous—but that with grit, humility, and a willingness to keep learning, one can not just survive but thrive.

Explore more of his famous quotes, or dive into his books and documentaries to further appreciate the depth behind the personality you see on screen.