Richard Hammond has sparked fresh excitement among motoring fans after hinting at the possibility of reuniting with his legendary Top Gear co-hosts Jeremy Clarkson and James May.
The trio, who became household names thanks to their unique chemistry, outrageous challenges, and globe-trotting adventures, fronted the BBC’s Top Gear from 2002 until 2015. After their high-profile exit from the broadcaster, they went on to launch The Grand Tour with Amazon Prime in 2016, continuing their escapades in supercars, 4x4s, and even the occasional homemade contraption. The show enjoyed a successful run for eight years, with the final special, One for the Road, airing in 2024. That episode marked the end of an era for the three presenters, whose antics once attracted an estimated 350 million viewers worldwide every weekend at the height of Top Gear’s popularity.
Now 55, Hammond was asked in a recent interview with the Daily Mail whether the beloved trio had closed the chapter on working together for good. His response, while cautious, left the door open to future possibilities.
“Yeah,” Hammond answered, hesitating before clarifying. “Well, yes. We agreed. We were well aware we were getting a bit older. But who knows? It’s an ever-changing world. We’ll see. There’s nothing planned.”
While a formal reunion may not be on the cards just yet, Hammond reassured fans that the bond between him, Clarkson, and May remains strong. Far from the tabloid-fuelled rumours of feuds or rivalries, the presenter said the three are still very much in touch. “Yeah, I spoke to both of them this week,” he revealed. “People want to know that we all hate each other, but it’s not true. We couldn’t have spent so much time together if we did—there would have been a murder.”
Since the cameras stopped rolling on The Grand Tour, each of the presenters has moved into new ventures that reflect their personal passions. Hammond is focused on his business, The Smallest Cog, a classic car restoration workshop which is also the subject of a television series documenting his efforts to build the company. Clarkson, meanwhile, has reinvented himself as an unlikely farming figurehead, running his Chadlington estate Diddly Squat Farm and managing his newly opened pub, The Farmer’s Dog, in nearby Asthall. James May, true to his quieter, more laid-back persona, continues to enjoy life as a publican too. Since 2014, he has co-owned The Royal Oak in Swallowcliffe, Wiltshire, where he has carved out a new chapter beyond the motoring spotlight.
For now, the legendary trio’s motoring adventures appear to be in the rearview mirror. But Hammond’s remarks suggest that fans hoping to see them back together—whether behind the wheel of a supercar, embarking on another madcap road trip, or simply bickering in the way only they can—may not need to give up hope entirely.
