Jeremy Clarkson could be about to cash in on a multi-million-pound windfall following the closure of the production company he set up with his long-time colleagues.
The 65-year-old broadcaster, best known as the outspoken former host of Top Gear, reinvented himself on Amazon Prime Video with The Grand Tour. The show, launched in 2016, reunited Clarkson with his old BBC co-hosts Richard Hammond and James May, as well as long-serving producer Andy Wilman. Together, the four men formed the backbone of W Chump & Sons, a production company established in July 2015 to create their new motoring adventure.
For years, The Grand Tour took the trio to some of the most far-flung and exotic corners of the globe. From Arctic snowfields to Middle Eastern deserts, their globe-trotting escapades captured the same chemistry and irreverent humour that had made them household names on the BBC. Yet after more than two decades of working side by side, their collective journey on screen came to a close earlier this year with the release of One for the Road, billed as the final special.
Now, Companies House records have revealed that W Chump & Sons is being formally wound down. Liquidators were appointed on September 1, and newly published documents show the company had more than £24 million on its books at the time of liquidation. With four directors listed—Clarkson, Hammond, May, and Wilman—this could translate into a payout of roughly £6 million each, if the assets are divided equally among them.
Industry watchers note that the move to liquidate the company appears to be the clearest indication yet that the trio will not be reuniting for another major project. The Sun has described the closure as “the surest sign” that their long-running television partnership has finally reached its end.
But while the joint chapter may be closing, each of the four men has moved on to his own ventures. Clarkson has enjoyed enormous success with Clarkson’s Farm, the hit series documenting his trials and triumphs as a farmer in the Cotswolds. The show has not only been a ratings winner for Amazon Prime but has also been credited with sparking a surge of interest in agriculture among young people. A fifth series is already in production.
Richard Hammond has focused his energy on The Smallest Cog, a car restoration series tied to his classic vehicle workshop, while James May has diversified into the food and drink industry, recently expanding his pub and gin brand alongside other television appearances. Producer Andy Wilman, meanwhile, is expected to continue working behind the scenes on projects that tap into his decades of experience in entertainment.
The liquidation of W Chump & Sons therefore marks the end of a remarkable era in British motoring television—a journey that spanned continents, broke audience records, and turned three presenters into global stars. But it also represents a lucrative farewell, with each of the key figures walking away not just with fond memories, but potentially millions in their pockets.
