James May
Biography
James Daniel May (born 16 January 1963) is an English television presenter, journalist and writer. May is best known as co-presenter of the motoring programme Top Gear alongside Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond. May has presented a variety of other programmes on themes including science and technology, childhood toys, cars, food and drink, and the plight of manliness in modern times. In addition he has released a variety of DVDs and books with similar themes, and writes a weekly column for The Daily Telegraph's motoring section. On Top Gear, May has the nickname "Captain Slow", for his careful driving style, a love of small, underpowered cars and habit of getting lost and distracted whilst driving. In a February 2007 episode of Top Gear he carried out a successful top speed test drive of a Bugatti Veyron at the Ehra-Lessien Volkswagen test track, reaching 407 kilometres per hour (253 mph). In July 2010 he repeated the attempt in the updated Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, reaching the vehicle's top speed of 417.6 kilometres per hour (259.5 mph), confirming that it had retaken the title as the fastest road car in production.
Known For
The Graham Norton Show
Top of the Pops
Top Gear
The One Show
Have I Got News for You
Have I Got a Bit More News for You
The Grand Tour
Shooting Stars
All Movies (52)
- Joan Rivers at the BBC2024 · as Self (archive footage)
- Top Gear: A Tribute to Sabine Schmitz2021 · as Self
- Top Gear - Planes, Trains and Automobiles2019
- Top Gear: Winter Blunderland2018
- Top Gear: The Best of the Specials2017 · as James May
- Top Gear: From A-Z2015 · as Self (archive footage)
- James May's Cars of the People2015
- Top Gear: The Big Send Off Special2015
- Top Gear: Greatest Hits2015 · as Himself
- Top Gear: Australian Road Trip2015 · as Himself
- Top Gear: Patagonia Special2014
- Top Gear: The Burma Special2014 · as Himself
- International Buffoons' Vacation2014
- Top Gear Festival: Sydney2013 · as Self - Presenter
- Top Gear: The Great African Adventure2013 · as Himself
- Top Gear: The Worst Car In the History of the World2012 · as Self
- Top Gear: Supercars Across Italy2012 · as Himself
- Top Gear: The Great Adventures 52012 · as Himself
- Top Gear: The Challenges 62012
- A Night with the Stars2011 · as Self
- Top Gear: At the Movies2011 · as Himself
- The Interceptors2011 · as James Steed
- Top Gear: The Challenges 52011 · as Himself
- Top Gear: The Great Adventures 42011 · as Himself
- Top Gear: Cars with Soul2011 · as Himself
- Top Gear: The U.S. Special2011 · as Himself
- Top Gear: Apocalypse2010 · as Self
- Top Gear: The Challenges 42010
- Top Gear: The Great Adventures 32010
- Top Gear: Romania Special2010 · as Himself
- James May's Toy Stories - Airfix2009 · as Self - Presenter
- James May on the Moon2009 · as Himself - Presenter
- James May at the Edge of Space2009 · as Himself
- Top Gear: The Challenges 32009
- Top Gear: The Great Adventures 22008 · as Self
- Top Ground Gear Force2008
- Top Gear: The Great Adventures Vol. 12008
- Top Gear - Planes, Rockets & Automobiles2008 · as Presenter
- Top Gear: The Challenges 22008 · as Himself
- James May: My Sisters' Top Toys2007 · as Himself - Presenter
- Top Gear: Botswana Special2007 · as Himself
- Top Gear: Polar Special2007 · as himself
- Top Gear - Best of the Challenges2007
- Top Gear of the Pops2007 · as Self
- Top Gear: The Challenges2007 · as Himself
- Top Gear: US Special2007 · as Self
- Top Gear: The Races2006 · as Himself
- Top Gear: Winter Olympics Special2006 · as Himself
- Top Gear: Supercars2006 · as Presenter
- James May's Top Toys2005 · as Himself - Presenter
- Top Gear: Revved Up2005 · as Himself
- Top Gear's Stars in Fast Cars2004
All TV Shows (41)
- The Grand-ish Tour2026 · as Self
- James May's Shed Load of Ideas2025
- The Not Very Grand Tour2025 · as Self
- James May's Great Explorers2025 · as James May
- James May and the Dull Men2024 · as Self - Host
- Perfect Pub Walks2024 · as Self
- James May: Oh Cook!2020 · as Self
- James May: Our Man in…2020 · as Self
- Al Murray's Great British Pub Quiz2019 · as Team Captain
- James May's Big Trouble in Model Britain2019 · as Self - Presenter
- The Grand Tour2016 · as Self - Host
- James May: The Reassembler2016 · as Presenter
- James May's Build a Car in 24 Hours2016 · as Host
- Top Gear: The Races2016 · as Self
- Top Gear From A-Z2015 · as Self
- Top Gear: Ambitious But Rubbish2015
- James May's Cars of the People2014 · as Self - Presenter
- Dara O Briain's Science Club2012 · as Himself
- Top Gear: Top Fails2012 · as Self
- A Night with the Stars2011 · as Participant
- Top Gear's Top 402011 · as James May
- James May's Things You Need To Know2011 · as Himself - Presenter
- James May's Man Lab2010
- James May's Toy Stories2009 · as Himself - Host
- Oz & James Drink to Britain2009 · as Himself - Presenter
- Oz and James Drink to Britain2009
- James May's Big Ideas2008 · as Self - Presenter
- James May's 20th Century2007 · as Himself - Presenter
- The Graham Norton Show2007 · as Self
- Oz & James's Big Wine Adventure2006
- Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure2006
- The One Show2006 · as Self
- Petrolheads2006
- The F Word2005
- Top Gear2002 · as Self - Host
- Driven1998 · as Self - Host
- Shooting Stars1993 · as Self
- Have I Got News for You1990 · as Self
- This Morning1988 · as Self
- Top of the Pops1964 · as Self - Host
- Have I Got a Bit More News for You— · as Self - Panellist