James May
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
Credits
- 2024 · James May and the Dull Men as
- 2021 · Top Gear: A Tribute to Sabine Schmitz as Himself
- 2020 · James May: Oh Cook! as Self
- 2007 · The Graham Norton Show as Self
- 2002 · Top Gear as Self
- 2002 · Top Gear as Self - Host
- 1990 · Have I Got News for You as Self - Panellist
- Future · Have I Got a Bit More News for You as Self - Panellist
- 2020 · James May: Our Man in… as Self
- 2019 · Al Murray's Great British Pub Quiz as Team Captain
- 2019 · James May's Big Trouble in Model Britain as Self - Presenter
- 2016 · The Grand Tour as Self - Host
- 2016 · The Grand Tour as
- 2016 · James May: The Reassembler as Presenter
- 2015 · Top Gear: Ambitious But Rubbish as
- 2015 · Top Gear: Patagonia Special as
- 2014 · James May's Cars of the People as Self - Presenter
- 2014 · Top Gear: The Burma Special as Himself
- 2013 · Top Gear: The Great African Adventure as Himself
- 2012 · Top Gear: The Worst Car In the History of the World as Self
- 2012 · Dara O Briain's Science Club as Himself
- 2012 · Top Gear: Top Fails as Self
- 2011 · Top Gear: India Special as Himself
- 2011 · A Night with the Stars as Participant
- 2011 · A Night with the Stars as Self
- 2010 · Top Gear: Middle East Special as Himself
- 2010 · Top Gear: Apocalypse as Himself
- 2010 · James May's Man Lab as
- 2009 · Top Gear: South America Special as
- 2009 · James May's Toy Stories as Himself - Host
- 2009 · Top Gear: The Challenges 3 as
- 2008 · Top Gear: Vietnam Special as
- 2007 · Top Gear: Botswana Special as Himself
- 2007 · Top Gear: Polar Special as himself
- 2007 · James May's 20th Century as Himself - Presenter
- 2006 · Oz & James's Big Wine Adventure as
- 2006 · Top Gear: Winter Olympics as Himself
- 2006 · Petrolheads as
- 2005 · The F Word as
- 1993 · Shooting Stars as Self
- 1988 · This Morning as Self
- Future · James May's Toy Stories - Airfix as Self - Presenter
- 2024 · Joan Rivers at the BBC as Self (archive footage)
- 2023 · What "Top Gear" Needs To Look Like If It Ever Returns as Himself (in spirit)
- 2019 · Top Gear - Planes, Trains and Automobiles as
- 2018 · Top Gear: Winter Blunderland as
- 2017 · Top Gear: The Best of the Specials as James May
- 2016 · Top Gear from A - Z: The Ultimate Extended Edition as self
- 2016 · James May's Build a Car in 24 Hours as Host
- 2016 · Top Gear: The Races as Self
- 2015 · James May's Cars of the People as
- 2015 · Top Gear: The Big Send Off Special as
- 2015 · Top Gear: Greatest Hits as Himself
- 2015 · Top Gear: Australian Road Trip as Himself
- 2013 · Top Gear Festival: Sydney as Self - Presenter
- 2012 · Top Gear: Supercars Across Italy as Himself
- 2012 · Top Gear: The Challenges 6 as
- 2011 · Top Gear: At the Movies as Himself
- 2011 · James May's Things You Need To Know as Himself - Presenter
- 2011 · Top Gear: The Challenges 5 as Himself
- 2011 · Top Gear: Cars with Soul as Himself
- 2011 · Top Gear: The U.S. Special as Himself
- 2010 · Top Gear: The Challenges 4 as
- 2010 · Top Gear: Romania Special as Himself
- 2009 · James May on the Moon as Himself - Presenter
- 2009 · James May at the Edge of Space as Himself
- 2009 · Top Gear: The Great Adventures 2 as
- 2009 · Oz & James Drink to Britain as Himself - Presenter
- 2008 · James May's Big Ideas as Self - Presenter
- 2008 · Top Ground Gear Force as
- 2008 · Top Gear: The Great Adventures Vol. 1 as
- 2008 · Top Gear: The Challenges 2 as Himself
- 2008 · Top Gear - Planes, Rockets & Automobiles as Presenter
- 2007 · James May: My Sisters' Top Toys as Himself - Presenter
- 2007 · Top Gear - Best of the Challenges as
- 2007 · Top Gear of the Pops as Self
- 2007 · Top Gear: The Challenges as Himself
- 2007 · Top Gear: US Special as Self
- 2006 · Top Gear: The Races as Himself
- 2006 · Top Gear: Supercars as Presenter
- 2005 · James May's Top Toys as Himself - Presenter
- 2005 · Top Gear: Revved Up as Himself
- 1998 · Driven as Self - Host