16 Facts About James May

James Daniel May was born on 16 January 1963 and is an English television presenter and journalist.

James May is best known as a co-presenter of the motoring programme Top Gear alongside Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond from 2003 until 2015.

James May wrote a weekly column for The Daily Telegraphs motoring section from 2003 to 2011.

James May held a part-time job as a moulder at the foundry his father was employed at and suggested in a 2017 interview with The Times that this formed his interest in mechanics.

James May wrote the afterword to Long Lane with Turnings, published in September 2006, the final book by motoring writer L JK Setright.

Clarkson recalls James May's firing in 2000 caused him to retreat into alcoholism for a brief period of time.

James May first co-presented the revived series of Top Gear in its second series in 2003, where he earned the nickname "Captain Slow" owing to his careful driving style.

Later, in 2011, James May tried for the record again, proposing a race between German model railroad enthusiasts and their British counterparts.

In 2013, James May created a life-size, fully functional motorcycle and sidecar made entirely out of the construction toy Meccano.

James May created his own YouTube channel, titled "JM's Unemployment Tube", in 2015 after Top Gear was postponed by the BBC following Jeremy Clarkson's dismissal.

In 2016, James May launched, with his former Top Gear presenters, a social network for motoring fans called DriveTribe.

In 2019, James May moved on to created videos on a Drivetribe spin-off brand Foodtribe frequently using a small, bedsit-like kitchen setup called "The Bug-out Bunker".

In July 2010 James May was awarded an honorary doctorate by Lancaster University, where he had previously studied music.

In 2020 James May bought half the ownership of a pub in Swallowcliffe, Wiltshire called The Royal Oak which dates from the early 18th century and is a Grade II listed historic site.

James May currently owns a 2010 Porsche 911 Carrera S facelift, a 2016 BMW i3, a 2018 Alpine A110, a 2019 Tesla Model S 100D, a 2021 Toyota Mirai, a 2015 Ferrari 458 Speciale which he ordered following his exit from Top Gear and the VW Beach Buggy used in The Grand Tour Special "The Beach Buggy Boys".

James May obtained a light aircraft pilot's licence in October 2006, having trained at White Waltham Airfield.