48 Facts About Richard Hammond

Richard Mark Hammond was born on 19 December 1969 and is an English journalist, television presenter, mechanic and writer.

Richard Hammond is best known for co-hosting the BBC Two motoring programme Top Gear from 2002 until 2015 with Jeremy Clarkson and James May Since 2016, the trio have presented Amazon Studios' The Grand Tour.

In 2016, again with Clarkson and May, Richard Hammond launched the automotive social media website DriveTribe, where he regularly provides content on his tribe "Richard Hammond's Fob Jockeys".

Richard Hammond was born the oldest of three boys on 19 December 1969 in Solihull, England, and is the grandson of workers in the Birmingham car industry.

Richard Hammond became a presenter on Top Gear in 2002, when the show began in its revamped format.

Richard Hammond's nickname was further reinforced when on three occasions in series 7, he ate cardboard, mimicking hamster-like behaviour.

Richard Hammond then requested that the crash never be mentioned on the show again, though all three Top Gear presenters have since referred to it in jokes during the news segment of the programme.

Richard Hammond told his colleagues, "The only difference between me now, and before the crash, is that I like celery now and I didn't before".

Richard Hammond was travelling at at the time of the crash.

Richard Hammond was cut free with hydraulic shears, and placed on a backboard.

Richard Hammond was then transported by the Yorkshire Air Ambulance to the neurological unit of the Leeds General Infirmary.

Clarkson wished Richard Hammond well, saying "Both James and I are looking forward to getting our 'Hamster' back", referring to Richard Hammond by his nickname.

For five weeks while Richard Hammond was recovering in hospital, Clarkson sent a funny message to Mindy, Richard Hammond's wife, every day to try to keep her going.

Richard Hammond thought if everyone found out, Clarkson would "die of shame" "cos it makes him look soppy".

Richard Hammond requested at the end of the episode that his fellow presenters never mention the crash again, a request which has been generally observed, although occasional oblique references have been made by all three presenters.

In February 2008, Richard Hammond gave an interview to The Sunday Times newspaper in which he described the effects of his brain injuries and the progression of his recovery.

Richard Hammond talked about his recovery in a 2010 television programme where he interviewed Sir Stirling Moss and they discussed the brain injuries they had both received as a result of car crashes.

In 2003, Richard Hammond became the first presenter of Brainiac: Science Abuse; he was joined by Jon Tickle and Charlotte Hudson in series 2.

Richard Hammond presented the Crufts dog show in 2005, the 2004 and 2005 British Parking Awards, and has appeared on School's Out, a quiz show on BBC One where celebrities answer questions about things they learned at school.

Richard Hammond has presented The Gunpowder Plot: Exploding the Legend.

Richard Hammond was a team captain on the BBC Two quiz show, Petrolheads, in which a memorable part was one where Hammond was tricked into bumping his classic Ferrari while trying to parallel park blindfolded in another car.

In July 2005, Richard Hammond was voted one of the top 10 British TV talents.

Richard Hammond presented Richard Hammond and the Holy Grail in 2006.

Richard Hammond recorded an interview with the famed American stuntman Evel Knievel, which aired on 23 December 2007 on BBC Two, and was Knievel's last interview before his death on 30 November 2007.

Richard Hammond appeared in an advertisement for Morrisons supermarkets in 2008, and joined the cast of TV show Ashes To Ashes for a special insert on the 2008 Children in Need special.

Richard Hammond was later given the right of reply to his colleagues during an interview with Marcus Lush on RadioLIVE's breakfast show in New Zealand.

Richard Hammond hosted the UK version of the US series Wipeout, called Total Wipeout for BBC One.

Richard Hammond presented and performed the voiceover for the clips in a London studio, and Byram was filmed at the obstacle course in Buenos Aires.

One of Richard Hammond's lesser known television roles was as presenter of the BBC Two gameshow Time Commanders, a sophisticated warfare simulator which used a modified version of Creative Assembly's Rome: Total War game engine.

In May 2012, Richard Hammond co-presented an animal documentary for BBC One called Planet Earth Live alongside Julia Bradbury.

In June 2014, Richard Hammond presented a scientific fourteen part series on National Geographic Channel titled Science of Stupid which focused on the application of physics in everyday life.

In March 2017, whilst filming for The Grand Tour episode Feed the world in Mozambique, Richard Hammond frequently fell off his motorbike due to the poor roads.

In January 2021, Richard Hammond starred alongside MythBusters Tory Belleci in The Great Escapists, a fictional six-episode adventure series for Amazon, which was produced by Chimp Productions.

On 10 June 2017, Richard Hammond crashed a Rimac Concept One while filming for The Grand Tour in Hemberg, Switzerland.

Richard Hammond was on his last run up a timed hillclimb course during the Bergrennen Hemberg event.

Richard Hammond announced on Twitter on 21 June 2021 that he would be making a show with Discovery+ about the restoration of old cars.

Richard Hammond's nickname was further reinforced when on three occasions in series 7, he ate cardboard, mimicking hamster-like behaviour.

Richard Hammond is known for owning a large number of animals on Bollitree Farm including several horses, dogs, cats, chickens, ducks, sheep, and a peacock.

Richard Hammond plays bass guitar, on which he accompanied the other Top Gear presenters when they performed alongside Justin Hawkins on Top Gear of the Pops for Comic Relief in 2007.

In 2007, Richard Hammond went to Africa on a Top Gear special across Botswana, with his choice of car being a 1963 Opel Kadett, which he subsequently named Oliver.

In 2010, Richard Hammond was the president of the 31st Herefordshire Country Fair held at Hampton Court in Hope under Dinmore.

Richard Hammond's involvement caused unprecedented attendance with "nearly 15,000 people" drawn to the event to meet the presenter.

In March 2012, Richard Hammond passed his B206 LST helicopter licence and has since owned a Robinson R44 Raven II helicopter.

Richard Hammond currently owns or has owned many different cars including:.

Richard Hammond is a keen motorcyclist, having ridden for over 30 years.

Richard Hammond currently owns or has owned many different motorcycles including:.

Richard Hammond is an ambassador of UK charity for children with brain injury and neuro-disability The Children's Trust.

Richard Hammond flew his Robinson R44 helicopter, G-OHAM, to Shobdon Aerodrome, then picked Palmer up from her home in Kimbolton, Herefordshire and drove her back to the airport for a high-speed run on the main runway.