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'{{other people}} {{short description|English television presenter and journalist}} {{EngvarB|date=September 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}} {{Infobox person | name = James lONG NOSE May | image = James May.jpg | caption = May in 2006 | birth_name = James Daniel May | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1963|1|16|df=yes}} | birth_place = [[Bristol]], Smack Ed Vile | residence = [[Hammersmith]], [[London]], England | other_names = Captain Slow, Mr Slowly | alma_mater = [[Lancaster University]] | occupation = [[Television presenter]], [[author]], [[Maggot]],([[journalist]] | years_active = {{startdate|1980}}s–present | employer = {{unbulleted list| [[W. Chump and Sons|W. Chump & Sons]] {{small|(co-owner)}} *[[Amazon Video]] *[[BBC]] *Former Employers: * [[Channel 4]] * [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] * [[BSkyB|Sky]] *''[[Autocar (magazine)]]'' *''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' }} | known_for = {{Plainlist| * ''[[Driven (TV series)|Driven]]'' (1998–2002) * ''[[Top Gear (1977 TV series)|Top Gear (1977 Series)]]'' (1999) * ''[[Top Gear (2002 TV series)|Top Gear (2002 Series)]]'' (2003–2015) * ''[[Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure]]'' (2006–2007) * ''[[Oz and James Drink to Britain]]'' (2009) * ''[[James May's Top Toys]]'' (2005) * ''[[James May's Toy Stories]]'' (2009, 2011–2014) * ''[[James May's 20th Century]]'' (2007) * ''[[James May's Big Ideas]]'' (2008) * ''[[James May's Man Lab]]'' (2010–2013) * ''[[James May: The Reassembler]]'' (2016–) * ''[[The Grand Tour]]'' (2016–) Stared in Maggot Itis }} | home_town = Smack Ed Vile | salary = | net worth = | height = {{convert|6|ft|m|sigfig=3}} | spouse = | partner = Sarah Frater (since 2000) | children = Couple of Billion | parents = | relatives = | website = }} '''James Daniel May''' (born 16 January 1963)<ref>{{cite news|title=My Secret Life: James May, TV presenter, age 45|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/my-secret-life-james-may-tv-presenter-age-45-943442.html|website=The Independent|accessdate=16 January 2018|date=27 September 2008}}</ref> is an English television presenter and journalist. He is best known as a co-presenter of the motoring programme ''[[Top Gear (2002 TV series)|Top Gear]]'' alongside [[Jeremy Clarkson]] and [[Richard Hammond]] from 2003 until 2015. As of 2016 he is a director of the production company [[W. Chump and Sons|W. Chump & Sons]] (founded July 2015) and is also a co-presenter in the television series ''[[The Grand Tour]]'' for [[Amazon Video]], alongside his former ''Top Gear'' colleagues, Clarkson and Hammond, as well as ''Top Gear's'' former producer [[Andy Wilman]]. May has presented other programmes on themes including science and technology, toys, wine culture, and the plight of manliness in modern times. He wrote a weekly column for ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'s'' motoring section from 2003 to 2011. ==Early life== James Daniel May was born in [[Bristol]], one of four children; he has two sisters and a brother.<ref>{{cite news |last=Philby |first=Charlotte |date=27 September 2008 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/my-secret-life-james-may-tv-presenter-age-45-943442.html |title=My Secret Life: James May, TV presenter, age 45 |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |accessdate=20 January 2010}}</ref> May attended [[Caerleon Endowed Junior School]] in [[Newport, Wales|Newport]]. He spent his teenage years in [[South Yorkshire]] where he attended [[Oakwood Technology College|Oakwood Comprehensive School]] in [[Rotherham]] and was a choirboy at [[Whiston, South Yorkshire|Whiston]] Parish Church.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/main.jhtml?xml=/motoring/2007/11/10/mrmay10.xml|title=Frocks make a boy a man|author=James May|work=The Daily Telegraph|accessdate=31 December 2007|date=10 November 2007 | location=London}}</ref> May studied music at [[Pendle College, Lancaster|Pendle College]], [[Lancaster University]], where he learned to play the flute and piano.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/columnists/jamesmay/7893463/Top-Gears-James-May-awarded-honorary-degree.html|title=Top Gear's James May awarded honorary degree|date=16 July 2010|accessdate=13 February 2019|website=Telegraph.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-01-24/james-may-on-chris-evans-amazon-and-life-after-top-gear/|title=James May on Chris Evans, Amazon and life after Top Gear|website=Radio Times|accessdate=13 February 2019}}</ref> After graduating, May briefly worked at a hospital in Chelsea as a records officer, and had a short stint in [[Her Majesty's Civil Service|the civil service]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/the-mild-one-how-james-may-became-the-most-indemand-presenter-on-british-television-1771436.html |title=The mild one: How James May became the most in-demand presenter on British television |work=The Independent |date=15 August 2009 |accessdate=18 August 2009 | location=London | first=Nick | last=Duerden }}</ref> ==Journalism career== During the early 1980s, May worked as a sub-editor for ''[[The Engineer (UK magazine)|The Engineer]]'' and later ''[[Autocar (magazine)|Autocar]]'' magazine, from which he was dismissed for performing a prank.<ref>{{cite news | url =https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/5561393/Interview-James-May.html | title = Interview: James May | work = The Telegraph | date = 19 June 2009 | author = Michael Deacon | accessdate = 12 September 2012 }}</ref> He has since written for several publications, including the regular column ''England Made Me'' in ''[[Car Magazine]]'', articles for ''[[Top Gear (magazine)|Top Gear]]'' magazine, and a weekly column in ''The Daily Telegraph''. He has written the book ''May on Motors'' (2006), which is a collection of his published articles, and co-authored ''[[Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure]]'' (2006), based on the TV series of the same name. He wrote the afterword to ''Long Lane with Turnings'', published in September 2006, the final book by motoring writer [[L. J. K. Setright]]. In the same month, he co-presented a tribute to [[Raymond Baxter]]. ''Notes From The Hard Shoulder'' and ''James May's 20th Century'', a book to accompany the television series of the same name, were published in 2007. ===Dismissal from ''Autocar''=== [[File:JamesMayAutocar.jpg|thumb|right|James May's hidden message]] In an interview with [[Richard Allinson]] on [[BBC Radio 2]],<ref>BBC Radio 2, broadcast 6 January 2006</ref> May confessed that in 1992 he was dismissed from ''[[Autocar (magazine)|Autocar]]'' magazine after putting together an [[acrostic]] in one issue. At the end of the year, the magazine's "Road Test Year Book" supplement was published. Each spread featured four reviews and each review started with a large red letter (known in [[typography]] as an [[initial]]). May's role was to put the entire supplement together, which "was extremely boring and took several months". To alleviate the tedium, May wrote each review such that the initials on the first four spreads read "ROAD", "TEST", "YEAR" and "BOOK". Subsequent spreads seemingly had random letters, starting with "SOYO" and "UTHI". The curious noticed that the letters spelt out a message. May's original message, when punctuated, reads: "So you think it's really good, yeah? You should try making the bloody thing up; it's a real pain in the arse."<ref name="theage">{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/tv--radio/captain-slow-takes-the-fast-lane/2008/06/18/1213468491019.html |title=Captain Slow takes the fast lane – TV & Radio – Entertainment |work=The Age |date= 19 June 2008|accessdate=5 November 2009 | location=Melbourne}}</ref> The editors of ''Autocar ''missed the 'joke' and only became aware of it when readers started calling in about it, thinking there might be a prize. ==Television career== His past television credits include presenting ''[[Driven (TV)|Driven]]'' on [[Channel 4]] in 1998, narrating an eight-part [[BBC One]] series called ''Road Rage School'',<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0561982/ James May] Internet Movie Database</ref> and co-hosting the [[ITV1]] coverage of the ''2006 [[London Boat Show]].''<ref name="speakerscorner.co.uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.speakerscorner.co.uk/file/3a6850ee99183a512648ec2d63c165fb/james-may-top-gear-motoring-speaker-awards-host-after-dinner-humorist.html |title=James May, Top Gear presenter, after-dinner speaker and awards host |publisher=Speakers Corner |accessdate=5 November 2009}}</ref> He also wrote and presented a Christmas special called ''[[James May's Top Toys]]'' (for BBC One). ''[[James May: My Sister's Top Toys]]'' attempted to investigate the gender divide of toy appeal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b008l2vq |title=Two Programmes – James May: My Sister's Top Toys |publisher=BBC |accessdate=5 November 2009}}</ref> In series 3, episode 3<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbcamerica.com/content/159/f-word-season-3-episode-3.jsp |title=Season 3 Episode 3 – Gordon Ramsay's F Word |publisher=BBC America |accessdate=8 February 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100717025139/http://www.bbcamerica.com/content/159/f-word-season-3-episode-3.jsp |archivedate=17 July 2010 }}</ref> of [[Gordon Ramsay]]'s ''[[The F Word (TV series)|The F Word]]'', May managed to beat Ramsay in eating [[bull]] penis and [[Hákarl|rotten shark]] and with his [[fish pie]] recipe.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://primetime.unrealitytv.co.uk/interview-with-gordon-ramsay-on-the-f-word/ |title=Archived copy |accessdate=9 February 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091114042822/http://primetime.unrealitytv.co.uk/interview-with-gordon-ramsay-on-the-f-word/ |archivedate=14 November 2009 |df=dmy-all }} "The worst ever would have to be James May, with his fish pie. Even though he won, which was extraordinary. He was drinking a bottle of red wine throughout the challenge, so I thought it was in the bag."</ref><ref>[http://www.channel4.com/food/recipes/chefs/gordon-ramsay/posh-fish-pie-recipe_p_1.html] "This recipe is Gordon's version of a posh fish pie originally made by James May."</ref> ===''Top Gear''=== {{main|Top Gear (2002 TV series)}} [[File:Top Gear team Richard Hammond, James May and Jeremy Clarkson 31 October 2008.jpg|right|thumb| BBC Top Gear presenting team of [[Richard Hammond]], James May and [[Jeremy Clarkson]], 2009]] May was briefly a co-presenter of the original ''[[Top Gear (1977 TV series)|Top Gear]]'' series during 1999. He first co-presented the revived series of ''Top Gear'' in its second series in 2003,<ref>{{cite news|title=Top Gear's James May Shifts His Career Into Overdrive|url=http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2010/03/17/gears-james-takes-career-overdrive/|publisher=Fox News|date=17 March 2010|accessdate=5 March 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150412215827/http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2010/03/17/gears-james-takes-career-overdrive/|archivedate=12 April 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref> where he earned the nickname "Captain Slow" owing to his careful driving style.<ref name="theage"/> Despite this sobriquet, he has done some especially high-speed driving – in [[Top Gear (series 9)|the 2007 series]] he took a [[Bugatti Veyron]] to its top speed of {{convert|253|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}, then [[Top Gear (series 15)|in 2010]] he achieved {{convert|259.11|mph|km/h|abbr=on|0}} in the Veyron's newer 16.4 Super Sport edition.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.topgear.com/uk/photos/james-may-bugatti-veyron-supersport?imageNo=12 |title=James in the Bugatti Veyron SuperSport |work=Top Gear |accessdate=26 November 2011}}</ref> In an earlier episode he also tested the original version of the Bugatti Veyron against the [[Pagani Zonda F]]. May, along with co-presenter [[Jeremy Clarkson]] and an Icelandic support crew, travelled by car to the [[magnetic North Pole]] in 2007, using a modified [[Toyota Hilux]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/2235451/Top-Gears-Jeremy-Clarkson-criticised-for-glamorising-drink-driving.html|title= Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson criticised for glamorising drink driving|publisher=The Telegraph|date=2 July 2008|accessdate=31 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/7035252/Copy-Top-Gears-polar-trip.html| title= Copy Top Gear's polar trip|publisher=The Telegraph|date=21 January 2010|accessdate=31 March 2015| last1= Williams| first1= David}}</ref> In the words of Clarkson, he was the first person to go there "who didn't want to be there". He also drove a modified Toyota Hilux up the side of the erupting volcano [[Eyjafjallajökull]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldcarfans.com/110041925739/toyota-hilux-taunts-icelands-volcano-moments-before-eruption|title=Toyota Hilux taunts Iceland's volcano moments before eruption – Top Gear takes credit|publisher=WorldCarFans|date=19 April 2010|accessdate=31 March 2015}}</ref> Following the BBC's decision not to renew [[Jeremy Clarkson]]'s contract with the show on 25 March 2015,<ref name="ClarksonDropped">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-32052736|agency=[[BBC News Online]]|title=Jeremy Clarkson dropped from Top Gear, BBC confirms – BBC News|date=25 March 2015|accessdate=25 March 2015}}</ref> May stated in April 2015 that he would not continue to present ''Top Gear'' as part of a new line-up of presenters.<ref name=Guardian>{{cite news|title= Top Gear: James May rules out returning without Jeremy Clarkson |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/apr/23/james-may-top-gear-jeremy-clarkson-bbc-richard-hammond|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=23 April 2015|accessdate=23 April 2015}}</ref> ===Science=== [[File:James May (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|upright|May in 2007]] May presented ''Inside Killer Sharks'', a documentary for [[British Sky Broadcasting|Sky]] and ''[[James May's 20th Century]]'', investigating inventions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.open2.net/20thcentury/index.html |title=BBC/OU Open2.net – James May's 20th Century |publisher=Open2.net |accessdate=5 November 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091121042551/http://www.open2.net/20thcentury/index.html |archivedate=21 November 2009 }}</ref> He flew in a [[Royal Air Force]] [[Eurofighter Typhoon]] at a speed of around 1320&nbsp;mph (2124&nbsp;km/h) for his television programme, ''James May's 20th Century''. In late 2008, the BBC broadcast ''[[James May's Big Ideas]]'', a three-part series in which May travelled around the globe in search of implementations for concepts widely considered science fiction.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.open2.net/jamesmay/ |title=BBC/OU Open2.net – James May's Big Ideas |publisher=Open2.net |accessdate=5 November 2009}}</ref> He has also presented a series called ''[[James May's Man Lab]]''. In 2013, May narrated ''To Space & Back'', a documentary on the influence of developments in space exploration on modern technology produced by Sky-Skan and [[The Franklin Institute]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fulldomeshows.com/tospaceandback/index.html |title=To Space & Back with James May |website=fulldomeshows.com|accessdate=11 March 2015}}</ref> ===''James May on the Moon''=== {{main|James May on the Moon|James May at the Edge of Space}} ''James May on the Moon'' (BBC 2, 2009) commemorated 40 years since man first landed on the moon.<ref name="James May on the Moon">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00lfdbv |title=James May on the Moon |publisher=BBC |date=7 July 2013 |accessdate=2 September 2013}}</ref> This was followed by another documentary on [[BBC Four]] called ''James May at the Edge of Space'', where May was flown to the stratosphere (70,000&nbsp;ft) in a [[US Air Force]] [[Lockheed U-2]] spy plane. Highlights of the footage from the training for the flight, and the flight itself was used in ''James May on the Moon'', but was shown fully in this programme.<ref name="bbc.co.uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00lc5ph |title=James May at the Edge of Space |publisher=BBC |date=8 March 2012 |accessdate=2 September 2013}}</ref> This made him one of the highest flying people, along with the pilot, at that time, after the crew of the [[International Space Station]].<ref name="bbc.co.uk"/> ===''James May's Toy Stories''=== {{main|James May's Toy Stories}} Beginning in October 2009, May presented a 6-part TV series showing favourite toys of the past era and whether they can be applied in the modern-day. The toys featured were [[Airfix]], [[Plasticine]], [[Meccano]], [[Scalextric]], [[Lego]] and [[Hornby Railways|Hornby]]. In each show, May attempts to take each toy to its limits, also fulfilling several of his boyhood dreams in the process. In August 2009, May built a full-sized house out of Lego at [[Denbies Wine Estate]] in Surrey.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/surrey/8179678.stm |title=UK &#124; May starts building Lego house |publisher=BBC News |date=1 August 2009 |accessdate=5 November 2009}}</ref> Plans for Legoland to move it to their theme park fell through in September 2009 because costs to deconstruct, move and then rebuild were too high<ref>''Radio Times'' 24–30 October 2009</ref> and despite a final Facebook appeal for someone to take it, it was demolished on 22 September, with the plastic bricks planned to be donated to charity.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8269479.stm |title=Entertainment &#124; James May's Lego house demolished |publisher=BBC News |date=22 September 2009 |accessdate=5 November 2009}}</ref> Also for the series, he recreated the banked track at [[Brooklands]] using Scalextric track,<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/surrey/8187656.stm May to attempt Scalextric record], BBC News, 7 August 2009. Retrieved 9 August 2009</ref> and an attempt at the world's longest working model railway along the [[Tarka Trail]] between [[Barnstaple]] and [[Bideford]] in North Devon, although the attempt was foiled due to parts of the track being stolen and vandals placing coins on the track, causing a short circuit.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/8219567.stm|title=Model train record bid off track|date=25 August 2009|work=[[BBC Online]]|accessdate=29 December 2013}}</ref> In December 2012 aired a special Christmas Episode called ''Flight Club'', where James and his team built a huge toy glider that flew 22 miles (35&nbsp;km) from Devon to the island of [[Lundy]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01pmbmx |title=BBC Two James May's Toy Stories: Flight Club |publisher=BBC |accessdate=25 January 2013}}</ref> In 2013, May created a life-size, fully functional motorcycle and sidecar made entirely out of the construction toy Meccano. Joined by [[Oz Clarke]], he then completed a full lap of the Isle of Man TT Course, a full {{fraction|37|3|4}} mile-long circuit. ===Oz and James=== {{main|Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure|Oz and James Drink to Britain}} In late 2006, the BBC broadcast ''Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure'', a series in which May, a committed [[bitter (beer)|bitter]] drinker, travelled around France with wine expert [[Oz Clarke]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/tv_and_radio/wineadventure_about.shtml |title=Food – TV and radio – Episode guide |publisher=BBC |accessdate=5 November 2009}}</ref> A second series was broadcast in late 2007, this time with May and Clarke in the Californian wine country,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/tv_and_radio/wineadventure_interviewjames.shtml |title=Food – TV and Radio |publisher=BBC |accessdate=5 November 2009}}</ref> and was followed by a third series in 2009 called ''Oz and James Drink to Britain''. ==Internet presence== 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. May still produces videos on this channel (as of 2018).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/top-gear/11501377/Top-Gear-presenter-James-May-posts-first-video-on-unemployment-YouTube-channel.html|title=Top Gear presenter James May posts first video on 'unemployment' YouTube channel|date=28 March 2015|work=[[The Independent]]|accessdate=18 April 2015}}</ref> May created Head Squeeze<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/worldwide/310113youtube.html|title=James May fronts BBC Worldwide's latest original YouTube channel – Head Squeeze|date=31 January 2013|publisher=BBC|accessdate=29 April 2013}}</ref> (now renamed "BBC Earth Lab"; May no longer features as a presenter). The channel is a mix of science, technology, history and current affairs. The first video was published in December 2012. Videos are produced by 360 Production<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.360production.com/project2.html|title=Head Squeeze – YouTube|publisher=360production.com|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140224080446/http://www.360production.com/project2.html|archivedate=24 February 2014|url-status=dead|accessdate=11 December 2013}}</ref> for [[BBC Worldwide]]. In 2016 May launched, with his former Top Gear presenters, a [[Social networking service|social network]] for motoring fans called [[DriveTribe]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/09/06/motoring-community-drivetribe-secures-6-5m-from-21st-century-fox/|title=Motoring community DriveTribe secures $6.5M from 21st Century Fox|last=Butcher|first=Mike|website=TechCrunch|access-date=25 April 2017}}</ref> ==Personal life== May lives in [[Hammersmith]], [[west London (sub region)|West London]], with dance critic Sarah Frater, with whom he has been in a relationship since 2000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://transmission.blogs.topgear.com/2011/01/23/video-behind-the-scenes-at-the-first-of-the-new-series/ |title=Transmission – BBC Top Gear Video: behind-the-scenes at the first of the new series « |publisher=Transmission.blogs.topgear.com |date=23 January 2011 |accessdate=26 November 2011}}</ref> In July 2010 May was awarded an honorary doctorate by [[Lancaster University]], where he had previously studied Music.<ref>{{cite news|title=Top Gear presenter James May awarded honorary doctorate|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-lancashire-10649036|publisher=BBC|accessdate=3 August 2015|date=15 July 2010}}</ref> He holds a [[Doctor of Letters]] degree.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://drivetribe.com/p/james-may-answers-the-internets-WL9EwdwnSg2AnI3L-7VUAw |title=James May answers the internet's questions |date=12 May 2019 |accessdate=12 May 2019}}</ref> In August 2014, May was one of 200 public figures who signed to a letter to ''[[The Guardian]]'' opposing Scottish independence in September's [[2014 Scottish independence referendum|referendum on that issue]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/aug/07/celebrities-open-letter-scotland-independence-full-text |title=Celebrities' open letter to Scotland – full text and list of signatories |work=The Guardian |location=London |date=7 August 2014 |accessdate=26 August 2014}}</ref> In June 2016 he supported Remain in the EU referendum.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/16/jeremy-clarkson-david-cameron-my-gut-says-stay-in-the-eu|title=Jeremy Clarkson tells David Cameron 'my gut says stay in the EU'|date=16 June 2016|work=[[TheGuardian.com]]|publisher=The Guardian|accessdate=9 December 2017}}</ref> ===Vehicles=== May has owned many cars including a 2005 [[Saab 9-5#First generation (YS3E, 1997–2010)|Saab 9-5 Aero]], [[Bentley T-series|Bentley T2]], [[Rolls-Royce Phantom]], [[Triumph 2000]], [[Rover P6]], [[Alfa Romeo 164]], 1971 [[Rolls-Royce Corniche]], [[Jaguar XJS]], 1992 [[Range Rover Classic|Range Rover]] Classic Vogue, [[Fiat Panda#Second generation (2003–2012)|Fiat Panda]], [[Nissan Sunny#B210 (1973–1977)|Datsun 120Y]], [[Vauxhall Cavalier#Mark I (1975–1981)|Vauxhall Cavalier Mk1]], [[Ferrari F430]], [[Ferrari 458 Italia]], 1984 [[Porsche 930|Porsche 911]], 2005 [[Porsche Boxster/Cayman#Second generation: 987 (2004–2012)|Porsche Boxster S]] (which he claims is the first car he has ever purchased new).<ref>{{cite news|last=May |first=James |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/main.jhtml?xml=/motoring/2005/10/22/mrmay22.xml |title=As seen on TV: Porsche breaks the spell of perfection |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=22 October 2005 |accessdate=5 November 2009 | location=London}}</ref> May currently owns a [[Ferrari 308 GTB/GTS|Ferrari 308 GTB]], a 2009 [[Porsche 997#Second generation (2009-2012)|Porsche 911 Carrera S facelift]], a 2014 [[BMW i3]], a 2018 [[Alpine A110 (2017)|Alpine A110]], a 2019 [[Tesla Model S|Tesla Model S P100D]] and a 2015 [[Ferrari 458 Speciale]] which he ordered following his exit from ''Top Gear''. He often uses a [[Brompton Bicycle|Brompton folding bicycle]] for commuting.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/2739714/Mines-a-pint-a-preposterous-excuse-for-a-Porsche.html|title=Mine's a pint: a preposterous excuse for a Porsche|date=3 February 2006|work=The Daily Telegraph|accessdate=21 March 2009|quote=James May with his Brompton bike | location=London}}</ref> He passed his driving test on his second attempt and justified this by saying "All the best people pass the second time".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uktv.co.uk/dave/item/aid/570303 |title=Dave: What's on Dave: James May interview |publisher=Uktv.co.uk |date=29 March 2007 |accessdate=5 November 2009}}</ref> May obtained a [[Light aircraft pilot licence|light aircraft pilot's licence]] in October 2006, having trained at [[White Waltham Airfield]]. He has owned a [[Luscombe 8#Specifications: Model 8A (Silvaire)|Luscombe 8A 'Silvaire']], a [[Cessna 185 Skywagon|Cessna A185E Skywagon]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Incident Cessna A185E Skywagon - SE-FMX, 05 April 2014 |url=https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=179976 |website=Aviation Safety Network - Flight Safety Foundation |accessdate=14 August 2019}}</ref>, and an [[American Champion Decathlon|American Champion 8KCAB Super Decathlon]] with registration G-OCOK.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/G-OCOK.html |title=Aircraft G-OCOK, 1999 American Champion Aircraft 8KCAB C/N 825-99 |publisher=Airport-data.com |date=13 June 2008 |accessdate=2 September 2013}}</ref> ==Filmography== ===Television=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year !! Title !! Role |- | 1999 || ''[[Top Gear (1977 TV series)|Top Gear (original run)]]'' || rowspan=13|Presenter |- | 2003–2015 || ''[[Top Gear (2002 TV series)|Top Gear]]'' |- | 2005 || ''[[James May's Top Toys]]'' |- | 2006–2007 || ''[[Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure]]'' |- | rowspan="3" | 2007 || ''[[Top Gear of the Pops]]'' |- |''[[James May's 20th Century]]'' |- |''[[James May: My Sisters' Top Toys]]'' |- | rowspan="2" | 2008 || ''[[Top Ground Gear Force]]'' |- |''[[James May's Big Ideas]]'' |- | rowspan="3" | 2009 || ''[[Oz and James Drink to Britain]]'' |- |''[[James May on the Moon]]'' |- |''[[James May at the Edge of Space]]'' |- | 2009–2014 || ''[[James May's Toy Stories]]'' |- | 2010 || ''[[Shooting Stars (TV series)|Shooting Stars]]'' || Guest |- | 2010–2013 || ''[[James May's Man Lab]]'' || rowspan=3|Presenter |- | 2011–2012 || ''[[James May's Things You Need To Know]]'' |- | 2014–2016 || ''[[James May's Cars of the People]]'' |- | 2014 || ''[[Phineas and Ferb]]'' || Ian |- | 2015 || ''Building Cars Live'' || rowspan=5|Presenter |- | 2016–2017 ||''[[James May: The Reassembler]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b076nwjz|title=Series 1, James May: The Reassembler - BBC Four|website=BBC|accessdate=13 February 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b086t743|title=BBC Four - James May: The Reassembler|website=BBC|accessdate=13 February 2019}}</ref><ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/09/06/james-may-to-reassemble-kenwood-food-mixer-in-new-bbc-slow-tv-se/ James May to reassemble Kenwood food mixer in new BBC 'Slow TV' series] 6 September 2016</ref>'' |- | 2016–present ||''[[The Grand Tour]]'' |- |rowspan=2|2019 ||''James May's Big Trouble in Model Britain'' |- |''Our Man In...Japan'' |} ===DVD=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Title !! Label |- | 2006 |''Oz & James' Big Wine Adventure: Series One''|| Acorn Media |- | 2006 |''James May's Motormania Car Quiz''|| DMD |- | 2007 |''James May's 20th Century: The Complete Series''|| ITV |- | 2008 |''Oz & James' Big Wine Adventure: Series Two''|| Acorn Media |- | 2009 |''James May's Big Ideas: The Complete Series''|| DMD |- | 2009 |''James May on the Moon''|| BBC DVD |- | 2009 |''James May's Amazing Brain Trainer''|| DMD |- | 2009 |''James May's Toy Stories: The Complete Series''|| Channel 4 |- | 2009 |''Oz and James Drink to Britain''|| Acorn Media |- | 2010 |''Top Gear: Apocalypse''|| BBC DVD |- | 2011 |''James May's Man Lab: Series One''|| Acorn Media |- | 2011 |''Top Gear: At The Movies''|| BBC DVD |- | 2012 |''James May's Man Lab: Series Two''|| Acorn Media |- | 2012 |''Top Gear: Worst Car in the History of the World''|| BBC DVD |- | 2013 |''James May's Man Lab: Series Three''|| Acorn Media |- | 2013 |''James May's Toy Stories: Balsa Wood Glider/Great Train Race''|| Channel 4 |- | 2014 |''James May's Toy Stories: The Motorcycle Diaries''|| Channel 4 |- | 2014 |''James May's Toy Stories: Action Man at the Speed of Sound''|| Channel 4 |- | 2016 |''James May: The Reassembler: Series One''|| Spirit Entertainment Limited |- | 2017 |''James May: The Reassembler: Series Two''|| Spirit Entertainment Limited |} ===Video games=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Title !! Developer !! Role |- | 2013 |''[[Forza Motorsport 5]]''||[[Turn 10 Studios]]|| Voice over |- | 2013 |''[[Gran Turismo 6]]''||[[Polyphony Digital]]|| Voice over |- | 2015 |''[[Forza Motorsport 6]]''||[[Turn 10 Studios]]|| Voice over |- | 2019 |''[[The Grand Tour Game]]'' || [[Amazon Game Studios]] || Voice over |} === Television advertisements === {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Title !Role |- |2010 |[[London Pride (beer)|London Pride]] |Himself |- |2015 |[[The Tank Museum]] |Himself |} ==Bibliography== * ''May on Motors: On the Road with James May.'' Virgin Books. 2006. Reprinted 2007. {{ISBN|9780753511862}} * ''Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure.'' BBC Books. 2006. {{ISBN|9780563539001}} * ''Notes from the Hard Shoulder.'' Virgin Books. 2007. {{ISBN|9780753512029}} * ''James May's 20th Century.'' Hodder & Stoughton. 2007 (H/B). Reprinted 2007 (P/B). {{ISBN|9780340950906}} * ''James May's Magnificent Machines.'' Hodder & Stoughton. 2008. {{ISBN|9780340950920}} * ''Oz and James Drink to Britain.'' Pavilion (Anova). 2009. {{ISBN|9781862058460}} * ''James May's Car Fever.'' Hodder & Stoughton. 2009 (H/B). Reprinted 2010 (P/B). {{ISBN|9780340994559}} * ''James May's Toy Stories.'' Conway (Anova). 2009. {{ISBN|9781844861071}} * ''James May's Toy Stories: Lego House.'' Conway (Anova). 2010. {{ISBN|9781844861187}} * ''James May's Toy Stories: Airfix Handbook.'' Conway (Anova). 2010. {{ISBN|9781844861163}} * ''James May's Toy Stories: Scalextric Handbook.'' Conway (Anova). 2010. {{ISBN|9781844861170}} * ''How to Land an A330 Airbus.'' Hodder & Stoughton. 2010 (H/B). Reprinted 2011 (P/B). {{ISBN|9781402269554}} * ''James May's Man Lab: The Book of Usefulness.'' Hodder & Stoughton. 2011 (H/B). Reprinted 2012 (P/B) {{ISBN|9781444736328}} * ''James May: On Board.'' Hodder & Stoughton. 2012. {{ISBN|9780340994597}} * ''James May: The Reassembler.'' Hodder & Stoughton. 2017. {{ISBN|9781473656932}} ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== * {{IMDb name|id=0561982|name=James May}} {{s-start}} {{succession box | before = [[David Tremayne]] | title = Guild of Motoring Writers<br />Journalist of the Year Award | years=2000 | after=[[David Tremayne]]}} {{s-end}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:May, James}} [[Category:1963 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:English television presenters]] [[Category:People from Bristol]] [[Category:English writers]] [[Category:Alumni of Lancaster University]] [[Category:British motoring journalists]] [[Category:BBC people]] [[Category:English male journalists]] [[Category:English male non-fiction writers]] [[Category:People from the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham|Category:People from Hammersmith and Fulham]] [[Category:Daily Telegraph journalists]] [[Category:People from Hammersmith]] [[Category:English musicians]] [[Category:Top Gear people]] [[Category:Britcar 24-hour drivers]]'