Jeremy Clarkson

Profile Overview

Jeremy Charles Robert Clarkson (born 11 April 1960) is an English television presenter, journalist, author and farmer who is best known for hosting the motoring television programmes Top Gear (2002–2015) and The Grand Tour (2016–2024) alongside Richard Hammond and James May. He hosts the quiz show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (2018–present) and its spin-off Millionaire Hot Seat (2026–present), and stars in the farming documentary series Clarkson's Farm (2021–present). In 2006, the British public ranked Clarkson number 19 in ITV's poll of TV's 50 Greatest Stars.
From a career as a local journalist in northern England, Clarkson rose to public prominence as a presenter of the original format of Top Gear from 1988 to 2000. Since the mid-1990s, he has become a recognised public personality, regularly appearing on British television presenting his own shows for the BBC and appearing as a guest on other shows. As well as motoring, Clarkson has produced programmes on subjects such as history and engineering; he has also written numerous books, primarily on cars. In 1998, he hosted the first series of Robot Wars. From 1998 to 2000, he also hosted his own talk show on BBC Two, entitled Clarkson.
In 2002 Clarkson, alongside producer Andy Wilman, devised the relaunched Top Gear, which he hosted alongside Richard Hammond, Jason Dawe and later James May. The revised show became the most widely-broadcast factual television show in the world. In 2015, the BBC elected not to renew his contract after he assaulted a Top Gear producer while filming on location. That year, Clarkson and his Top Gear co-presenters and Wilman formed the production company W. Chump & Sons to produce The Grand Tour for Amazon Prime Video.
Clarkson also writes weekly columns for The Sunday Times and The Sun. His opinionated but humorous tongue-in-cheek writing and presenting style has often been the subject of controversy. Clarkson's actions, both privately and as a television presenter, have also sometimes resulted in criticism from the media, politicians, pressure groups, and the public. He also has a significant public following, being credited as a major factor in the resurgence of Top Gear as one of the most popular shows on the BBC.
Since 2019, Clarkson has been a farmer at Diddly Squat Farm for his show, Clarkson's Farm. The show received a positive reception and became a popular show on Prime Video upon its release. In May 2024, the "Clarkson's clause" amendment, named after him, was introduced; this clause makes it easier to convert unused agricultural buildings to commercial usage, something he did in the second series of the show when planning permission for his restaurant was denied.