James May (L) has recalled the ‘regrettable’ incident that led to his, Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond’s time on Top Gear coming to an end (Picture: PA)
James May has spoken about the ‘regrettable’ and ‘unfortunate’ Top Gear incident that led to Jeremy Clarkson being fired.
The 62-year-old presenter fronted Top Gear from 2003 until 2015 alongsideClarkson, 64, and Richard Hammond, 55, before they moved over to The Grand Tour on Amazon Prime.
Their time on Top Gear had come to an end after Clarkson was sacked by the BBC for an ‘unprovoked physical and verbal attack’ on a Top Gear producer.
He later apologised and agreed to pay damages, while May and Hammond followed Clarkson and quit the show soon after, saying they came as a ‘package’.
Talking about the ‘steak-gate’ incident and May, Clarkson and Hammond leaving Top Gear as a result, May has now said: ‘I thought it was very unfortunate and I don’t actually think our Top Gear had to end because of it.
Clarkson was sacked by the BBC after an ‘unprovoked physical and verbal attack’ on a Top Gear producer (Picture: Brian J Ritchie/Hotsauce/REX/Shu)
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
‘I think it could have been patched up and put down to a bit of high stress and flightiness, to be honest.
‘It happened. It’s regrettable and it’s unfortunate, but it didn’t need to lead to the collapse of something very successful.’
He went on to The Times: ‘Maybe these things are ordained and it was time for us to move on.
‘We had been doing it by then for a decade, I think, more. And I never imagined it would last as long.’
The trio fronted Top Gear from 2003 until 2015 (Picture: BBC Worldwide Limited)
‘Without being big-headed about it, we were Top Gear and we were one of the biggest TV shows in the world at the time,’ he added.
‘It was quite an intense environment and it’s not entirely surprising that it occasionally went off the rails. If we’d been AC/DC or Thin Lizzy, nobody would have been the slightest bit surprised.’
Following the trio leaving the show, Chris Evans and Matt LeBlanc took over as hosting, before Chris Harris, Freddie Flintoff and Paddy McGuinness.
Top Gear was most recently hosted by Freddie Flintoff, Paddy McGuinness and Chris Harris, but has been taken off air for the foreseeable future after Flintoff’s horror crash (Picture: Ashley Knotek/REX/Shutterstock)
However, Top Gear has since been taken off air for the foreseeable future after Flintoff suffered a horror crash and was airlifted to hospital and said to be ‘lucky to be alive’.
The pro cricket player suffered from life-changing severe facial injuries and broken ribs, and had been driving an open-topped car at a reportedly high speed of 130mph when it flipped and slid along the track.
Following the end of The Grand Tour last year, May said he thinks the time is right for a brand new motoring show because he, Clarkson and Hammond are ‘too old’.
He did however offer some hope about reuniting as a trio on another project, elsewhere saying: ‘I wouldn’t rule it out, but you do have to bear in mind that we’re all getting on a bit.’
Top Gear is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.