James May
Acting • Born 1963-01-16
Biography
James Daniel May (born 16 January 1963) is an English television presenter, journalist and writer. May is best known as co-presenter of the motoring programme Top Gear alongside Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond. May has presented a variety of other programmes on themes including science and technology, childhood toys, cars, food and drink, and the plight of manliness in modern times. In addition he has released a variety of DVDs and books with similar themes, and writes a weekly column for The Daily Telegraph's motoring section. On Top Gear, May has the nickname "Captain Slow", for his careful driving style, a love of small, underpowered cars and habit of getting lost and distracted whilst driving. In a February 2007 episode of Top Gear he carried out a successful top speed test drive of a Bugatti Veyron at the Ehra-Lessien Volkswagen test track, reaching 407 kilometres per hour (253 mph). In July 2010 he repeated the attempt in the updated Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, reaching the vehicle's top speed of 417.6 kilometres per hour (259.5 mph), confirming that it had retaken the title as the fastest road car in production.
Filmography
92 credits
James May at the Edge of Space
Movie • 2009
Himself
Top Gear of the Pops
Movie • 2007
Self
Top Gear: The Great Adventures Vol. 1
Movie • 2008
Top Gear: The Great Adventures 2
Movie • 2009
James May's Cars of the People
Movie • 2015
Top Gear: At the Movies
Movie • 2011
Himself
Top Gear: The Worst Car In the History of the World
Movie • 2012
Self
Top Gear: The Burma Special
Movie • 2014
Himself
Top Gear: The Great African Adventure
Movie • 2013
Himself
Top Gear: The Challenges
Movie • 2007
Himself
Top Gear Festival: Sydney
Movie • 2013
Self - Presenter
James May's Toy Stories - Airfix
Movie • 2009
Self - Presenter
Top Gear: The Challenges 3
Movie • 2009
Top Gear: Apocalypse
Movie • 2010
Himself
Top Gear: The Great Adventure 5
Movie • 2012
Himself
Top Gear: The Great Adventures 4
Movie • 2011
Himself
Top Gear: Polar Special
Movie • 2007
himself
Top Gear: The Challenges 4
Movie • 2010
Top Gear: The Challenges 5
Movie • 2011
Himself
Top Gear: The Challenges 6
Movie • 2012
Top Gear: Winter Olympics Special
Movie • 2006
Himself
James May: My Sisters' Top Toys
Movie • 2007
Himself - Presenter
Top Gear - Planes, Rockets & Automobiles
Movie • 2008
Presenter
James May on the Moon
Movie • 2009
Himself - Presenter
Top Gear: Cars with Soul
Movie • 2011
Himself
Top Gear: US Special
Movie • 2007
Self
Top Gear: Winter Blunderland
Movie • 2018
A Night with the Stars
Movie • 2011
Self
Top Gear: The Best of the Specials
Movie • 2017
James May
Top Gear: The Challenges 2
Movie • 2008
Himself
Top Gear: The Great Adventures 2
Movie • 2008
Self
Top Gear - Best of the Challenges
Movie • 2007
Top Gear: Patagonia Special
Movie • 2014
James May's Top Toys
Movie • 2005
Himself - Presenter
Top Gear - Planes, Trains and Automobiles
Movie • 2019
Top Gear: The Great Adventures 3
Movie • 2010
Top Ground Gear Force
Movie • 2008
Top Gear: Revved Up
Movie • 2005
Himself
Top Gear: Romania Special
Movie • 2010
Himself
Top Gear: The U.S. Special
Movie • 2011
Himself
Top Gear: Supercars Across Italy
Movie • 2012
Himself
Top Gear: Greatest Hits
Movie • 2015
Himself
Top Gear: Supercars
Movie • 2006
Presenter
Top Gear: The Big Send Off Special
Movie • 2015
Top Gear: A Tribute to Sabine Schmitz
Movie • 2021
Himself
Top Gear: The Races
Movie • 2006
Himself
Joan Rivers at the BBC
Movie • 2024
Self (archive footage)
Top Gear: Australian Road Trip
Movie • 2015
Himself
Top Gear: The Great Adventures 1
Movie • 2007
himself
Top Gear - Albania Special
Movie • 2011
self
The Interceptors
Movie • 2011
James Steed
Top Gear: From A-Z
Movie • 2015
Self (archive footage)
This Morning
TV • 1988
Self
Shooting Stars
TV • 1993
Self
The F Word
TV • 2005
Petrolheads
TV • 2006
James May's Build a Car in 24 Hours
TV • 2016
Host
Oz & James's Big Wine Adventure
TV • 2006
James May's 20th Century
TV • 2007
Himself - Presenter
James May's Big Ideas
TV • 2008
Self - Presenter
Al Murray's Great British Pub Quiz
TV • 2019
Team Captain
Oz & James Drink to Britain
TV • 2009
Himself - Presenter
James May's Things You Need To Know
TV • 2011
Himself - Presenter
James May's Man Lab
TV • 2010
Top Gear
TV • 2002
Self - Host
James May's Big Trouble in Model Britain
TV • 2019
Self - Presenter
James May's Cars of the People
TV • 2014
Self - Presenter
The Grand Tour
TV • 2016
Self - Host
James May: The Reassembler
TV • 2016
Presenter
James May's Toy Stories
TV • 2009
Himself - Host
Dara O Briain's Science Club
TV • 2012
Himself
Have I Got a Bit More News for You
TV
Self - Panellist
A Night with the Stars
TV • 2011
Participant
Top Gear: Top Fails
TV • 2012
Self
The Graham Norton Show
TV • 2007
Self
James May: Our Man in…
TV • 2020
Self
Top Gear: The Races
TV • 2016
Self
James May: Oh Cook!
TV • 2020
Self
Top Gear: Ambitious But Rubbish
TV • 2015
Driven
TV • 1998
Self - Host
James May and the Dull Men
TV • 2024
Self - Host
Top of the Pops
TV • 1964
Self - Host
Have I Got News for You
TV • 1990
Self
James May's Great Explorers
TV • 2025
James May
The Not Very Grand Tour
TV • 2025
Self
The One Show
TV • 2006
Self
Perfect Pub Walks
TV • 2024
Self
James May's Shed Load of Ideas
TV • 2025
Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure
TV • 2006
Oz and James Drink to Britain
TV • 2009
Top Gear From A-Z
TV • 2015
Self
Top Gear's Top 40
TV • 2011
James May