From track-side heroics to farm-side hijinks, the presenters behind The Grand Tour, Top Gear, and Wheeler Dealers have shaped car TV for two decades. This behind-the-scenes guide explores what they’re working on now, how their craft translates to screen, and the techniques and tools that make the magic possible—plus a look at The Stig’s enduring mystique.
Clarkson, Hammond, May: current projects, farm show tie-ins, books, and tours
Jeremy Clarkson
Jeremy Clarkson remains a fixture on Prime Video with Clarkson’s Farm, the hit docu-comedy following his Cotswolds venture, Diddly Squat Farm. The series blends genuine agricultural challenges with Clarkson’s familiar wit—and it has grown into a small rural ecosystem in its own right.
Notable tie-ins and projects:
- Diddly Squat Farm Shop: A real shop selling farm produce, hot food, and cheeky merch. Expect queues on busy weekends and seasonal specials.
- Hawkstone: A beer and cider brand borne from local barley and apples, created with a partner brewery. Tasting events and pop-ups often coincide with show releases.
- Books and columns: Clarkson continues to publish collections of essays and write newspaper columns. “Diddly Squat” titles spin farm-season escapades into short, punchy reads.
- Live appearances: Occasional Q&A events and festival chats; keep an eye on agricultural shows and UK literary festivals around new-season launches.
Richard Hammond
Richard Hammond has turned his lifelong love of fixing and fettling into Richard Hammond’s Workshop, following The Smallest Cog—his classic-car restoration business. It’s a grounded counterpoint to big-budget road films, showing the realities of budgets, client expectations, and workshop bottlenecks.
Where to look:
- The Smallest Cog: Restorations, recommissions, and sympathetic upgrades. The series often doubles as a masterclass in customer communication and scope control.
- Side projects: Hammond frequently fronts engineering and history specials; he’s also dipped into podcasting and short-form social content featuring workshop tips and test drives.
James May
James May’s travelogue series—Our Man In…—takes his wry perspective on the road. After Japan and Italy, he continued with India, blending food, transit, culture, and a bit of vehicular chaos.
Additional threads:
- Oh Cook!: A lighthearted cooking show and cookbook that channels May’s methodical approach into kitchen basics and clever workarounds.
- Columns and books: May regularly writes about motoring culture, design, and the joy of small, well-made things—think tools, bikes, and efficient city cars.
Chris Harris’ best reviews: driving technique takeaways and car control tips
Chris Harris earned his BBC Top Gear stripes by bringing track-grade analysis to mainstream TV. His takeaways are invaluable whether you’re chasing lap times or just want to drive more smoothly.
What Harris models on screen
- Honesty over hype: He’ll praise brake feel and throttle mapping as quickly as he’ll call out numb steering, dicey damping, or inconsistent tires.
- Repeatable tests: Same corners, same references, and controlled conditions help decode what a car actually does—beyond marketing.
- Respect for physics: Weight transfer, tire load, and temperature windows get as much airtime as horsepower.
Practical driving tips inspired by Harris
- Vision and planning: Look long—two to three corners ahead on track, much further than the car in front on the road. Your hands follow your eyes.
- Brake with purpose: Strong, straight-line braking, then trail off as you turn to keep weight over the front axle. It sharpens turn-in and preserves grip.
- Balance on the throttle: Feed power in as the steering angle unwinds. Too much too early = understeer; too much too late = lost time.
- Be smooth, not slow: The car should never look surprised. Clean inputs keep the tire in its happy slip-angle window.
- Learn your tires: Pressures, temps, and construction change everything. Adjust pace and expectations with weather and surface.
Iconic Harris-style segments worth revisiting
- Lightweight track specials and analog heroes (GT3s, CSRs, heritage rally reps)
- Mid-engine supercars where traction and balance are on a knife edge
- Wet-lap masterclasses that show how confidence, patience, and throttle finesse unlock pace
Mike Brewer and Marc “Elvis” Priestley: workshop tips, tools, and sourcing secrets
Wheeler Dealers works because it marries Mike Brewer’s deal-making and storytelling with a mechanic’s meticulous craft. Marc “Elvis” Priestley—ex-McLaren F1—brings race-team precision to the show’s modern era.
Workshop habits that pay off
- Diagnose before you disassemble: Scan for codes, then confirm mechanically. A smoke machine, multimeter, and borescope can save hours.
- Build a checklist: Fluids, filters, belts, bushings, brakes, tires, alignment. Even “mint” cars improve with fundamentals.
- Torque and tolerance: Calibrated torque wrenches and manufacturer specs keep restorations safe and repeatable.
- Refurbish over replace: Blasting, zinc plating, powder coating, and bushing refreshes salvage original parts and preserve authenticity.
- Test drives with intent: Shakedown loops that include rough surfaces, tight turns, and steady-state cruising reveal hidden issues.
Tools that earn their keep
- Diagnostic stack: OBD2 scanners with live data, smoke machine for vacuum/EVAP leaks, compression/leak-down testers.
- Fabrication basics: Press, bearing pullers, heat gun/induction heater, good soldering gear, brake flaring tools.
- Clean-room mindset: Magnetic trays, bag-and-tag fasteners, parts diagrams, and photos. Documentation is resale gold.
Sourcing secrets Mike and Elvis often echo
- Owners’ clubs and forums: The best parts cross-references and trusted vendor lists live with enthusiasts.
- Breakers and classifieds: Hard-to-find trim and period-correct wheels are more likely here than at big-box retailers.
- Quality over false economy: Genuine or OEM-equivalent for safety-critical parts (brakes, steering, suspension).
- Region matters: Rust, sun, and humidity dictate what’s worth saving and what to walk away from.
Edd China and Ant Anstead era comparison: wrenching styles, key episodes, best flips
Two beloved Wheeler Dealers eras highlight different strengths: Edd China’s methodical, long-form fixes and Ant Anstead’s fabrication-forward, US-based seasons.
Styles and screen craft
- Edd China (early UK era):
- Deep dives: Full engine-outs, IMS bearing jobs, gearbox rebuilds—filmed to teach.
- OEM ethos: Keep it original where possible; explain the “why” behind every fix.
- Pace: Slower segments, more time on the bench and under the car.
- Ant Anstead (US-era seasons):
- Fabrication flair: Welding, custom brackets, sympathetic upgrades to improve drivability.
- Parts availability: Tapping the vast US aftermarket to accelerate builds.
- Story cadence: Faster edits, more on-road footage, and client-focused reveals.
Episode types that showcase each
- Edd standouts:
- Classic Euro icons and quirky engineering: air-cooleds, hydropneumatics, oddball British/Italian coupes.
- High-mile modern classics rescued with big mechanical jobs.
- Ant highlights:
- JDM favorites and US muscle with tasteful mods for reliability.
- 4×4 and overland builds where fabrication and parts-hunting shine.
“Best flips” criteria beyond profit
- Mechanical redemption: Cars saved from the brink with thoughtful fixes.
- Provenance and paperwork: History sells; so do detailed parts lists and photo logs.
- Driveability upgrades: Better cooling, brakes, and suspension geometry elevate the result.
- Visual restraint: Period-correct wheels, paint correction, and interior refresh over loud body kits.
Pro tip for viewers replicating a build:
- Choose the right starting car. A cleaner shell with a healthy drivetrain will almost always beat a cheap “project” that needs everything.
The Stig mythos: driver history, fastest laps, and best Stig moments
The Stig is Top Gear’s silent talisman—part test driver, part folklore. The character has been portrayed by multiple professional racers over the years, keeping the mystery—and the lap times—alive.
Who is The Stig?
- Multiple eras: The original “Black Stig” (famously revealed as Perry McCarthy) gave way to the “White Stig,” later unmasked by Ben Collins after his memoir. For specific shoots and specials, others have donned the suit to maintain continuity and safety.
- Why the secrecy works: It focuses attention on the car, the track, and the lap—consistent lines, comparable weather when possible, and a disciplined approach to testing.
Power laps and what they tell you
- Controlled variables: Same track, reference tires where applicable, and repeatable markers mean viewers can triangulate performance across eras.
- Conditions matter: A damp or cold lap can make a monstrous hypercar look ordinary. Top Gear often notes if the track is “wet,” “damp,” or “green.”
- Among the legends: Featherweight track specials and aero monsters have sat near the top of the board; road-legal racers often outpace heavier GT cruisers.
Stig moments fans love
- Wet-weather wizardry: Countersteer at the limit through the Hammerhead without drama.
- Van, bus, and oddball tests: Extracting speed from machines that have no right to set a lap.
- Silent comedy: The walkaways, the helmet nods, the occasional “escape” from presenter shenanigans—character beats without breaking the mystique.
Production DNA: why these shows still click
Story above specs
Whether it’s a farm shop launch, a cross-country road trip, or saving a tired classic, the strongest episodes weave technical detail into a human arc: stakes, setbacks, and a satisfying payoff.
The craft viewers can apply
- Prep like a pro: Checklists, parts in hand, contingency time, and a shakedown loop.
- Be transparent: Show the parts bill and the compromises; authenticity builds trust.
- Respect the platform: Upgrade for safety and reliability first, cosmetics second.
Where to watch and follow
- The Grand Tour and the presenters’ travel/cooking shows are on Prime Video (availability varies by country).
- Top Gear (modern BBC era) and Chris Harris segments air on BBC/streaming partners depending on region.
- Wheeler Dealers airs on Discovery-owned networks/streamers; check your local listings for current seasons.
FAQs
Are the presenters still doing live tours?
Large arena tours are rare today, but you’ll see them at festivals, launch events, book signings, and special Q&As around new seasons.
Can I visit Clarkson’s Farm?
Yes—when open. The Diddly Squat Farm Shop has public hours, but it can be extremely busy. Check official channels for opening times, parking, and local guidance.
What’s the best “first car” episode to watch from each show?
- The Grand Tour: Pick a big special with a clear challenge arc and diverse cars to get the tone.
- Top Gear (Harris era): A supercar review plus a team challenge episode shows both gears of the program.
- Wheeler Dealers: Choose a make/model you love; the format teaches best when you care about the car.
The bottom line
From Clarkson’s barley-to-bottle experiments to Harris’s apex-chasing precision and Wheeler Dealers’ restorations, the presenters blend entertainment with genuine craft. If you’re binging episodes or wrenching in your garage, use their best habits—clear planning, honest testing, and respect for the machine—and you’ll get further, faster, and have more fun along the way.
