James May on the global success of Top Gear, the end of The Grand Tour and more | Ti podcast 200

Dan Prosser and Andrew Frankel are joined in the studio by the wonderful James May. The Top Gear host turned Grand Tour presenter talks about his early career working for car magazines, how he got his break in television, the extraordinary global success of Top Gear and what the secret to that success was.

James also explains what it was like to drive across the Sahara desert in a Maserati for Sand Job, the latest Grand Tour special, and he shares his view on EVs and hydrogen fuel cells. He also talks about his Ferrari 458 Speciale, Porsche 911 and the rest of his eclectic car collection.

#jamesmay #topgear #thegrandtour

1:30 James's early career
6:03 Getting fired from Autocar magazine
13:13 Writing for Car magazine
20:35 Getting started in television
21:45 Top Gear
45:00 The Grand Tour
58:20 Electric cars and hydrogen fuel cells
1:19:48 James's cars

This is episode 200 of The Intercooler podcast, available wherever you get your podcasts.

[andrewiwm]

I sees James May, I click… definitely need a part two

[DrZog]

James May should guest on more podcasts. Saw this and immediately wanted to watch this podcast for the first time ever.

[mitchellclark]

Growing up is realizing James may is actually the best

[kernowchris]

The Vietnam Special will always be one of my Favs. I never cared for how fast a six figure car goes from 0-60 but I loved the Road Trips and the Car vs Boat/Plane/Train challenges.

[notsomalicious]

Thank you James, Jeremy and Hammond for providing so many laughs throughout my childhood up until current day.

[tomernst]

Can´t get enough of James May.
Top Gear was my reason to properly learn English, as the german translation was utterly hopeless and the news were cut out.
I owe them a lot.

[tdtm]

I've been rejected loads. Listening to James talk about how many times he has had this is humbling. Top guy.

[Samdex]

James's voice is so cathartic, could listen to him for hours. They should put it on all public announcements and make audiobooks of it.

[zacharyhoman]

I feel like the trio is pretty much lined up exactly as three brothers in how their relationship works, Clarkson as the oldest, May in the middle, and Hammond as the youngest. There’s something specific about how the dynamic of 3 siblings plays out and the trio’s chemistry draws many parallels. Especially siblings who all have obviously different character traits and probably would not normally be friends outside of the bounds of being family and the loyalty, care, and love that comes from there being that thing that presupposes their individual relationships

[Spidouz]

Once they’re done doing the Gran Tour, I believe Richard, Jeremy and James should make a DriveTribe Podcast, just to hang out and talk about cars, current industry news and stuff… nothing formal like Top Gear, but just chillout like here. That would be awesome to watch and it would be easier schedule.

[budthecyborg]

It cannot be understated, Top Gear under Jeremy Clarkson is THE most popular serial television production in history.
To see anyone involved in such an operation maintain this level of humility is shockingly rare.

[paullamsc]

It is always a delight to listen to James May talking because he is so eloquent and well-spoken. He has a very unique way of sharing his thoughts that make even boring things very interesting!
The beach bug episode is actually on The Grand Tour first season, I just don't remember which episode.

[MrMarauder]

The OG Top Gear trio will be my childhoood and I’ll never forget them. I’m currently introducing my 6 year old daughter to Top Gear and she’s been hooked recently.

[StreetPreacherr]

The 'secret' is that they were all CAR JOURNALISTS before being 'cast' on the show, and their 'characters' were based on their real personalities... The other attempts all failed because they basically hired 'actors' and tried to impose characteristics onto them.

[davidacton]

I would like to personally thank James for agreeing to be available to do so many interviews. He must get sick of telling the same stories of his time climbing the journalism ladder, but he always talks as though he is telling it for the first time. He speaks as an honest, down to earth gentleman with none of the 'fanfare' that can mar teh stories of other personalities. While I have always enjoyed the team of Clarkson, Hammond and May, it is definitely James I would like to sit down with over a meal. Respect.

[cristofersaezvox]

This men is so humble.. he is so down to earth with all that fame and such a big figure that he is. probably my favorite of the trio because of that

[maximobrignardello]

For all of his TV shows and appearances in TV I'm not sure James realizes how interesting it to us hearing him debate about anything. He has such a way with words that he is the living expression of making history come alive

He is surprised how come there are no mainstream carshows nowadays, I'm surprised how little has he done any talk shows/podcast/radio because he is just THAT good.

I really really hope he does more of this, you can tell he has so much more in him to talk about

[peaktraveller]

Loved this podcast. Always a pleasure to listen to interesting, intelligent and thoughtful people who are also remarkably humble. James May is a great Intercooler guest.

[Yvolve]

30:07 "Fun with cars" is how Andy Wilman (executive producer and co-creator of "new" Top Gear and Grand Tour) summed it up in an interview with Ben Collins (Top Gear's second, but most famous Stig who wrote a book about it). Very interesting interview if you like Top Gear.

Collins also asked if Wilman regretted not putting in more technical info, to which he replied "judging by the viewing figures, no". People watched because of the banter and the jokes, cars were just a theme, as May put it. This is why it will never be repeated, in any format or with any theme. Grand Tour worked because it was them and Top Gear went down the drain because it wasn't them. If it was more technical, most people would've stopped watching.

It is not just them kind of disliking each other (mostly for show as they admit), but the genius comments, the pranks they think of, instantly knowing when the other is up to no good and helping them pull the prank off. All three are naturally funny and have a no care attitude (or blissful naivety in Hammonds case). This is probably why May wasn't fazed by being on tv. He never really seems impressed by anything, except fighter jets and technology.

[stotheh]

The original Cheap Car Challenge was brilliant in its simplicity, and made great telly. All got a bit out of hand. Those early runs were so good.