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.
Known For
Top Gear - Planes, Trains and Automobiles
2019
Top Gear: Winter Blunderland
2018
Top Gear: The Best of the Specials
James May
2017
James May's Cars of the People
2015
Top Gear: Greatest Hits
Himself
2015
Top Gear: Patagonia Special
2015
Top Gear: The Burma Special
Himself
2014
Top Gear Festival: Sydney
Self - Presenter
2013
Top Gear: The Great African Adventure
Himself
2013
Top Gear: The Worst Car In the History of the World
Self
2012
Top Gear: Supercars Across Italy
Himself
2012
Top Gear: The Challenges 6
2012
Top Gear: India Special
Himself
2011
A Night with the Stars
Self
2011
Top Gear: At the Movies
Himself
2011
Top Gear: The Challenges 5
Himself
2011
Top Gear: Cars with Soul
Himself
2011
Top Gear: The U.S. Special
Himself
2011
Top Gear: Middle East Special
Himself
2010
Top Gear: Apocalypse
Himself
2010
Top Gear: The Challenges 4
2010
Top Gear: Romania Special
Himself
2010
Top Gear: South America Special
2009
James May on the Moon
Himself - Presenter
2009
James May at the Edge of Space
Himself
2009
Top Gear: The Challenges 3
2009
Top Gear: The Great Adventures 2
2009
Top Gear: Vietnam Special
2008
Top Ground Gear Force
2008
Top Gear: The Great Adventures Vol. 1
2008
Top Gear - Planes, Rockets & Automobiles
Presenter
2008
Top Gear: The Challenges 2
Himself
2008
James May: My Sisters' Top Toys
Himself - Presenter
2007
Top Gear: Botswana Special
Himself
2007
Top Gear: Polar Special
himself
2007
Top Gear - Best of the Challenges
2007
Top Gear of the Pops
Self
2007
Top Gear: The Challenges
Himself
2007
James May's Toy Stories - Airfix
Self - Presenter
The Not Very Grand Tour
Self · (4 episodes)
2025
James May's Great Explorers
James May · (3 episodes)
2025
James May and the Dull Men
Self - Host · (8 episodes)
2024
Joan Rivers at the BBC
Self (archive footage)
2024
Top Gear: A Tribute to Sabine Schmitz
Himself
2021
James May: Oh Cook!
Self · (14 episodes)
2020
James May: Our Man in…
Self · (15 episodes)
2020
Al Murray's Great British Pub Quiz
Team Captain · (2 episodes)
2019
James May's Big Trouble in Model Britain
Self - Presenter · (2 episodes)
2019
Top Gear from A - Z: The Ultimate Extended Edition
self
2016
The Grand Tour
Self - Host · (45 episodes)
2016
James May: The Reassembler
Presenter · (7 episodes)
2016
James May's Build a Car in 24 Hours
Host · (3 episodes)
2016
Top Gear: The Races
Self · (7 episodes)
2016
Top Gear: Ambitious But Rubbish
(8 episodes)
2015
Top Gear: The Big Send Off Special
2015
Top Gear: Australian Road Trip
Himself
2015
James May's Cars of the People
Self - Presenter · (6 episodes)
2014
Dara O Briain's Science Club
Himself · (1 episode)
2012
Top Gear: Top Fails
Self · (2 episodes)
2012
A Night with the Stars
Participant · (1 episode)
2011
James May's Things You Need To Know
Himself - Presenter · (9 episodes)
2011
James May's Man Lab
(12 episodes)
2010
James May's Toy Stories
Himself - Host · (6 episodes)
2009
Oz & James Drink to Britain
Himself - Presenter · (8 episodes)
2009
James May's Big Ideas
Self - Presenter · (3 episodes)
2008
James May's 20th Century
Himself - Presenter · (6 episodes)
2007
The Graham Norton Show
Self · (1 episode)
2007
Top Gear: US Special
Self
2007
Oz & James's Big Wine Adventure
(13 episodes)
2006
Top Gear: The Races
Himself
2006
The One Show
Self · (1 episode)
2006
Top Gear: Winter Olympics
Himself
2006
Top Gear: Supercars
Presenter
2006
Petrolheads
(1 episode)
2006
James May's Top Toys
Himself - Presenter
2005
The F Word
(1 episode)
2005
Top Gear: Revved Up
Himself
2005
Top Gear
Self - Host · (161 episodes)
2002
Driven
Self - Host · (8 episodes)
1998
Shooting Stars
Self · (1 episode)
1993
Have I Got News for You
Self - Panellist · (1 episode)
1990
This Morning
Self · (1 episode)
1988
Have I Got a Bit More News for You
Self - Panellist · (3 episodes)
Have I Got News for You
Self · (2 episodes)
1990
Top of the Pops
Self - Host · (1 episode)
1964