Richard Hammond is an award winning British television presenter best known for co-presenting Top Gear from 2002 onwards.
Earlier in his career he worked at Radio York and Radio Cumbria, and then moved onto various TV projects with various channels. Along with his work on Top Gear he has also presented Brainiac: Science Abuse on Sky One, and Should I Worry About...? for the BBC, together with Time Commanders. He also has a weekly motoring column in the Daily Mirror.
Originally from the West Midlands, in the mid 1980s Hammond moved with his family to the Yorkshire market town of Ripon. He now lives near Cheltenham with his wife and two young daughters. He also has three horses, four dogs, two cats, a rabbit and handful of chickens and sheep along with an eclectic collection of vehicles, including numerous Land Rovers, Porsches, and even a Dukes of Hazard style Charger (it isn't painted orange though...yet)!
In July 2005, Hammond won the dubious accolade of being voted number one in a Heat magazine poll of the top "weird celebrity crushes".
In 2006 Richard survived an horrendous crash whilst filming for Top Gear. He was attempting to create a new land speed record when his car blew a tyre. Many thought he would not return but he made a spectacular recovery and the film of the crash was part of the show broadcast in January 2007. Since then the programme has gone from strength to strength and even embarked on a world wide live tours.
Other TV projects include Brainiac on Sky1, Total Wipeout on BBC and Planet Earth Live.
Away from the camera, he has channelled his talents into the corporate market as well for such clients as Cisco Systems, Meguiars and Renault Sport to name but a few.