Richard Hammond
The perpetually curious and accident-prone 'Hamster' who became a global television star by making cars, science, and adventure wildly entertaining.
Born 1969 (age 57)·English journalist, television presenter, and author·Birthday: December 19·Generation X
Biography
Richard Hammond began his career in local radio, but his life shifted gears when he joined the reboot of BBC's 'Top Gear' in 2002. As the shortest and often most hapless of the presenting trio, Hammond carved out a role as the enthusiastic everyman, his genuine wonder and occasional terror making high-speed car reviews and outrageous challenges relatable to millions. His near-fatal jet car crash in 2006, which left him with serious brain injuries, only deepened the audience's connection to his resilience. After the 'Top Gear' era, he, Clarkson, and May built a new empire on Amazon with 'The Grand Tour,' continuing their global adventures. Beyond cars, Hammond has hosted numerous science and engineering shows, channeling his boyish fascination into explaining how the world works. His career is a testament to the power of authentic curiosity and the appeal of someone who loves the journey, even when it ends in a ditch.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Richard was born in 1969, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Richard Was Born
The biggest hits of 1969
#1 Movie
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Best Picture
Midnight Cowboy
#1 TV Show
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Richard's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1969Born
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1974Started school
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1982Became a teenager
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1985Could drive
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1987Could vote
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1990Turned 21
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1999Turned 30
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2009Turned 40
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 50
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 57 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Co-hosted the internationally syndicated BBC motoring show 'Top Gear' from 2002 to 2015, dramatically increasing its global popularity.
- Co-created and co-hosted the Amazon Prime motoring series 'The Grand Tour' with Jeremy Clarkson and James May from 2016 to 2024.
- Authored multiple books, including best-selling autobiographies and children's books on science and vehicles.
- Hosted documentary series like 'Engineering Connections' and 'The Great Escapists,' exploring science and invention.
Did You Know?
He is an avid pilot and owns several aircraft, including a vintage WWII training plane.
His nickname 'The Hamster' originated from a remark about his resemblance to a hamster by a radio producer early in his career.
He holds a Guinness World Record for the longest continuous drift in a car, set on 'Top Gear' in 2014.
“I'm not a presenter, I'm a bloke who happens to be on telly.”
