James Daniel May (born 16 January 1963) is a British television presenter and journalist. He is widely known for his years as a co-presenter of the motoring programme Top Gear alongside Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond from 2003 to 2015. As of 2016 he was a director of the production company W. Chump & Sons and scheduled to be presenting an Untitled Amazon motoring show for Amazon Video as an exclusive for Amazon Primecustomers, alongside his former Top Gear co-hosts.May has presented other programmes on themes including science and technology, toys, wine culture, and the plight of manliness in modern times. He wrote a weekly column for The Daily Telegraph’s motoring section from 2003 to 2011.May lives in Hammersmith, West London with dance critic Sarah Frater, with whom he has been in a relationship since 2000. In July 2010 May was awarded an honorary degree by Lancaster University, where he had previously studied music. In August 2014, May was one of 200 public figures who were signatories to a letter to The Guardian opposingScottish independence in the run-up to September’s referendum on that issue.
May has owned many cars: Saab 9-5 Aero, Bentley T2, Rolls-Royce Phantom, Triumph 2000, Rover P6, Alfa Romeo 164, 1971 Rolls-Royce Corniche, Jaguar XJS, Range Rover, Fiat Panda, Datsun 120Y, 2009 Porsche 911 Carrera S facelift,Vauxhall Cavalier Mk1, Ferrari F430, Ferrari 458, 1984 Porsche 911, 2005 Porsche Boxster S (which he claims is the first car he has ever purchased new),[43] Mini Cooper, Citroën Ami, Mazda MX-5, BMW i3, and several motorcycles including a Yamaha XJR1300, Moto Guzzi V11 Sport, a Triumph Daytona 675R and a 1978 Guzzi California. He has a penchant for prestige cars like Rolls-Royces and Bentleys, simple and basic cars such as the Fiat Panda, and motorcycles. As of July 2014, May has three registered automobiles: a Ferrari 458 Italia (“for special days”), a 1971 Rolls-Royce Corniche (“for collecting people from the airport”), and a 2014 BMW i3 (which replaced a 2007 Fiat Panda as his “daily driver”). He often uses a Brompton folding bicycle for commuting. He passed his driving test on his second attempt and justified this by saying “All the best people pass the second time”.May obtained a light aircraft pilot’s licence in October 2006 having trained at White Waltham Airfield. He has owned aLuscombe 8A ‘Silvaire’ and an American Champion 8KCAB Super Decathlon with registration G-OCOK. May also flew aCessna 182 against Jeremy Clarkson in a Bugatti Veyron from Alba to London for one of Top Gear races.