Biography - James May

Who is James May?

James May is a TV presenter by profession and British by nationality. He is best known for hosting the hit show Top Gear.

James May – Age, Parents, Siblings

James May was born on 16 January 1963 in Bristol, England. His birth name/full name is James Daniel May. He is one of the four children of her mother Kathleen May and father James May Sr. His sister’s names are Sarah May and Jane May while his brother’s name is still under wraps.

According to James May, he did not grow up in one part of England but moved all over. James May had shared, “I moved all over Britain. Home life was very happy. We all had food and shoes,” 

Since he was a young boy he loved music, vehicles, and machinery.

At the age of 18, he got his first car which was an Mk1 Vauxhall Cavalier. He said that he got it because his father used to run a factory and had many for their sales.

May recalls:

“This was in the days when companies used to buy cars for staff, rather than doing all these leasing things that they do now. When they got to about 98,000 miles they sold them off, and they had become pretty worthless by then so he simply bought one of them and gave it to me. Technically it was my dad’s car, I did drive it on his insurance. I ran it until it got a bit daggy, so I sold it.. and then he got my another one!”

Education, Ethnicity

James May attended Caerleon Endowed Junior School, Oakwood Comprehensive School, and later joined Pendle College, Lancaster University where he studied Bachelor of Music, specializing in harpsichord and piano.

His ethnicity is English.

James May – Girlfriend, Wife, Children, Divorce

James May is not a married man but is in a relationship. He lives in Hammersmith in west London with his longtime girlfriend Sarah Frater. Frater is a dance critic and they have been together since 2000.

The couple has not had any children as of yet. Since they have never married, divorce is out of context.

Related: David Muir - Journalist, Anchor at World News Tonight with David Muir 

James May – Career

Early Days

James May started his career as a young Journalist and wrote for Autocar magazine in the early 1980s. By 1992, he was already in the post of sub-editor. But at the end of 1992, he was fired! 

He had been putting a hidden message in the featured article reading "SO YOU THINK IT'S REALLY GOOD, YEAH? YOU SHOULD TRY MAKING THE BLOODY THING UP. IT'S A REAL PAIN IN THE ARSE"

After he was fired from Autocar, he became a writer for publications such as Car Magazine, Top Gear magazine, and The Daily Telegraph.

Related: Jason Bradbury - TV host - host of The Gadget Show 

TV host

James May has also presented many shows over the years such as Inside Killer Sharks, James May's 20th Century, James May's Big Ideas, James May's Man Lab, To Space & Back (2013), James May at the Edge of Space, James May on the Moon, Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure, Oz and James Drink to Britain.

James May then became a co-presenter for Top Gear in 1999. Later in 2003, he again became a co-presenter for the show along with Richard Hammond and Jeremy Clarkson. On March 25, 2015, BBC did not renew Clarkson’s contract with Top Gear.

He is currently a co-presenter of Amazon Prime’s The Grand Tour along with Clarkson and Hammond. 

In October 2006, he obtained a light aircraft pilot's license after training at White Waltham Airfield. 

Related: Jenna Bush Hager - TV host, host of Today Show 

James May – Fancy cars

May has owned many luxury cars over the years.

His cars include 2009 Porsche 911 Carrera S facelift,  Jaguar XJS, 1992 Range Rover Classic Vogue,  2005 Saab 9-5 Aero, Bentley T2, Vauxhall Cavalier Mk1, 1984 Porsche 911, 2005 Porsche Boxster S,  Rolls-Royce Phantom,  Fiat Panda, Datsun 120YTriumph 2000, Ferrari F430, Rover P6, Alfa Romeo 164, Ferrari 458 Italia, 1971 Rolls-Royce Corniche.

Currently, he drives a BMW i3 and a 2014 Ferrari 458 Speciale. In November 2019, he bought yet another car and the announcement reached #1 trending on Twitter.

Related: Jill Wagner - Actress, Model, TV host

James May – Net Worth, Salary

The net worth and annual salary of May are estimated at $40 million and $25 million respectively.

James May – Instagram, Twitter, Facebook

On social media handles such as Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, James May is followed by millions of followers.

Related: List of TV host