James May reveals the secret behind Top Gear's phenomenal global success

Former Top Gear presenter James May reveals why his version of the show with Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond became so popular around the world. Top Gear was once the most-watched factual television show globally - James explains how that happened.
He talks about his chemistry with Clarkson and Hammond, and the tension between them that creates the on-screen magic. He also reveals how that magic can be recreated.
You can watch our full 90-minute podcast with James May (episode 200) on our KZbin channel, or listen wherever you get your podcasts.
#jamesmay #topgear #cars
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[@michaelheimbrand5424]

The great thing about Clarkson, May and Hammond is that they are smart people emulating stupid. Usually on TV it´s the other way around.

[@hugoagogo9435]

As I was told it’s easy for a clever person to act stupid. It difficult for a stupid person to act clever

[@user-xo4qu6wd9g]

True

[@dcfox199gamer8]

You start watching Topgear for the cars by the end of it because of the hosts you are watching it for them, now even if they don’t do cars you will still watch them do anything together

[@topmandog1]

funny to hear james may call people dull after years of clarkson and hammond calling him dull

[@lordmfitzgerald3rd754]

What I miss the most is Sunday’s, roast dinner then afterwards watching Top Gear with beer.

[@robertfonovic3551]

Nailed it. What's not to like about that!!

[@Autonova]

100%. With my dad watching a Top Gear special on Sunday eve where they go to some far off place was part of my upbringing

[@tdragon87]

It's about you guys. Clarkson, May and Hammond. You guys could have a cooking show and it'd be a hit.

[@theshadowman1398]

It’s easy. Those three. I will happily watch them build a Lego set for hours and still have better entertainment than anything on TV now provides

[@ruk2023--]

Massive oversimplification. They are a key ingredient but we came to love the show because they fronted amazing writing and production and format. If they had launched with three guys in a cottage having an unscripted chat about cars they would not have worked.

[@cliveramsbotty6077]

i love the way you add tremendous value by constantly interrupting your guest with wonderful gems such as 'yep', 'yeah', 'umm', 'yes', 'err' etc

[@sjsobol1]

You also have to give some credit to Top Gear of the CMH era in that is was very well produced. The photography, music, editing, original ideas, etc. all made for a top notch show. It was entertaining to watch even if you didn't care about cars. Just think about the episodes where they turned cars into boats and sailed across the English Channel, turned a car into a rocket, or 50th anniversary of the E-type.

[@craigturner8993]

No trio has better chemistry, than Clarkson Hammond & May. Old school Top gear rules, the Grand tour is all that, & more. 😁

[@faircart]

They were/are ‘naughty schoolboys’ on top gear and the grand tour. You can't manufacture it; it just happens. You either got it or you haven't. So, why try to analyse it? They are great shows that copies cannot replace.

[@BoshSoldierCarp]

It worked so well in my opinion because you all love the same thing but you show it outwardly in three different ways.

[@gwcrispi]

He's on to something. Mythbusters was that way. Jaime and Adam didn't like each other.

[@xXMattyXGoesXRawrXx]

Me seeing the thumbnail thinking the secret behind top gear’s success was the office intercooler

[@jackrogers7540]

It’s that they are all 3 genuine blokes, living their lives. They don’t feel like they are putting on a show, they generally, together, feel as though they are bouncing nuanced conversation from very different viewpoints and the chemistry/frank nature of their banter. There wasn’t anything that felt fake even though we know we are seeing a great production. People are looking for honesty and honesty requires Negative as well as positive reactions and in a world of “paid for” media, that is rare to truly find. Same reason Rogan is so endearing.

[@TheGerbennos]

You made such a great point and then you had destroy your credibility in the last sentence

[@baoquoc3710]

​@@TheGerbennosuh you hate JRE? What happened to him that you hate him?

[@petervalovic5504]

Top gear top show! Top three blokes. It will take another 100 years to find trio like them!!! I wish them all the best whatever they do! ❤

[@markjerorsr1495]

The different hosts from three distinct backgrounds and experiences who share a common passion, was a stroke of genius that brought viewers together who wouldn't usually take the time to spit on each others sneakers.

[@CT37BN]

The 3 amigos have that fatherly knows best but often times funny crap outcome attitude towards cars and other stuff which is appealing because in many ways we also do those things. And their camaraderie is genuine.

[@glenmcreynolds1818]

I'm not a car guy whatsoever in top gear is one of my all-time favorite shows

[@naikjoyx4291]

You supposed to do it the other way around.. the most interesting part of an interview is released before the full interview as a teaser.. at the end you say when the full video will get released.. usually a day or two after.

[@ethanhunt2263]

The full interview was released days ago. This is just a clip from it

[@donniewahlberg8546]

Relax😀

[@stellviahohenheim]

​@@ethanhunt2263It doesn't matter these are tv people they don't care about views

[@simonmenzies3142]

Without the massive fame, if they left after old topgear. I’m fairly sure clarkson would be a farmer now. Hammond would have left men&motors. Worked as a local radio presenter again. Then he’d be working with classic cars into his old age. Maybe a small garage, or just a home garage. I’m not sure what May does so much. He has the pub. Can’t see him getting one without the big fame money at all tho. He’s still be in a pub.. just as a the drinker. Drinking his monthly pip money💯 lol

[@paulhammons7077]

Yah got stuff on here for 3 years..😮.. but this is your most popular show 😅.. star 🌟 🤩 power is amazing.. even if it is captain slow 🐌 😊. Thanks for the show it was amazing 🎉

[@oscar-jx3fj]

Un programa muy bueno sigo viendo los episodios a día de hoy no me canso de verlo lástima que no sigan

[@jansefran1752]

It is 3 different guys / friends doing funny / crazy / stupid things ... They enyoj doing that + we love to watching that.

[@PlatFormerlyKno]

I think of it like they were a band. The beatles of car tv

[@AlexLancashirePersonalView]

it was the Monty Python effect. That sort of silly humour.

[@simonmenzies3142]

It’s amazing tbe hights these found together. It was all clarkson tbh The debt they have for him can never be stated

[@user-iw2nh7gl1g]

Top Gear the original was best and probably will always be 2nd to none when it comes to car shows. Anyone who doesn't think it was a car need look no further than the great road n driving tests the hosts n Stig did. They showed many of latest super cars plus best saloon performance cars. Then throw in the amazing chemistry of three hosts not to mention the budget for the series. The recipe made a great series for any Gear ⚙️ head who appreciated the cars shown n driven hard. Plus got to laugh along the way!

[@ronaldl9085]

Older brother explained Top Gear to me as: it's a comedy show with 3 men and some cars.

[@Kevin-sr8yx]

It wasn't one thing that made TG a phenomenon. It was the cars, expertise, dialogue, comedy, cinematography, music, risks, adventure, chemistry, fun, unpredictability, exclusivity, and familiarity. Of these, I would say that one thing that's missing from all the copycats is the risk. Think about how often the 3 got injured. You don't see that anywhere else.

[@leebenter756]

People want watch a show that the people who make want to make it. That will always show through.

[@stewarthughesstewart]

Why it was so successful is because it was funny! Intelligent humour coupled with oversized school boy pranks.

[@jansefran1752]

Don t think / analize too much ... Just watch them and have fun.

[@noelburland7169]

Clarkson, May and Hammond had a great camaraderie and coupled with their slightly juvenile humour and ability to poke fun at various groups in an increasingly PC world, it led to Top Gear becoming a massive money earner for the BBC. Unfortunately it seemed they pushed their luck a couple of times too far, specifically with the Burma and Catagonia specials that led to major backlash. Then Clarkson's alleged assault of a producer led to his sacking from the BBC and May and Hammond quickly followed him out the door to form The Grand Tour on Amazon Prime. That new show flourished on the new platform while Top Gear floundered on the BBC, with the awful and idiotic Chris Evans brought in to be the main host, lasting one terrible season before he was ousted. Aside from Chris Harris, Top Gear never recovered from the dumping of Clarkson, May and Hammond and now the show is dead and buried after Andrew Flintoff's terrible accident.

[@TOMMYBOY6969]

Today is still the early days of EV, so no worries, soon enough, there will be enough chargers everywhere for everyone, you just have to plan your trip in advance. As for the 30 minutes charging times, for everyone,, after driving 3 hours, it would be nice to stop for 30 minutes. It works out just fine. Grab a burger, hit the loo, sometimes i find 30 minutes is not enough time to eat and poop. Most people travel between cities with kids and Wives where they need at least 45 minutes at a rest stop. It all works out just fine. They will built more Charging stations as EV grows, I dont see that as a problem at all, in fact, it only gets better and better as time goes on.

[@gavinbissell8847]

The whole show came across as having a laugh with your dad or if you are older having a laugh with your mates on a road trip

[@Rob-zf2cv]

Shouldn't we just be using our cars less? Therefore lifestyle changes that involve shorter journeys will negate the need for charging anywhere other than at home.

[@stanleybuchan4610]

I laugh when the sprogs here talk about the "old" TG. It's been around since the 70's boys!

[@ChristopherIan]

Those three ARE Top Gear! even now watching GT, its still Top Gear, its not a show, its the people and thats what the producers dont understand. This is why it will always fail.

[@The_Bean_Head_Men]

It's success has never been a secret, it's 3 grown up children having a laugh.

[@JackGriffin__]

Top Gear is The Goodies formula 👍

[@jamesmccaul2945]

May protests too much. Top gear is a romance about how 3 straight men fell in love (like they must do in public school).

[@davidtaylor8822]

I'd have been in May's gang. I knew the "Clarkson" type and I hated them. And never took much notice of the "Hammonds".

[@maxventuri-sn2mi]

harris is terrible new top gear is unwatchable

[@simonmenzies3142]

💯James would be in that gang of really really annoying self impressed condescending kids. Hammond would be the nice normal one. Clarkson the one on his own with the weird mate at that age. Lol I could see Hammond and clarkson being mates at some point.

[@user-yy9hk9od9u]

Wilman, Clarkson and Hammond were the reason for the success.

[@spongebobsquaretits]

and James May had nothing to do with the success ?

[@user-yy9hk9od9u]

@@spongebobsquaretits He should have been replaced.

[@funkyhouseman]

And Richard Porter!

[@Motordiciton]

@@funkyhousemanOTSOT

[@TomasWatchReviews]

I find Grand Tour boring and childish. Feels too staged. And I like cars more than your comedy so I miss CARS in Grand Tour A LOT.

[@everTriumph]

Top Gear was rubbish. Unwatchable. I was glad when it was taken off air.

[@binkyboobosh1]

Clarkson over did the 'shock jock' at a time when the political landscape seemed to be going the same way. The 'free speech' lot must have s seen a lot of themselves in Clarkson and didn't like it, which is why they were always looking to bring him down. People who considered themselves 'woke' weren't that concerned about him as they knew he was a clever man being deliberately controversial, but not to be taken seriously as he was clearly being self deprecating.