Richard Hammond Breaks Silence on Secret Struggles Behind ‘Tough’ Divorce Year

If life really is a series of plot twists, then Richard Hammond has just driven straight through a few—no airbags, no helmet, and definitely no Jeremy Clarkson shouting directions from the back seat . Ever wondered how a man who’s survived jet-powered car crashes, decades-long TV partnerships, and the world’s most stubborn hair manages heartbreak? Hammond, famed for his big grin and borderline reckless optimism, is finally breaking his silence after a crushing year that would make even the Stig slam the brakes . Eight years of The Grand Tour screeched to a halt, his classic car workshop hit financial speed bumps, and—here comes the gut punch—his 28-year marriage to Mindy ended amid personal loss . It’s enough to make anyone want to hide under a pile of fan mail, yet here he is, reflecting, rebuilding, and perhaps even making us question: how do we move forward when the route ahead looks nothing like the map? Curious what the man himself has to say (and if he’s got any optimism left in the tank)? LEARN MORE.

Richard Hammond has spoken out on his shock divorce for the first time after a ‘tough’ 12 months for the celebrity TV presenter.

The 55-year-old saw eight years of The Grand Tour come to an end last year, as he reunited with Jeremy Clarkson and James May to travel the world in automobiles, just one year after their time on Top Gear finished in the wake of Clarkson’s BBC controversy.

Hammond also sadly lost his 80-year-old dad who had cancer in October, which came as a huge blow to him personally.

It was in January 2025 when Hammond announced that his 23-year marriage to wife Mindy was over, with the two releasing a joint statement.

It read: “Our marriage is coming to an end, but we’ve had an amazing 28 years together and two incredible daughters… We will always be in each other’s lives and are proud of the family we created.”

Eight months on, the journalist has now spoken out on the surprise split for the first time in an interview with the Daily Mail.

Richard Hammond and his wife Mindy spent 28 years together before splitting in January (Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images for Disney)

He said: “It’s as I said in the show: ‘OK, that’s happened. Moving on.”

Hammond had initially addressed the divorce on an episode of Richard Hammond’s Workshop, a show which sees him run a classic car restoration business.

He had said: “There has been a slight change in my circumstances recently. I got divorced. Which means I now live here.”

Hammond, whose current abode is a rented farmhouse in the countryside, has only previously made one brief comment about his divorce from Mindy, during an episode of The Grand Tour.

Known for normally being energetic and positive, it is easy to understand why the car enthusiast might be feeling less optimistic after a difficult period.

He added: “I like it. It’s got amazing views, a place to keep some of my cars and bikes and best of all it’s closer to the workshop. I’m trying to put a silver lining on this. It’s been a tough few years, but it’s not all bad.”

He was also asked about the possibility of him dating again but it seems as if he’s keen to avoid doing that anytime soon.

The Grand Tour also ended last year (Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty Images)

Hammond said: “Oh, I don’t know. I haven’t got time. Right now I’m coming to the end of a series and then… that will be for me to think about.”

While the journalist also opened up about his new car business losing half a million pounds, suggesting that it hadn’t had the success he has hoped for, he did make a tidy windfall earlier this year alongside May and Clarkson.

However, his pockets are not ‘limitlessly deep’ and he’s still frustrated with the way his company, The Smallest Cog, has performed financially over the last four years.

He added: “It’s been hard at times. Why? Because of my lack of management ability and the market: it’s not an easy time to be setting out to restore expensive cars, when people are more concerned about the rising cost of living.

“My pockets are not limitlessly deep. I have to earn what I spend. I wouldn’t want to throw it away. And these are people’s actual jobs. It’s not a game.”