The Surprising Secret Richard Hammond Credits for Landing Top Gear Gig Revealed

Ever tried to imagine a world where Richard Hammond never set foot on the Top Gear stage? Where Jeremy Clarkson, James May, and Hammond weren’t hurling insults—or actual caravans—for our viewing pleasure? Yeah, I can’t either . Honestly, it’s as inconceivable as Clarkson quietly reviewing a Prius . But the million-pound question has always nagged at my mind: How does an unassuming, (almost) average British bloke land a seat on the most riotous car show in television history? Well, believe it or not, the destiny of the holy trinity of motoring TV hinged on a throwaway comment about Cheltenham that still makes me chuckle—and wish my hometown had a cooler nickname . So, what’s the secret formula? Hidden talent, dogged persistence, or just calling your city “the ’Nam” with enough deadpan delivery to floor both a BBC producer and the famously hard-to-impress Clarkson? Buckle up, because this origin story is as unpredictable as a Reliant Robin on a roundabout . LEARN MORE

Richard Hammond has revealed the throwaway comment which helped him land a presenting role on Top Gear.

It’s hard to imagine a world where Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Hammond weren’t blowing up caravans and drag racing cars around supermarkets for our entertainment – but have you ever wondered how the most famous trio in motoring came to be?

Back in 2002, bosses at the BBC decided to resurrect the previously cancelled show, bringing Clarkson and former producer Andy Wilman back onboard.

After revamping the format, the crew began their search for co-presenters to join Clarkson and sent out a homing beacon to all British motoring journalists.

One of those would be a 32-year-old Men&Motors presenter and former Renault press officer by the name of Richard Hammond.

How did Richard Hammond join Top Gear?

The Top Gear job changed Richard Hammond’s life forever (Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images)

After a failed 2000 audition for the original version of the programme, the Brainiac presenter received a call from his agent offering him the chance to audition for Top Gear in 2002.

Recalling the conversation with his agent at the time, Hammond revealed he’d been told that his chances of landing a spot in the presenting line-up were likely slim-to-none.

“You won’t get it,” the 55-year-old remembered his agent saying. “But you should go along anyway because it would be good to meet them.”

Upon arriving at the studio, Hammond was tasked with doing a screen test alongside Clarkson to test for chemistry – with the pair, of course, getting along famously.

“We got on fabulously and I just came away thinking ‘wow those people making that show… they’re gonna have an incredible time’ and I felt quite sad because I assumed I wouldn’t be part of it,” he explained to DriveTribe.

The ‘holy trinity’ of motoring TV in 2007 (Dave Hogan/Getty Images)

So what was it that secured Hammond the job? Apparently it was all down to the way in which he referred to Cheltenham.

“When it came to leave, I said ‘I’ve got to go know, I’ve got to get back to the ‘Nam’,” Hammond explained on a previous episode of We Three Blokes podcast, with ‘The ‘Nam’ being his way of referring to Cheltenham.

The quirky nickname for his town of residence was apparently enough to win over Clarkson and long-term producer Andy Wilman.

“That’s why I got the job, just because I lived in Cheltenham and called it the ‘Nam,” he added.

Hammond joined the presenting line-up alongside Clarkson and Jason Dawe, with the latter being replaced by May at the end of season one.

And the rest, as they say, is history.

Hammond has spoken about how Top Gear completely changed the trajectory of his life numerous times, previously revealing to Yahoo that he couldn’t earn a living before joining the show.

“I wanted to make car TV shows,” he said. “I started off in radio, local radio, as a presenter, I was starving to death and realised I just couldn’t earn a living, but I wanted to get to do car shows.”