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{{Infobox person
| name = James May
| image = James May
| caption = May in
| birth_name = James Daniel May
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1963|1|16|df=yes}}
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* ''[[The Grand Tour]]'' (2016–)
* ''[[James May: Our Man in...]]'' (2020–)
* ''[[James May: Oh Cook|James May: Oh Cook!]]'' (
}}
| height = {{convert|6|ft|m|sigfig=3}}
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| website =
}}
'''James Daniel May''' (born 16 January 1963)<ref>{{cite news|title=My Secret Life: James May, TV presenter, age 45|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/my-secret-life-james-may-tv-presenter-age-45-943442.html|website=The Independent|access-date=16 January 2018|date=27 September 2008}}</ref> is an English television presenter and journalist. He is best known as a co-presenter, alongside [[Jeremy Clarkson]] and [[Richard Hammond]], of the motoring programme ''[[Top Gear (2002 TV series)|Top Gear]]''
May has presented other programmes on themes including travel, science
==Early life==
James Daniel May was born in [[Bristol]], the son of [[aluminium]] factory manager James May and his wife Kathleen. He was one of four children; he has two sisters and a brother.<ref>{{cite news |last=Philby |first=Charlotte |date=27 September 2008 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/my-secret-life-james-may-tv-presenter-age-45-943442.html |title=My Secret Life: James May, TV presenter, age 45 |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |access-date=20 January 2010}}</ref> May attended [[Caerleon Endowed Junior School]] in [[Newport, Wales|Newport]]. He spent his teenage years in [[South Yorkshire]] where he attended [[Oakwood Technology College|Oakwood Comprehensive School]] in [[Rotherham]] and was a choirboy at [[Whiston, South Yorkshire|Whiston]] Parish Church.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/main.jhtml?xml=/motoring/2007/11/10/mrmay10.xml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114103312/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/main.jhtml?xml=/motoring/2007/11/10/mrmay10.xml|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 November 2007|title=Frocks make a boy a man|author=James May|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=31 December 2007|date=10 November 2007 | location=London}}</ref>
May studied music at [[Pendle College, Lancaster|Pendle College]], [[Lancaster University]], where he learned to play the flute and piano, and also spent a year studying metalwork at a technical college.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/columnists/jamesmay/7893463/Top-Gears-James-May-awarded-honorary-degree.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/columnists/jamesmay/7893463/Top-Gears-James-May-awarded-honorary-degree.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Top Gear's James May awarded honorary degree|date=16 July 2010|access-date=13 February 2019|website=Telegraph.co.uk}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-01-24/james-may-on-chris-evans-amazon-and-life-after-top-gear/|title=James May on Chris Evans, Amazon and life after Top Gear|website=Radio Times|access-date=13 February 2019|archive-date=11 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190511184330/https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-01-24/james-may-on-chris-evans-amazon-and-life-after-top-gear/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Crampton">{{cite web |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/i-am-more-liberal-than-people-think-xml2ps3ll |title=James May: 'I am more liberal than people think' |work=The Times |last=Crampton |first=Robert |date=10 June 2017 |access-date=30 July 2021 }}</ref> After graduating, May briefly worked at a hospital in [[Chelsea, London|Chelsea]] as a records officer and had a short stint in [[Civil Service (United Kingdom)|the civil service]] before taking up journalism and broadcasting in his thirties.<ref>{{cite news
|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/the-mild-one-how-james-may-became-the-most-indemand-presenter-on-british-television-1771436.html
|title=The mild one: How James May became the most in-demand presenter on British television
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===Dismissal from ''Autocar''===
[[File:JamesMayAutocar.jpg|thumb|right|James May's hidden message]]
In an interview with [[Richard Allinson]] on [[BBC Radio 2]],<ref>BBC Radio 2, broadcast 6 January 2006</ref> May confessed that in 1992 he was dismissed from ''[[Autocar (magazine)|Autocar]]'' magazine after putting together an [[acrostic]] in one issue. At the end of the year, the magazine's "Road Test Yearbook" supplement was published. Each spread featured four reviews and each review started with a large red letter (known in [[typography]] as an [[initial]] or a [[drop cap]]). May's role was to put the entire supplement together.
To alleviate the tedium, May wrote each review such that the initials on the first four spreads read "ROAD", "TEST", "YEAR" and "BOOK".
In a 2019 interview with Carscoops.com, May stated that while the hidden message originally passed through the magazines' pre-printing review processes unnoticed, he was found out when readers began calling in to ''Autocar''<nowiki/>'s offices, thinking there might be a prize involved. Upon learning of this, the magazine's management called for May to be fired.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Karkafiris |first=Michael |date=July 15, 2019 |title=James May Opens Up About The Time He Got Fired From Autocar |url=https://www.carscoops.com/2019/07/james-may-opens-up-about-the-time-he-got-fired-from-autocar/ |access-date=March 23, 2024 |website=Carscoops.com}}</ref>
▲To alleviate the tedium, May wrote each review such that the initials on the first four spreads read "ROAD", "TEST", "YEAR" and "BOOK". Subsequent spreads seemingly had random letters, starting with "SOYO" and "UTHI"; when punctuated these letters spelt out the message: "So you think it's really good, yeah? You should try making the bloody thing up; it's a real pain in the arse."<ref name="theage">{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/tv--radio/captain-slow-takes-the-fast-lane/2008/06/18/1213468491019.html |title=Captain Slow takes the fast lane – TV & Radio – Entertainment |work=The Age |date= 19 June 2008|access-date=5 November 2009 | location=Melbourne}}</ref>
==Television career==
His past television credits include presenting ''[[Driven (TV series)|Driven]]'' on [[Channel 4]] in 1998, narrating an eight-part [[BBC One]] series called ''Road Rage School'',<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0561982/ James May] Internet Movie Database</ref> and co-hosting the [[ITV1]] coverage of the ''2006 [[London Boat Show]].''<ref name="speakerscorner.co.uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.speakerscorner.co.uk/file/3a6850ee99183a512648ec2d63c165fb/james-may-top-gear-motoring-speaker-awards-host-after-dinner-humorist.html |title=James May, Top Gear presenter, after-dinner speaker and awards host |publisher=Speakers Corner |access-date=5 November 2009}}</ref> He also wrote and presented a Christmas special called ''[[James May's Top Toys]]'' (for BBC One).
===''Top Gear''===
{{main|Top Gear (2002 TV series)}}
[[File:Top Gear team Richard Hammond, James May and Jeremy Clarkson 31 October 2008.jpg|right|thumb| BBC Top Gear presenting team of [[Richard Hammond]], James May and [[Jeremy Clarkson]], 2009]]
May was briefly a co-presenter of the original ''[[Top Gear (1977 TV series)|Top Gear]]'' series in 1999. During an interview in 2020, Jeremy Clarkson claimed that the show's original producers had decided to replace him with May in 1999, though they felt dissatisfied with May as he was soon fired in 2000, shortly before the entire program was cancelled the following year.
May, along with co-presenter [[Jeremy Clarkson]] and an Icelandic support crew, travelled by car to the [[magnetic North Pole]] in 2007, using a modified [[Toyota Hilux]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/2235451/Top-Gears-Jeremy-Clarkson-criticised-for-glamorising-drink-driving.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/2235451/Top-Gears-Jeremy-Clarkson-criticised-for-glamorising-drink-driving.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title= Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson criticised for glamorising drink driving|publisher=The Telegraph|date=2 July 2008|access-date=31 March 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/7035252/Copy-Top-Gears-polar-trip.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/7035252/Copy-Top-Gears-polar-trip.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live| title= Copy Top Gear's polar trip|publisher=The Telegraph|date=21 January 2010|access-date=31 March 2015| last1= Williams| first1= David}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In the words of Clarkson, he was the first person to go there "who didn't want to be there". He also drove a modified Toyota Hilux up the side of the erupting volcano [[Eyjafjallajökull]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldcarfans.com/110041925739/toyota-hilux-taunts-icelands-volcano-moments-before-eruption|title=Toyota Hilux taunts Iceland's volcano moments before eruption – Top Gear takes credit|publisher=WorldCarFans|date=19 April 2010|access-date=31 March 2015}}</ref>
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===Science===
May presented ''Inside Killer Sharks'', a documentary for [[British Sky Broadcasting|Sky]], and ''[[James May's 20th Century]]'', investigating inventions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.open2.net/20thcentury/index.html |title=BBC/OU Open2.net – James May's 20th Century |publisher=Open2.net |access-date=5 November 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091121042551/http://www.open2.net/20thcentury/index.html |archive-date=21 November 2009 }}</ref> He flew in a [[Royal Air Force]] [[Eurofighter Typhoon]] at a speed of around 1320 mph (2124 km/h) for his television programme, ''James May's 20th Century''. In late 2008, the BBC broadcast ''[[James May's Big Ideas]]'', a three-part series in which May travelled around the globe in search of implementations for concepts widely considered science fiction.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.open2.net/jamesmay/ |title=BBC/OU Open2.net – James May's Big Ideas |publisher=Open2.net |access-date=5 November 2009}}</ref> He
===''James May on the Moon''===
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{{main|James May's Toy Stories}}
[[File:James May Toy Stories 2009 (2).jpg|thumb|May in 2009 during filming for ''[[James May's Toy Stories]]'']]
Beginning in October 2009, May presented a
Also for the series, he recreated the banked track at [[Brooklands]] using Scalextric track,<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/surrey/8187656.stm May to attempt Scalextric record], BBC News, 7 August 2009. Retrieved 9 August 2009</ref> and an attempt at the world's longest working model railway along the [[Tarka Trail]] between [[Barnstaple]] and [[Bideford]] in North Devon, although the attempt was foiled due to parts of the track being stolen and vandals placing coins on the track, causing a short circuit.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/8219567.stm|title=Model train record bid off track|date=25 August 2009|work=[[BBC Online]]|access-date=29 December 2013}}</ref>
In 2013, May created a life-size, fully functional motorcycle and sidecar made entirely out of the construction toy [[Meccano]]. Joined by [[Oz Clarke]], he then completed a full lap of the [[Isle of Man TT Mountain Course|Isle of Man TT Course]], a full {{fraction|37|3|4}} mile-long circuit.
===Oz and James===
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In January 2020, May hosted a travel documentary named ''James May: Our Man in Japan'', the 6-episode series was released on [[Amazon Prime Video]] and follows May's journey from the north end of [[Japan]] to its south. Over the course of three months, May explores and participate in many activities to truly understand the country which has intrigued him for a long time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/James-May-Our-Japan-Season/dp/B082WM379P |title=Watch James May: Our Man In Japan |publisher=Amazon |access-date=20 January 2020}}</ref> During the trip through major cities like [[Tokyo]] and [[Kyoto]], he is accompanied by a cast of different guides and translators.
A second series, ''James May: Our Man in Italy'', is a travel documentary with May on a journey throughout the regions of Italy from Palermo to the Dolomites on a trip exploring the culture, food, and more.<ref
A third series, ''James May: Our Man in India'', is another travel documentary with James May on a journey throughout the country of India.<ref>{{cite web |title=Prime Video Confirms Two New Series for James May|url=https://press.amazonstudios.com/us/en/press-release/amayzing-prime-video-confirms-two-new-series-for-j |publisher=Amazon Studios |access-date=10 December 2023}}</ref>
==Internet presence==
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May created Head Squeeze<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/worldwide/310113youtube.html|title=James May fronts BBC Worldwide's latest original YouTube channel – Head Squeeze|date=31 January 2013|publisher=BBC|access-date=29 April 2013}}</ref> (now renamed "BBC Earth Lab"; May no longer features as a presenter). The channel is a mix of science, technology, history and current affairs. The first video was published in December 2012. Videos are produced by 360 Production<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.360production.com/project2.html|title=Head Squeeze – YouTube|publisher=360production.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140224080446/http://www.360production.com/project2.html|archive-date=24 February 2014|url-status=dead|access-date=11 December 2013}}</ref> for [[BBC Worldwide]].
May created his own YouTube channel, titled "JM's Unemployment Tube", in 2015 after ''Top Gear'' was postponed by the BBC following Jeremy Clarkson's dismissal. Mainly featuring cooking videos filmed from his kitchen, as well as mock builds of Airfix models, the channel has over 230,000 subscribers as of March
In 2016, May launched, with his former Top Gear presenters, a [[Social networking service|social network]] for motoring fans called [[DriveTribe]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/09/06/motoring-community-drivetribe-secures-6-5m-from-21st-century-fox/|title=Motoring community DriveTribe secures $6.5M from 21st Century Fox|last=Butcher|first=Mike|website=TechCrunch|date=6 September 2016 |access-date=25 April 2017}}</ref>
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==Personal life==
May lives in [[Hammersmith]], [[west London (sub region)|West London]], with art critic Sarah Frater, with whom he has been in a relationship since 2000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://transmission.blogs.topgear.com/2011/01/23/video-behind-the-scenes-at-the-first-of-the-new-series/ |title=Transmission – BBC Top Gear Video: behind-the-scenes at the first of the new series « |publisher=Transmission.blogs.topgear.com |date=23 January 2011 |access-date=26 November 2011}}</ref> In July 2010, May was awarded an honorary doctorate by [[Lancaster University]], where he had previously studied music.<ref>{{cite news|title=Top Gear presenter James May awarded honorary doctorate|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-lancashire-10649036|publisher=BBC|access-date=3 August 2015|date=15 July 2010}}</ref> He holds a [[Doctor of Letters]] degree.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://drivetribe.com/p/james-may-answers-the-internets-WL9EwdwnSg2AnI3L-7VUAw |title=James May answers the internet's questions |date=12 May 2019 |access-date=12 May 2019 |archive-date=12 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512201636/https://drivetribe.com/p/james-may-answers-the-internets-WL9EwdwnSg2AnI3L-7VUAw |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In August 2014, May was one of 200 public figures who were signatories to a letter to ''[[The Guardian]]'' expressing their hope that Scotland would vote against [[Scottish independence|independence]] from the United Kingdom in September's [[2014 Scottish independence referendum|referendum on that issue]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/aug/07/celebrities-open-letter-scotland-independence-full-text |title=Celebrities' open letter to Scotland – full text and list of signatories |work=The Guardian |location=London |date=7 August 2014 |access-date=26 August 2014}}</ref>
In June 2016, he supported [[Britain Stronger in Europe|Remain]] in the [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum|EU referendum]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/16/jeremy-clarkson-david-cameron-my-gut-says-stay-in-the-eu|title=Jeremy Clarkson tells David Cameron 'my gut says stay in the EU'|date=16 June 2016|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=9 December 2017}}</ref> May has described his political leanings as "[[Social liberalism|liberal]]".<ref
In 2020, May bought half the ownership of a pub in [[Swallowcliffe]], [[Wiltshire]] called The Royal Oak,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-wiltshire-54219020|title=James May buys 'half' of Royal Oak in Swallowcliffe|date=19 September 2020|website=BBC News}}</ref> which dates from the early 18th century and is a Grade II listed historic site.<ref>{{National Heritage List for England|num=1250756|desc=The Royal Oak, Swallowcliffe|access-date=24 May 2015|fewer-links=yes}}</ref>
===Vehicles ===
May has owned many cars including a 2005 [[Saab 9-5#First generation (YS3E, 1997–2010)|Saab 9-5 Aero]], [[Bentley T-series|Bentley T2]], [[Rolls-Royce Phantom]], [[Triumph 2000]], [[Rover P6]], [[Alfa Romeo 164]], 1971 [[Rolls-Royce Corniche]], [[Triumph Vitesse]], [[Jaguar XJS]], 1992 [[Range Rover Classic]] Vogue, [[Fiat Panda#Second generation Mk3 (169; 2003)|Fiat Panda]], [[Nissan Sunny#B210 (1973–1977)|Datsun 120Y]], [[Vauxhall Cavalier#Mark I (1975–1981)|Vauxhall Cavalier Mk1]], a [[Ferrari 308 GTB/GTS|Ferrari 308 GTB]], a 2015 [[Toyota Mirai]], [[Ferrari F430]], [[Ferrari 458 Italia]], 1984 [[Porsche 930|Porsche 911]], 2005 [[Porsche Boxster/Cayman#Second generation: Boxster/Cayman (987.1) (2005–2008) & (987.2) (2009-2012)|Porsche Boxster S]] (which he claims is the first car he has ever purchased new).<ref>{{cite news|last=May |first=James |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/main.jhtml?xml=/motoring/2005/10/22/mrmay22.xml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012103741/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/main.jhtml?xml=/motoring/2005/10/22/mrmay22.xml |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 October 2007 |title=As seen on TV: Porsche breaks the spell of perfection |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=22 October 2005 |access-date=5 November 2009 | location=London}}</ref>
May currently owns a 2010 [[Porsche 997#Second phase (2009–2013)|Porsche 911 Carrera S facelift]], a 2016 [[BMW i3]], a 2018 [[Alpine A110 (2017)|Alpine A110]], a 2019 [[Tesla Model S|Tesla Model S 100D]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaIW5CQQ3Zo |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/GaIW5CQQ3Zo |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=James May reviews his own cars – Tesla Model S vs Toyota Mirai|website=[[YouTube]]|date=25 December 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref> a 2021 [[Toyota Mirai]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v99AthjW78Uo|title=James May properly drives his new car for the first time|website=[[YouTube]]|date=4 July 2021}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead
May obtained a [[Light aircraft pilot licence|light aircraft pilot's licence]] in October 2006, having trained at [[White Waltham Airfield]]. He has owned a [[Luscombe 8#Specifications: Model 8A (Silvaire)|Luscombe 8A Silvaire]], a [[Cessna 185 Skywagon|Cessna A185E Skywagon]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Incident Cessna A185E Skywagon - SE-FMX, 05 April 2014 |url=https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=179976 |website=Aviation Safety Network - Flight Safety Foundation |access-date=14 August 2019}}</ref> and an [[American Champion Decathlon|American Champion 8KCAB Super Decathlon]] with registration G-OCOK, which serves as a reference to a common phrase attributed to him.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/G-OCOK.html |title=Aircraft G-OCOK, 1999 American Champion Aircraft 8KCAB C/N 825-99 |publisher=Airport-data.com |date=13 June 2008 |access-date=2 September 2013}}</ref>
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| rowspan="2" |2020–present
|''[[James May: Our Man in...]]''
| rowspan="
|-
|''[[James May: Oh Cook|James May: Oh Cook!]]''
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2023 || ''Little Trains & Big Names with Pete Waterman'' || Guest
|-
|''Yuganayak Swami Vivekananda''
|Professor
|-
|}
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|''[[Forza Motorsport 5]]''||[[Turn 10 Studios]]|| rowspan="3" | Voice over
|-
|
|''[[
|-
| 2019
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{{s-start}}
{{succession box | before = [[David Tremayne]] | title = Guild of Motoring Writers<br />Journalist of the Year Award | years=2000 | after=[[David Tremayne]]}}
{{s-end}}{{James May}}{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:May, James}}
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[[Category:English male journalists]]
[[Category:English male non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:People from the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham|Category:People from Hammersmith and Fulham]]
[[Category:The Daily Telegraph people]]
[[Category:Britcar 24-hour drivers]]
[[Category:21st-century English journalists]]
[[Category:20th-century British journalists]]
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