Cast & creator
James May
Best known for The Graham Norton Show, Top of the Pops, The One Show
James Daniel May (born 16 January 1963) is an English television presenter, journalist and writer. May is best known as co-presenter of the motoring programme Top Gear alongside Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond. May has presented a variety of other programmes on themes including science and technology, childhood toys, cars, food and drink, and the plight of manliness in modern times. In addition he has released a variety of DVDs and books with similar themes, and writes a weekly column for The Daily Telegraph's motoring section. On Top Gear, May has the nickname "Captain Slow", for his careful driving style, a love of small, underpowered cars and habit of getting lost and distracted whilst driving. In a February 2007 episode of Top Gear he carried out a successful top speed test drive of a Bugatti Veyron at the Ehra-Lessien Volkswagen test track, reaching 407 kilometres per hour (253 mph). In July 2010 he repeated the attempt in the updated Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, reaching the vehicle's top speed of 417.6 kilometres per hour (259.5 mph), confirming that it had retaken the title as the fastest road car in production.
57
film credits
49
television credits
95
1964–2026 · acting roles
7.7
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (106)
Showing 106 of 106 credits
The Graham Norton Show
Self
2007
Top of the Pops
Self - Host
1964
The One Show
Self
2006
Have I Got a Bit More News for You
Self - Panellist
Have I Got News for You
Self
1990
Top Gear
Self - Host
2002
The Grand Tour
Self - Host
2016The Grand Tour
Creator
2016
Shooting Stars
Self
1993
The F Word
2005
Dara O Briain's Science Club
Himself
2012
This Morning
Self
1988
James May: Our Man in…
Self
2020James May: Our Man in…
Creator
2020
Al Murray's Great British Pub Quiz
Team Captain
2019
Perfect Pub Walks
Self
2024
The Grand-ish Tour
Self
2026
A Night with the Stars
Self
2011
Top Gear: Ambitious But Rubbish
2015
The Not Very Grand Tour
Self
2025
Driven
Self - Host
1998
Top Gear: The Races
Self
2016
James May: Oh Cook!
Self
2020
Top Gear: The U.S. and Albania Road Trip
Himself
2011
James May's Man Lab
2010James May's Man Lab
Presenter
2010James May's Man Lab
Writer
2010
James May's 20th Century
Himself - Presenter
2007
A Night with the Stars
Participant
2011
Oz and James Drink to Britain
Self - Presenter
2009
Top Gear: The Great Adventures 5
Himself
2012
Top Gear: Polar Special
himself
2007
James May and the Dull Men
Self - Host
2024
Top Gear: The Burma Special
Himself
2014
Top Gear's Top 40
James May
2011Top Gear's Top 40
Creator
2011
James May's Toy Stories
Himself - Host
2009
Top Gear: Patagonia Special
2014
Top Gear: The Best of the Specials
James May
2017
Top Gear From A-Z
Self
2015
James May's Shed Load of Ideas
2025
Top Gear: Winter Olympics Special
Himself
2006
Top Gear: Top Fails
Self
2012
Top Gear's Stars in Fast Cars
2004
Top Gear: From A-Z
Self (archive footage)
2015
Top Gear: Romania Special
Himself
2010
Top Gear: The Big Send Off Special
2015
Oz & James's Big Wine Adventure
2006
Top Gear of the Pops
Self
2007Top Gear of the Pops
Director
2007
Top Gear: The Great Adventures 2
Self
2008
James May's Cars of the People
Self - Presenter
2014
Top Gear: Supercars Across Italy
Himself
2012
Joan Rivers at the BBC
Self (archive footage)
2024
Top Gear: The Great Adventures 1
2008
Top Gear: Cars with Soul
Himself
2011
Petrolheads
2006
Top Gear: The Worst Car In the History of the World
Self
2012
James May's Things You Need To Know
Himself - Presenter
2011
Top Gear: The Great Adventures 4
Himself
2011
Top Gear: The Challenges
Himself
2007
James May's Big Trouble in Model Britain
Self - Presenter
2019James May's Big Trouble in Model Britain
Presenter
2019James May's Big Trouble in Model Britain
Writer
2019
Top Gear - Best of the Challenges
2007
Top Gear: The Challenges 5
Himself
2011
Top Gear: Botswana Special
Himself
2007
Top Gear: The Great Adventures 3
2010
Top Gear: Winter Blunderland
2018
James May: Building Cars Live
Creator
2015
Top Gear - Planes, Rockets & Automobiles
Presenter
2008
Top Gear: A Tribute to Sabine Schmitz
Self
2021
James May: The Reassembler
Presenter
2016
Top Gear: The Great African Adventure
Himself
2013
James May's Big Ideas
Self - Presenter
2008
Top Ground Gear Force
2008
Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure
2006
Top Gear: US Special
Self
2007
Top Gear - Planes, Trains and Automobiles
2019
Top Gear: Australian Road Trip
Himself
2015Top Gear: Australian Road Trip
Writer
2015
James May's Build a Car in 24 Hours
Host
2016
Top Gear: The Challenges 2
Himself
2008
Top Gear: The Challenges 6
2012
Oz and James Drink to Britain
2009
Top Gear Festival: Sydney
Self - Presenter
2013
Top Gear: The Challenges 3
2009
Top Gear: The Challenges 4
2010
Top Gear: Greatest Hits
Himself
2015
James May on the Moon
Himself - Presenter
2009
Top Gear: Revved Up
Himself
2005
Top Gear: The Races
Himself
2006
James May at the Edge of Space
Himself
2009
Top Gear: At the Movies
Himself
2011
James May's Great Explorers
James May
2025
Top Gear: Apocalypse
Self
2010
James May: My Sisters' Top Toys
Himself - Presenter
2007
International Buffoons' Vacation
2019
James May's Top Toys
Himself - Presenter
2005James May's Top Toys
Writer
2005
The Interceptors
James Steed
2011
Top Gear: Supercars
Presenter
2006
James May's Cars of the People
2015James May's Toy Stories - Airfix
Self - Presenter
2009
To Space & Back
Narrator
2013