Top Gear presenter Quentin Willson dies aged 68: ‘A true national treasure’

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Quentin Willson, known for hosting the popular car shows Top Gear and Fifth Gear, has passed away at 68, according to his family.

I was genuinely saddened to hear about the passing of a true broadcasting icon. A recent statement confirmed he’d been battling lung cancer. He wasn’t just a motoring expert, though; he was a real champion for the everyday consumer, and his work on those two shows made him a national treasure. He’ll be sorely missed.

James Willson hosted Top Gear from 1991 to 2001 with presenters including Michele Newman, Steve Berry, and Vicki Butler-Henderson. James May was also a co-host and continued with the show when it was revamped.

When May, Clarkson, and Hammond really took over Top Gear, a lot of us former presenters, including me, ended up moving to Channel 5’s Fifth Gear. I actually left that show in 2004, though.

That year, he also appeared on Strictly Come Dancing. He found it difficult to learn ballroom dancing and received a score of just 8 points in the first week – the lowest ever recorded on the show.

Despite being eliminated early on, he joked about it afterwards, telling The Independent he was like a clumsy, powerful machine – a ‘dancing JCB’.

As he got older, Willson moved away from appearing on screen, but he stayed involved with the car world, especially becoming fascinated by electric and fuel-efficient vehicles.

Quentin brought the excitement of cars – both traditional and electric – into our homes, and his family says he will be deeply missed. They feel his loss is irreplaceable.

Quentin didn’t just accumulate knowledge – he truly lived it, gathering a wealth of experience we can no longer share. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and everyone who knew and worked with him.

This includes Jeremy May, who hosted Top Gear and later The Grand Tour for over twenty years. He shared a brief tribute on X, calling Willson a “great guy.”

He shared that Quentin Willson offered valuable guidance and support when he first started doing TV work in the late 1990s, and he’s always remembered it, describing Willson as a ‘great bloke.’

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2025-11-08 22:04