James May admits his retirement is 'not far off'

Virgin Radio

5 Jul 2022, 08:39

The Grand Tour’s James May has revealed that he has been “quietly contemplating” retirement from his work in TV.

In an interview with Radio Times Magazine, The Grand Tour co-host said that he suspects his stepping away from TV and broadcasting is not too far away.

When asked whether he had contemplated a change of lifestyle to retire and go and sell cars, he said: “It’s something I’m quietly contemplating, and I suspect it’s not far off.”

Elsewhere in the interview, he added that he had been thinking a lot about how he wants to live his life after a close friend of his passed away.

He said: “He retired early because he’d always had this fear that his family isn’t very long-lived, and he wanted to swap possessions for experiences and knowledge.

“That’s what he started doing, but unfortunately he got cancer and it killed him. It was quite interesting thinking about that after he’d gone because it takes a certain amount of courage to say, 'No, I don’t want to telegraph my success and my sophistication. I simply want to have a nice life and contemplate the mystery and wonder of God’s creation.'"

The broadcaster is currently promoting a new travelogue series for Amazon Prime Video called Our Man in Italy, which sees May travelling up and down the country to get a feel for all parts of its culture.

He currently co-hosts The Grand Tour with fellow former Top Gear presenters Richard Hammond and Jeremy Clarkson and the trio have recently filmed a Norway special for the show set to be released later in 2022.

In previous Grand Tour specials, Clarkson, Hammond and May have ventured to places like Finland, the North Pole, Dubai and Tennessee.