Acting · Bristol - England - UK · Born January 16, 1963
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.
TVThe Grand-ish Tour
2026
as Self
TVJames May's Shed Load of Ideas
2025
TVThe Not Very Grand Tour
2025
as Self
TVJames May's Great Explorers
2025
as James May
TVJames May and the Dull Men
2024
as Self - Host
MovieJoan Rivers at the BBC
2024
as Self (archive footage)
TVPerfect Pub Walks
2024
as Self
MovieTop Gear: A Tribute to Sabine Schmitz
2021
as Self
TVJames May: Oh Cook!
2020
as Self
TVJames May: Our Man in…
2020
as Self
MovieTop Gear - Planes, Trains and Automobiles
2019
TVAl Murray's Great British Pub Quiz
2019
as Team Captain
TVJames May's Big Trouble in Model Britain
2019
as Self - Presenter
MovieTop Gear: Winter Blunderland
2018
MovieTop Gear: The Best of the Specials
2017
as James May
TVThe Grand Tour
2016
as Self - Host
TVJames May: The Reassembler
2016
as Presenter
TVJames May's Build a Car in 24 Hours
2016
as Host
TVTop Gear: The Races
2016
as Self
MovieTop Gear: From A-Z
2015
as Self (archive footage)
TVTop Gear From A-Z
2015
as Self
TVTop Gear: Ambitious But Rubbish
2015
MovieJames May's Cars of the People
2015
MovieTop Gear: The Big Send Off Special
2015
MovieTop Gear: Greatest Hits
2015
as Himself
MovieTop Gear: Australian Road Trip
2015
as Himself
MovieTop Gear: Patagonia Special
2014
TVJames May's Cars of the People
2014
as Self - Presenter
MovieTop Gear: The Burma Special
2014
as Himself
International Buffoons' Vacation
2014
MovieTop Gear Festival: Sydney
2013
as Self - Presenter
MovieTop Gear: The Great African Adventure
2013
as Himself
MovieTop Gear: The Worst Car In the History of the World
2012
as Self
TVDara O Briain's Science Club
2012
as Himself
TVTop Gear: Top Fails
2012
as Self
MovieTop Gear: Supercars Across Italy
2012
as Himself
MovieTop Gear: The Great Adventures 5
2012
as Himself
MovieTop Gear: The Challenges 6
2012
MovieA Night with the Stars
2011
as Self
TVA Night with the Stars
2011
as Participant
TVTop Gear's Top 40
2011
as James May
MovieTop Gear: At the Movies
2011
as Himself
MovieThe Interceptors
2011
as James Steed
TVJames May's Things You Need To Know
2011
as Himself - Presenter
MovieTop Gear: The Challenges 5
2011
as Himself
MovieTop Gear: The Great Adventures 4
2011
as Himself
MovieTop Gear: Cars with Soul
2011
as Himself
MovieTop Gear: The U.S. Special
2011
as Himself
MovieTop Gear: Apocalypse
2010
as Self
TVJames May's Man Lab
2010
MovieTop Gear: The Challenges 4
2010
MovieTop Gear: The Great Adventures 3
2010
MovieTop Gear: Romania Special
2010
as Himself
James May's Toy Stories - Airfix
2009
as Self - Presenter
TVJames May's Toy Stories
2009
as Himself - Host
MovieJames May on the Moon
2009
as Himself - Presenter
MovieJames May at the Edge of Space
2009
as Himself
MovieTop Gear: The Challenges 3
2009
TVOz & James Drink to Britain
2009
as Himself - Presenter
TVOz and James Drink to Britain
2009
MovieTop Gear: The Great Adventures 2
2008
as Self
TVJames May's Big Ideas
2008
as Self - Presenter
MovieTop Ground Gear Force
2008
MovieTop Gear: The Great Adventures Vol. 1
2008
MovieTop Gear - Planes, Rockets & Automobiles
2008
as Presenter
MovieTop Gear: The Challenges 2
2008
as Himself
MovieJames May: My Sisters' Top Toys
2007
as Himself - Presenter
MovieTop Gear: Botswana Special
2007
as Himself
MovieTop Gear: Polar Special
2007
as himself
TVJames May's 20th Century
2007
as Himself - Presenter
MovieTop Gear - Best of the Challenges
2007
MovieTop Gear of the Pops
2007
as Self
MovieTop Gear: The Challenges
2007
as Himself
TVThe Graham Norton Show
2007
as Self
MovieTop Gear: US Special
2007
as Self
TVOz & James's Big Wine Adventure
2006
TVOz and James's Big Wine Adventure
2006
MovieTop Gear: The Races
2006
as Himself
TVThe One Show
2006
as Self
MovieTop Gear: Winter Olympics Special
2006
as Himself
MovieTop Gear: Supercars
2006
as Presenter
TVPetrolheads
2006
MovieJames May's Top Toys
2005
as Himself - Presenter
TVThe F Word
2005
MovieTop Gear: Revved Up
2005
as Himself
MovieTop Gear's Stars in Fast Cars
2004
TVTop Gear
2002
as Self - Host
TVDriven
1998
as Self - Host
TVShooting Stars
1993
as Self
TVHave I Got News for You
1990
as Self
TVThis Morning
1988
as Self
TVTop of the Pops
1964
as Self - Host
TVHave I Got a Bit More News for You
as Self - Panellist
