Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May worked together for years (Image: Getty)
Top Gear trio , and have graced TV screens together for many years. However, earlier this year their 22-year television partnership came to an end in their final show together – a special titled One for the Road on Amazon Prime Video.
Now May has opened up on the real reason that the co-stars and friends decided to part ways, after first joining forces back in 2002. Speaking this week, the 61-year-old stated he isn’t “in mourning” over the end of the partnership and the world of motoring needs “a fresh take”
Speaking to The Times, he said: “I think Jeremy, Richard and I gave the format a really good thrashing and now it’s time to let a younger generation have a go.
“I do my best to be a contemporary human being and embrace new ideas, but we were very much rooted in an Eighties and Nineties view of what motoring is about. It needs a fresh take because the subject has never been more interesting.”
Earlier this year, it was reported that the three presenters had taken steps to formally conclude their business relationship. The trio dissolved their production company, declaring solvency in the process. They appointed a liquidator to “wind up” their business operations.
The trio parted ways earlier this year (Image: Instagram)
As the trio’s final production aired, shared admiration for those behind the scenes too. He paid tribute to the behind-the-scenes team members who had been integral to their shows.
“People think of Top Gear and The Grand Tour as being James, Richard and me.
“But it isn’t. We’ve had the same crews for years. We’ve all grown up together,” he told The Sunday Times.
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The presenter’s last car show aired earlier this year (Image: Getty)
“We’ve camped together. S*** our lungs out together, laughed our a***s off together.”
He particularly praised the crew’s dedication, adding: “These are the guys who really made those shows. They’re the ones who kept the cameras and the microphones going even when it was cold or dangerous.”
Clarkson also admitted that it was “sad” to see their work wrapped up for the final time. He said: “Was it sad when the director called, ‘That’s a wrap,’ for the very last time? Yes, it was.”