Entertainment
‘I was one of Top Gear’s original stars – you couldn’t make a show like it now’-Pierra Willix-Entertainment – Metro
Former Top Gear presenter Quentin Willson has said many popular car programmes wouldn’t be made today (Picture: BBC Picture Archives)
When Top Gear first raced onto screens in 1977, no-one could have predicted how popular it would become.
The motoring programme presented viewers with car reviews, road safety and consumer advice, with several of its presenters then becoming household names.
One of them was Quentin Willson, who was the show’s used car expert for a decade from 1991.
During his time on Top Gear, Quentin worked alongside Jeremy Clarkson, Vicki Butler-Henderson and James May, but after the departure of Clarkson in 1999, ratings began to decline and the BBC cancelled the series.
Although the show was revived just a year later, and then saw a presenter switch-up again in 2015, earlier this year it was confirmed the series would not return for the ‘foreseeable future’ following a horror crash that nearly killed presenter Freddie Flintoff.
Despite all this, Quentin is hopeful that series or another might one day return to screens, but he’s not convinced it could happen.
He was the show’s used car expert for a decade before hosting Channel 5’s Fifth Gear (Picture: Channel 5)
‘We were very lucky to have lived through this wonderful golden age of cars and car programmes because you couldn’t make them now,’ he told Metro.
‘It wouldn’t get screened, and people aren’t as interested…or at television commissioners aren’t as interested in cars as they were then. It was a lovely time to make a TV programme about cars at time when cars were much more socially acceptable than now,’ he added.
Reflecting on some of the close calls he experienced on the show, Quentin said they ‘drove too fast and had crashes’, adding that ‘some of it’s probably not repeatable’.
‘But it was a thrill ride in those days before health and safety. It was great to be able to go on camera and say, “I’m doing 155 miles an hour on a runway at an aerodrome”, whereas, you know, that, that wouldn’t happen now,’ he explained.
‘I mean, you know, working for the BBC, you have, there’s an expectation that you’ve got to be professional, you’ve got to be proper and accurate in what you’re saying.
‘And while there’s plenty of adrenaline from driving trials fast, you’ve also got to make sure that what you’re saying is absolutely right, factually accurate, because if you don’t, someone’s always going to write it in from Eastbourne and say, you know, oh I completely disagree with this, etc.’
He worked alongside presenters including Jeremy Clarkson on Top Gear (Picture: BBC Picture Archives)
After the show was cancelled, it was revived just a year later with host Richard Hammond, James May and Jeremy Clarkson (Picture: PA)
They were then replaced with Chris Harris, Freddie Flintoff and Paddy McGuinness. (Credits: BBC/ Vincent Dolman)
But as Quentin said, he ‘wasn’t the crazy one’ (he quipped ‘I won’t name names’) and was instead the ‘measured and sensible’ presenter.
‘I had to drive a McLaren once at 190 miles an hour, which was pretty scary, but my time was spent usually telling people how to buy a Rolls-Royce for five grand or a Porsche 928 for four grand or stuff like that…I wasn’t screaming around racetracks a lot.’
Despite this Quentin (who said he’d never had any crashes or speeding fines) still feels pressure when driving or parking.
‘You are conscious that someone is always watching and there’s an iPhone and you’ve got to get it right and if, if you scrape your wheels on the curb, then you’re in trouble because it’s going to be all over the internet,’ he joked.
However, he does still get approached by fans asking him for advice, with a man recently sharing with him in a Waitrose that he managed to sell a car Quentin had suggested years ago and pay off his mortgage with the profits.
After leaving Top Gear, Quentin went on to front Channel 5’s rival motoring show Fifth Gear. But, he didn’t see it as pressure and instead supported the ‘whole grammar of TV shows about cars being broadened’.
Quentin has said car shows are needed now more than ever (Picture: Jeff Spicer/ Getty Images for Jaguar Land Rover)
Although that series is still on air, Quentin said he’d like to see another fill the gap by the brakes being pulled by Top Gear.
‘Look, I think we need a car programme. There are so many things in the world that we need to talk about when it comes to cars, electric versus combustion debate, speed limits, Chinese cars coming to the UK, trade barriers…I mean, now is, is an even more important time to have a car, but the problem with television commissioners at the moment is they’re not interested in in car programmes,’ he said.
‘I wish they were, because I think, you know, there’s an audience out there that would be very interested.’
One of his ideas would be pitting electric cars against combustion ones in ‘a kind of Top Gear challenge and drive them all around the world and see who ran out of petrol or electricity first’.
‘I think that would have a relevance and an entertainment factor. But we have a culture within television where it’s pretty risk averse. And they go through the motions of the dating, makeovers, antique and gardening shows. Don’t get me started,’ he added.
Quentin also believes another show could prove valuable for younger drivers, teaching them how to ‘fix a breakdown, change a wheel and know that that little winking light on the dashboard means that they have to service their car now and not ignore it and things like that’.
‘You know, these are really important things in life, you know, and it helps people to stop having car disasters.’
At the same time as presenting Fifth Gear, Quentin created the Britain’s Worst Driver format.
He is still approached by people asking for car advice (Picture: Ken McKay/ ITV/ Rex/ Shutterstock)
Although it’s now been nearly 20 years since he wrapped up working on those shows, Quentin’s passion for motoring is still evident. He’s recently worked with Motorway to reveal the value of some of the most recognisable cars from famous Christmas movies.
Explaining how he priced them, Quentin said he researched their mileage, features, age and how many were made to determine their worth, with Daniel’s 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE in Bridget Jones’s Diary the highest valued at £223,450.
He added that in an ‘unpredictable market’ it was also worth it for everyone to know how much their own cars are worth.
‘It means you’re empowered. You know, you’re not going to make a mistake if you’ve got that data. So that’s really important.’
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
Former Top Gear presenter Quentin Willson has said many popular car programmes wouldn’t be made today (Picture: BBC Picture Archives)
When Top Gear first raced onto screens in 1977, no-one could have predicted how popular it would become.
The motoring programme presented viewers with car reviews, road safety and consumer advice, with several of its presenters then becoming household names.
One of them was Quentin Willson, who was the show’s used car expert for a decade from 1991.
During his time on Top Gear, Quentin worked alongside Jeremy Clarkson, Vicki Butler-Henderson and James May, but after the departure of Clarkson in 1999, ratings began to decline and the BBC cancelled the series.
Although the show was revived just a year later, and then saw a presenter switch-up again in 2015, earlier this year it was confirmed the series would not return for the ‘foreseeable future’ following a horror crash that nearly killed presenter Freddie Flintoff.
Despite all this, Quentin is hopeful that series or another might one day return to screens, but he’s not convinced it could happen.
He was the show’s used car expert for a decade before hosting Channel 5’s Fifth Gear (Picture: Channel 5)
‘We were very lucky to have lived through this wonderful golden age of cars and car programmes because you couldn’t make them now,’ he told Metro.
‘It wouldn’t get screened, and people aren’t as interested…or at television commissioners aren’t as interested in cars as they were then. It was a lovely time to make a TV programme about cars at time when cars were much more socially acceptable than now,’ he added.
Reflecting on some of the close calls he experienced on the show, Quentin said they ‘drove too fast and had crashes’, adding that ‘some of it’s probably not repeatable’.
‘But it was a thrill ride in those days before health and safety. It was great to be able to go on camera and say, “I’m doing 155 miles an hour on a runway at an aerodrome”, whereas, you know, that, that wouldn’t happen now,’ he explained.
‘I mean, you know, working for the BBC, you have, there’s an expectation that you’ve got to be professional, you’ve got to be proper and accurate in what you’re saying.
‘And while there’s plenty of adrenaline from driving trials fast, you’ve also got to make sure that what you’re saying is absolutely right, factually accurate, because if you don’t, someone’s always going to write it in from Eastbourne and say, you know, oh I completely disagree with this, etc.’
He worked alongside presenters including Jeremy Clarkson on Top Gear (Picture: BBC Picture Archives)
After the show was cancelled, it was revived just a year later with host Richard Hammond, James May and Jeremy Clarkson (Picture: PA)
They were then replaced with Chris Harris, Freddie Flintoff and Paddy McGuinness.
(Credits: BBC/ Vincent Dolman)
But as Quentin said, he ‘wasn’t the crazy one’ (he quipped ‘I won’t name names’) and was instead the ‘measured and sensible’ presenter.
‘I had to drive a McLaren once at 190 miles an hour, which was pretty scary, but my time was spent usually telling people how to buy a Rolls-Royce for five grand or a Porsche 928 for four grand or stuff like that…I wasn’t screaming around racetracks a lot.’
Despite this Quentin (who said he’d never had any crashes or speeding fines) still feels pressure when driving or parking.
‘You are conscious that someone is always watching and there’s an iPhone and you’ve got to get it right and if, if you scrape your wheels on the curb, then you’re in trouble because it’s going to be all over the internet,’ he joked.
However, he does still get approached by fans asking him for advice, with a man recently sharing with him in a Waitrose that he managed to sell a car Quentin had suggested years ago and pay off his mortgage with the profits.
After leaving Top Gear, Quentin went on to front Channel 5’s rival motoring show Fifth Gear. But, he didn’t see it as pressure and instead supported the ‘whole grammar of TV shows about cars being broadened’.
Quentin has said car shows are needed now more than ever (Picture: Jeff Spicer/ Getty Images for Jaguar Land Rover)
Although that series is still on air, Quentin said he’d like to see another fill the gap by the brakes being pulled by Top Gear.
‘Look, I think we need a car programme. There are so many things in the world that we need to talk about when it comes to cars, electric versus combustion debate, speed limits, Chinese cars coming to the UK, trade barriers…I mean, now is, is an even more important time to have a car, but the problem with television commissioners at the moment is they’re not interested in in car programmes,’ he said.
‘I wish they were, because I think, you know, there’s an audience out there that would be very interested.’
One of his ideas would be pitting electric cars against combustion ones in ‘a kind of Top Gear challenge and drive them all around the world and see who ran out of petrol or electricity first’.
‘I think that would have a relevance and an entertainment factor. But we have a culture within television where it’s pretty risk averse. And they go through the motions of the dating, makeovers, antique and gardening shows. Don’t get me started,’ he added.
Quentin also believes another show could prove valuable for younger drivers, teaching them how to ‘fix a breakdown, change a wheel and know that that little winking light on the dashboard means that they have to service their car now and not ignore it and things like that’.
‘You know, these are really important things in life, you know, and it helps people to stop having car disasters.’
At the same time as presenting Fifth Gear, Quentin created the Britain’s Worst Driver format.
He is still approached by people asking for car advice (Picture: Ken McKay/ ITV/ Rex/ Shutterstock)
Although it’s now been nearly 20 years since he wrapped up working on those shows, Quentin’s passion for motoring is still evident. He’s recently worked with Motorway to reveal the value of some of the most recognisable cars from famous Christmas movies.
Explaining how he priced them, Quentin said he researched their mileage, features, age and how many were made to determine their worth, with Daniel’s 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE in Bridget Jones’s Diary the highest valued at £223,450.
He added that in an ‘unpredictable market’ it was also worth it for everyone to know how much their own cars are worth.
‘It means you’re empowered. You know, you’re not going to make a mistake if you’ve got that data. So that’s really important.’
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
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