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Richard Hammond
Name: Richard Hammond
DOB: 19 December 1969
Birth Place: Solihull, United Kingdom
Claim to fame: Broadcaster, journalist, Top Gear totty
Star Facts
- Richard once presented the Crufts Dog Show
- Filming for Top Gear In 2006, Richard survived a horrific dragster crash while travelling at 288mph
- Stuck in traffic in 2007, Richard abandoned his Porsche 911, running 16 miles to make it home in time for his daughter’s birthday
- He plays the bass guitar
Biography
Pint-sized Top Gear totty Richard ‘Hamster’ Hammond was born in Solihull in December 1969 and grew up in Ripon, where he attended a private school before heading on to Ripon Grammar School. After graduating from college he made the move into broadcasting, presenting shows on Radio Leeds, York, Cleveland and Newcastle, among others.
A total petrol head, the Hamster landed his first TV job on the Men & Motors channel before successfully auditioning for Top Gear in 2002. Since his tenure at the show began, Top Gear has gone on to feature increasing amounts of explosions, death-defying stunts, and has now become the most-watched programme on BBC Two.
As well as his automobile fixation, Richard seems to have a real thing for science and engineering. He has presented documentaries exploring the natural world, microscopic objects, Gefilte fish, and engineering inventions, as well as Brainiac and Richard Hammond’s Blast Lab – both science-based, but basically just an excuse for blowing things up.
The Hamster married Amanda Etheridge in 2002 and the couple have two daughters. He currently hosts the totally daft but oddly addictive assault course-based gameshow Total Wipeout.