Richard Hammond Admits 'We Could've Got There' Without Clarkson on Top Gear
Richard Hammond has reflected on Jeremy Clarkson's shocking axe from Top Gear in 2015. Appearing on the High Performance podcast on Thursday (22 October), the presenter admitted that he and co-star James May "could have got there" as a two, but ultimately made the right decision to quit in solidarity with Jeremy. Asked why he'd turned down the BBC's offer to stay on with editorial control, Jeremy told hosts Jake Humphrey and Damian Hughes, "I was appreciative of what we had when we were together, all of us. I knew the audience was loyal to us; I knew we'd have had a pretty savage time going on without Jeremy, but we could have got there.
TL;DR
- Richard Hammond and James May could have continued Top Gear without Jeremy Clarkson.
- They chose to quit in solidarity with Clarkson after his 2015 axe from the show.
- Hammond highlighted the trio's 'instinctive' dynamic and 'idiot genius' as key to Top Gear's success.
- The presenters' ability to react to chaotic and unpredictable situations was essential.
- Long planning periods for specials relied on the team's collective instinct rather than detailed guarantees.