James May is the only man on earth who can make a 40-minute lecture about the molecular structure of a carburettor feel like a gripping thriller. Or, at least, he’s the only one who can do it while wearing a shirt that looks like it was stitched together from 1970s curtains.
Most people know him as "Captain Slow" from the peak years of Top Gear. You know the drill: Jeremy Clarkson shouts, Richard Hammond crashes, and James May arrives fifteen minutes late because he stopped to look at a particularly well-engineered bridge. It was a perfect dynamic. But honestly, the character people see on screen is only about half the story.
He isn't actually slow. Not really.
The Myth of Captain Slow
The nickname is a bit of a scam. Sure, James prefers a gentle waft in a Fiat Panda or an old Bristol, but the man has also pinned a Bugatti Veyron Super Sport to $259$ mph at the Ehra-Lessien test track. You don't do that if you're genuinely afraid of speed. He just thinks going fast for the sake of it is a bit... uncouth.
The "Captain Slow" persona was a brilliant bit of branding that grew out of the early 2000s relaunch of the show. James actually replaced a guy named Jason Dawe in the second series. Imagine that. The legendary trio almost didn't happen because the BBC originally thought James was "too posh" and too similar to Clarkson.
They were wrong. James brought a specific brand of "nerd-chic" that balanced the show. While Clarkson was busy "mending" things with a hammer, May was the one explaining why the hammer was the wrong weight for the job.
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What Really Happened With Top Gear
When the show imploded in 2015, James found himself at a crossroads. We all remember the "fracas." Jeremy Clarkson punched a producer over a cold steak, and the BBC decided they'd had enough.
James didn't have to leave. His contract was separate. But he basically said he wouldn't do it without the others, calling the trio a "package deal." He’s recently gone on record saying the whole ending was "very unfortunate" and that it didn't actually need to end that way. He thinks it could have been patched up.
It’s a rare moment of sentimentality from a man who usually hides behind talk of torque curves and air-cooled engines.
The Grand Tour and the "End of an Era"
The move to Amazon Prime for The Grand Tour was a massive gamble that paid off, but by 2024, the tank was empty. The final special, One For The Road, saw the guys driving through Zimbabwe and Botswana. It was the end of a 22-year partnership.
Watching James May stand in the desert, looking at the two old cars driven by his mates, you could tell he was done. Not with TV, but with the "three middle-aged men falling over" routine. He’s admitted he’s getting "on a bit." He’s 63 now. Crawling out of a rolled-over 4x4 isn't as funny when your back actually hurts.
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But if you think he's retiring to a shed to polish his spanners, you’ve got him all wrong.
James May: The Businessman and the Explorer
Since the car show era ended, James has become surprisingly busy. He’s basically turned into a lifestyle mogul for people who like things that are "just right."
The Gin Obsession
He didn't just slap his name on a bottle of booze like most celebs. He actually co-owns a pub called The Royal Oak in Swallowcliffe, Wiltshire. He bought half of it because he didn't want his local to close.
From that, James Gin was born.
He treats gin like an engineering project. His "Asian Parsnip" flavor sounds like a dare, but it’s won actual awards. He even has a flavor called "London Drizzle" designed to smell like rain on hot pavement. It's weirdly specific. It’s also very James May.
Going Live Down Under
In 2025 and 2026, James is taking a massive leap into live performance. His show, Explorers - The Age of Discovery, is touring Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore.
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It’s not about cars. It’s about Lief Ericson, James Cook, and the people who sailed into the unknown. It’s intellectual entertainment. Basically, it’s James May being allowed to talk about history and science for two hours without Clarkson calling him a "pillock."
Why He Still Matters in 2026
In a world of hyper-edited TikToks and influencers screaming for attention, James May is a breath of fresh, slightly oil-scented air. He’s authentic. He’s the guy who will spend ten minutes explaining how to properly use a manual typewriter and make you feel like you've learned something vital.
He’s moved from being "the car guy" to being "the curious guy." Whether it's his travelogues (Our Man in Japan/Italy/India) or his show about "Dull Men," he taps into a very human desire to just... know how things work.
How to Follow the "May Way"
If you're looking to capture some of that James May energy, don't just buy a tweed jacket. Look at the details.
- Appreciate the Engineering: Next time something breaks, don't hit it. Take it apart. See why it failed.
- Support the Local: He bought a pub to save a community hub. There's a lesson there about keeping the things we love alive.
- Be a "Normal Bloke": James always says "normal bloke" is his style. You don't need the flashiest car or the most expensive watch. You just need one that works perfectly.
Your Next Steps:
- Check out the live tour dates if you're in the Southern Hemisphere—these shows are the first time he's been truly "unfiltered" on stage.
- Try the gin, specifically the Asian Parsnip, if you want to understand his palate (it’s savory, not sweet).
- Watch the final Grand Tour special on Prime Video to see the closing chapter of a 20-year TV legend.
James May proved that you don't have to be the loudest person in the room to be the most interesting. Sometimes, being the guy who knows how a toaster works is enough.