So, you’re wondering how old is Richard Hammond? You aren't alone. For a guy who has spent the better part of two decades crashing supercars and getting roasted by Jeremy Clarkson for his "youthful" highlights, it feels like he’s been 38 for about fifteen years.
Honestly, the "Hamster" has a bit of a Benjamin Button vibe going on. Maybe it's the height. Or the hair. But the reality is that Richard Hammond is currently 56 years old.
He was born on December 19, 1969. That makes him a Sagittarius, which actually explains a lot if you believe in the whole "restless adventurer" archetype.
The Mystery of Richard Hammond’s Age
People get confused because the Top Gear and Grand Tour trio have a dynamic that never seems to change. In our heads, they are frozen in time somewhere around 2008, filming a special in a desert. But time moves on, even for the man who once survived a 319-mph crash in a jet-powered dragster.
Born in Solihull, Warwickshire, Hammond is the eldest of three boys. He didn't just pop onto our screens fully formed with a leather jacket and a love for Porsches. He worked his way up through local radio—BBC Radio Cleveland, Radio York, and Radio Cumbria—before finally hitting the big time. By the time he joined Top Gear in 2002, he was already 32.
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It’s weird to think about, right? He spent his 30s and 40s becoming one of the most recognizable faces on the planet. Now, in his mid-50s, he's navigating a very different landscape.
Life After The Grand Tour
As of early 2026, things look a bit different for the trio. The massive Amazon Prime specials that defined the last decade have evolved. While The Grand Tour: One For The Road felt like a definitive goodbye in 2024, the "final" ending isn't as simple as everyone thought.
Prime Video actually confirmed three new retrospective specials for 2026. They aren't exactly new road trips through Zimbabwe, but they feature new commentary and "behind-the-scenes" insights from Hammond and James May. Basically, they’re digging through the archives to give us a bit more of that nostalgia we crave.
Hammond hasn't just been sitting around looking at his birth certificate, though. He’s been busy with his restoration business, The Smallest Cog.
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It’s a real business, not just a TV gimmick. He’s actually putting his money where his mouth is, trying to keep classic cars on the road. It’s a bit of a pivot from destroying cars for entertainment to meticulously saving them, but it suits him. He’s also been heavily involved with DriveTribe Collective, a new evolution of his motoring community platform.
Why the "Hamster" Never Seems to Age
There’s a running joke—mostly fueled by James May’s Twitter—that Hammond is permanently 38. Fans have genuinely been shocked by his real age. On a 2023 episode of The Diary of a CEO, he even joked about his own memory, wondering if his occasional forgetfulness was just "being 53" or something more.
Well, he’s 56 now.
And he’s still wearing the same style of boots and jeans. He still has that manic energy.
- The Hair: Let’s be real. It’s stayed remarkably dark for a man in his 50s.
- The Energy: You don't see many 56-year-olds willing to get stuck in a swamp for a laugh.
- The Banter: Being the "younger brother" of the group keeps him looking younger by comparison. When you're standing next to Jeremy Clarkson, who has looked 60 since he was 40, you’re always going to look like the kid.
What’s Next for Richard Hammond in 2026?
If you're looking for the next big thing, keep an eye on Richard Hammond’s Workshop on Discovery+. It’s been renewed for new episodes, and it features a lot of his actual family, including his daughter Izzy and his mother Eileen.
There’s also been a massive stir recently. In January 2026, Jeremy Clarkson dropped a massive hint on social media about a "sensational return" to the Top Gear format with the original trio. Whether that’s a one-off special or a full series remains to be seen, but it proves that Hammond isn't ready for the retirement home just yet.
He’s also branched out into spirits (because apparently every celebrity has to now). He launched his own brand of gin and continues to host "pub chats" through his YouTube channels.
A Quick Reality Check
Life isn't all tire smoke and high-speed chases. Hammond and his wife, Mindy (Amanda Etheridge), reportedly separated recently after over 20 years of marriage. It's a reminder that while we see the "character" of Richard Hammond on screen, he’s a real person dealing with real-life milestones—both the good and the hard ones.
He’s admitted he’s at a stage where he doesn't want to buy "money-losing operations" like pubs (a subtle dig at Clarkson’s The Farmer’s Dog). Instead, he’s focused on his workshop and his legacy in the car world.
Summary of the Facts
- Current Age: 56 (as of January 2026)
- Birthday: December 19, 1969
- Place of Birth: Solihull, England
- Key 2026 Projects: The Grand-ish Tour retrospectives, Richard Hammond’s Workshop (Discovery+), and DriveTribe Collective.
If you want to keep up with what he's actually doing day-to-day, your best bet is his DriveTribe YouTube channel. He’s surprisingly active there, often doing Q&As with his daughter Izzy where they address everything from his car collection (yes, he still has "Oliver" the Opel Kadett) to his plans for the future.
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Stop thinking of him as the "young" one. He’s a veteran of the industry now.
Go check out the latest season of his workshop show if you want to see the "real" Richard Hammond—the one who gets stressed about payroll and paint finishes rather than just the guy shouting on a mountain top.