Jeremy Clarkson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jeremy Clarkson
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Clarkson in 2012
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Jeremy Charles Robert Clarkson
11 April 1960 Sprotbrough, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
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| Years active | 1988–present |
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Notable credit(s)
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| Partner(s) | Lisa Hogan (2017–present) |
| Children | 3 |
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Jeremy Charles Robert Clarkson (born 11 April 1960) is an English TV host, journalist, and writer who is famous for his work on shows about cars. He is best known for hosting Top Gear and The Grand Tour with his co-hosts Richard Hammond and James May.
Clarkson also writes weekly articles for The Sunday Times and The Sun newspapers. He is the current host of the game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. More recently, he stars in the popular show Clarkson's Farm, which follows his life as a farmer.
He started his career as a local journalist in England. He became famous when he started hosting the original Top Gear in 1988. By the 1990s, he was a well-known personality on British TV. Besides cars, Clarkson has made shows and written books about history and engineering. His funny but strong opinions have often made people talk.
In 2015, the BBC decided not to continue his contract after a disagreement with a Top Gear producer. After leaving the BBC, Clarkson, Hammond, and May started a new car show called The Grand Tour for Amazon Prime Video.
Contents
Early Life and School
Jeremy Charles Robert Clarkson was born in Sprotbrough, England. His parents, Shirley and Edward, ran a small business selling tea cosies (covers that keep teapots warm). They wanted to send him to a private school but weren't sure how they could afford it.
When Jeremy was 13, his parents created two stuffed toys of Paddington Bear for him and his sister. The toys became so popular that they started a business selling them. They made a deal with the creator of Paddington Bear, Michael Bond, and were given the rights to sell the toys worldwide. This success allowed them to pay for Jeremy's school fees.
Clarkson attended Repton School, but he has said he was very unhappy there because of bullying. He was later expelled from the school for "making a nuisance of himself." One of his classmates was Adrian Newey, who would later become a famous Formula One engineer.
Career in Television and Writing
Early Career
Clarkson's first job was selling Paddington Bear toys for his parents. He then trained to be a journalist and wrote for several local newspapers. He started writing about cars for the Shropshire Star. He said it took him about ten years before he was allowed to test-drive a super-fast car like a Lamborghini.
In 1984, he started his own company with another journalist to write car reviews for newspapers and magazines. He has been writing for Top Gear magazine since it started in 1993.
Top Gear and The Grand Tour
Clarkson's first big TV job was hosting the original Top Gear show from 1988. He became famous for his funny and opinionated style.
In 2002, Top Gear was relaunched with a new format, and Clarkson returned as the main host. He was joined by Richard Hammond and James May. The three hosts became a famous team, known for their amazing road trips, funny challenges, and friendly arguments. The show became one of the most-watched TV shows in the world.
In 2015, after Clarkson left the BBC, he, Hammond, and May created a new car show for Amazon Prime Video called The Grand Tour. The show followed a similar style to Top Gear, with the hosts traveling the world to drive and review cars.
Other TV Shows
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Besides car shows, Clarkson has hosted many other programs.
- Robot Wars: He hosted the first series of this show where people build robots to fight each other.
- Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?: Since 2018, he has been the host of this popular quiz show.
- Documentaries: He has made documentaries about history and engineering, such as The Victoria Cross: For Valour, which told the story of brave soldiers.
- Clarkson's Farm: In 2021, he started a show about his own farm, Diddly Squat Farm. The show became a huge hit and shows the funny and difficult parts of farming.
Clarkson's Views and Influence
Clarkson is known for having strong opinions and a humorous way of sharing them. He often jokes about things that annoy him, which many people find entertaining.
Politics and Government
Clarkson believes in personal freedom and thinks the government should not create too many rules for people. He often criticized past governments for what he called a "ban culture," like the ban on smoking in public places.
He supported staying in the European Union during the 2016 Brexit vote. He thought that even though the EU wasn't perfect, it was better for Britain to be a part of it. He is a personal friend of former Prime Minister David Cameron.
The Environment
Clarkson has often been critical of some environmental movements. However, he has also said that he loves the goal of protecting the environment and that people should try to be more eco-friendly.
While filming The Grand Tour in Cambodia, he saw how climate change was affecting the Mekong River. He said it was "genuinely alarming," but he still questioned how much of it was caused by humans.
What Cars Does Clarkson Like?
As a car expert, Clarkson has driven almost every car imaginable. He has strong opinions on which cars are great and which are not.
Cars He Likes
Clarkson has said that "you can't be a true petrolhead until you've owned an Alfa Romeo." He considers the Lexus LFA to be the best car he has ever driven. He is also a big fan of the Czech-made Škoda Yeti, once calling it "possibly the best car in the world."
He also has a special place in his heart for the Porsche 928. He once used one to drive from London to Sheffield to see his father in the hospital before he passed away. He said the car's speed allowed him to say a final goodbye.
Cars He Dislikes
Clarkson is famous for his dislike of the British car brand Rover. He often criticized the company for its poorly made cars. He has also expressed a strong dislike for many Vauxhall cars, especially the Vauxhall Vectra, which he called "one of the worst chassis I've ever come across."
Personal Life
Clarkson has been married twice and has three children. Since 2017, he has been in a relationship with Lisa Hogan, who also appears on Clarkson's Farm. He lives near Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire, where his farm is located.
He is a fan of the rock band Genesis and the football team Chelsea FC. In August 2024, he opened his own pub near his farm called The Farmer's Dog.
In 2017, he was hospitalized with pneumonia while on holiday in Spain. In 2024, he revealed he had a stent fitted in a hospital in Oxford after feeling unwell.
Images for kids
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Clarkson (second from left) at a Top Gear Live show in 2011.
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A Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder, a type of car Clarkson once owned.
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See also
In Spanish: Jeremy Clarkson para niños
