Richard Hammond has confirmed he is in a new relationship following the collapse of his marriage to Mindy after nearly three decades together.
The television presenter appeared to reference his new partner while discussing his home life in a recent interview, offering an insight into how his life has changed since his divorce was announced last year.
Speaking about his evenings in a column for The Telegraph, the former Top Gear star said: "I tend to eat relatively early. Sometimes it's just me; sometimes I'm with my girlfriend; sometimes friends are still around. I'm perfectly happy with a quiet evening watching television."
The remarks represent the first occasion on which Richard has publicly acknowledged being in a relationship since the breakdown of his marriage.
Last year proved to be a particularly difficult one for the motoring enthusiast. In February, he lost his father, Alan, while in January he and Mindy confirmed they were going their separate ways, reports the Mirror.
The couple had been together for 28 years and married for 23.
The father-of-two subsequently addressed the separation in the opening episode of the latest series of Richard Hammond's Workshop, speaking openly about adapting to life as a single man.
"Let's get something out of the way straight away," he told viewers. "There has been a slight change in my circumstances recently. I got divorced. Which means I now live here."
Reflecting on his new residence, Richard continued: "I like it. It's got amazing views, a place to keep some of my cars and bikes and best of all it's closer to the workshop. I'm trying to put a silver lining on this. It's been a tough few years, but it's not all bad."
When the couple first announced their split, they posted a joint message on social media making clear that family would remain their priority despite the change in their relationship.
"A little update from us; this Christmas we were together as a family, and this year we will still be a family but just structured a bit differently," they wrote.
"Our marriage is coming to an end, but we've had an amazing 28 years together and two incredible daughters. We will always be in each other's lives and are proud of the family we created.
"We won't be commenting further and sincerely hope that our privacy and that of our children will be respected at this time. With love, Richard and Mindy."
At 56, Richard Hammond remains one of the most recognisable motoring broadcasters in Britain. Born in Solihull and raised in Yorkshire, he cut his teeth in local radio before shooting to fame alongside Jeremy Clarkson and James May on the enormously popular motoring programme Top Gear, and later The Grand Tour.
Away from the cameras, he continues to run automotive restoration company The Smallest Cog, while pursuing projects tied to his lifelong passion for engineering. Opening up about his viewing habits, Richard told The Telegraph he had recently been enjoying the TV show Landman, saying: "I loved Landman recently, that old-school, character-led storytelling really appeals to me."
He also revealed his enthusiasm for engineering documentaries, commenting: "I have a soft spot for documentaries about engineering. I'd love to see more programmes about humans as engineers, about the thing itself rather than the presenter. I'm old school like that. I like standing next to something remarkable and explaining why it's remarkable."
Hammond now calls rural Wales home, where he has embraced a more peaceful way of life while continuing to work across television and digital projects.
