James May, the 63-year-old former Grand Tour and Top Gear presenter, has opened up about his health following a series of accidents, including a 75mph crash in Norway that left him with a broken rib. He admitted he doesn't want to 'fall apart in public' and has been candid about his physical decline.
75mph Crash in Norway
In 2022, while filming A Scandi Flick for The Grand Tour, May crashed a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII sideways into a tunnel wall at 75mph. Co-star Richard Hammond feared May was dead, but May downplayed the incident, saying: 'I could easily big this up, but in truth it wasn't as bad as it possibly looks. Hammond has much better crashes.' He was rushed to hospital and suffered a broken rib, but returned to filming.
Bike Crash and Other Injuries
In 2024, after The Grand Tour ended, May was injured in a bike crash while training for a charity ride near Hammersmith Bridge. He 'bust his wrist' and admitted recovery takes longer due to his age. Earlier, in 2010, he lost consciousness while filming Top Gear, hitting his head on a rock and requiring a brain scan, IV drip, and stitches for a head wound. He recalled 'a lot of blood'.
Near-Death Plane Crash
May said he 'came closest to death' when he crashed his aeroplane attempting to land in a heavy crosswind. He told The i: 'The next thing the aeroplane was on its back. There could have been a fire, which would have been the end of me.' He later earned his private pilot's licence after a spur-of-the-moment flying lesson.
Health and Aging
May admitted he has 'become flabby around his face and gut' and sees himself as 'quite an old man'. He now cycles 10 miles a day to stay fit. He also addressed his 'eye tics', often seen on camera, after a troll on X called them 'annoying'. May quipped: 'Don't mock the afflicted.'
Retirement from Grand Tour
May cited health concerns as a reason for leaving The Grand Tour. In 2019, he said: 'I'm developing nervous disorders and aches and I don't think I'll do this much longer because I don't want to fall apart in public. It would just be a bit undignified and I don't think people want to see it.'
