Motoring World Mourns Quentin Willson
The motoring community is in mourning following the death of Quentin Willson, one of the original presenters of BBC's iconic Top Gear programme, who passed away at the age of 68.
Willson died "peacefully surrounded by his family" on Saturday, November 8, according to a statement released by his family. The renowned broadcaster and automotive journalist had been battling lung cancer.
Clarkson Leads Tributes and Responds to Critics
Jeremy Clarkson, who worked alongside Willson during Top Gear's early years, was among the first to pay tribute to his former colleague. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Clarkson wrote: "I'm far away so I've only just heard that Quentin Willson has died. We had some laughs over the years. Properly funny man."
When one social media user criticised his message as "not exactly a heartfelt ringing endorsement," Clarkson swiftly defended his words, responding: "'Properly funny man' is literally the highest accolade you can bestow on someone."
Industry Colleagues Share Memories
Other prominent figures from the motoring world joined Clarkson in celebrating Willson's life and career. Tiff Needell, fellow ex-Top Gear presenter and racing driver, expressed his grief on social media: "Oh Quentin how can you leave us so soon. So many memories of the @BBC_TopGear we built in the nineties."
James May, who later became one of Top Gear's most famous presenters, revealed that Willson had provided him with "proper advice and encouragement" when May was beginning his television career in the 1990s. May described his late colleague as a "great bloke."
Willson's family remembered him as "a true national treasure" who "brought the joy of motoring, from combustion to electric, into our living rooms." He is survived by his wife Michaela, three children named Mercedes, Max and Mini, and three grandchildren.
Beyond his television work, Willson was known as a passionate consumer champion who spearheaded campaigns including FairFuel, which helped freeze fuel duty, and FairCharge, which worked to make electric vehicles more affordable. His family noted that he had championed electric vehicles "long before it was fashionable."
Willson's career spanned decades, including 15 years writing weekly columns for The Mirror and Sunday Mirror, nine years contributing to Classic Cars Magazine, and developing numerous automotive programmes such as Britain's Worst Drivers and BBC Two's The Car's The Star. He was crowned Motoring Writer of the Year at the British Press Awards in 2004.
