Life in the Captain Slow lane

James May was born in Bristol in 1963, and as a child he dreamed of becoming either a surgeon or a fighter pilot. Top Gear viewers will be aware that he grew up to be a TV presenter instead, but he has partially fulfilled his boyhood dream of flight – he holds a private pilot’s license and owns his own plane.

As a music student at Lancaster University, James dressed up as a minstrel in order to earn money he’d play at medieval banquets at weekends. Mr. May is quite the muso, his main instruments of choice being the flute and piano.

Although he’s known as Captain Slow, James has owned an impressive array of motors over the years. Notable vehicle purchases have included Porsches, Bentleys, Rolls Royces – but he’s also partial to the Fiat Panda, and bought a yellow 1.2 litre model back in 2006.

In addition to fronting Top Gear, James has presented a number of other TV shows including Oz and James Drink to Britain and James May’s Big Ideas. He also flew to the edge of space in a Lockheed U-2 spy plane in James May on the Moon, reaching a height of 70,000ft – making him and the pilot the highest people in the world at that time, excepting the crew of the ISS.

May facts and figures...

Fusker

James has a black and white cat called Fusker, given to him as a gift by Richard Hammond’s wife Mindy. He’s mentioned that Fusker picks fights with everything, including vacuum cleaners, cars, irons, motorbikes and the Jesus action figure that lives in James’ lounge in his Hammersmith, London home.

Top May

He wasn’t one of the original presenters on the revamped Top Gear. When the iconic programme returned to the BBC’s screens in 2002, Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond were flanked by motoring journalist Jason Dawe. Although teased by Jeremy as a ‘blithering idiot’ on his debut, James soon settled in and quickly became a favourite with the viewing public.

Lights, camera…

In 2008, Mr. May was invited to switch on the Blackpool Illuminations alongside fellow Top Gear-ers Jezza and Hammond. After the crowd were warmed up by bands including Scouting for Girls and Boyzone, the boys roared into town after racing from Switzerland to the seaside. But in the end, it was actually The Stig who threw the switch and lit up the promenade!

Weird crushes

Although James was voted the TV star with the Worst Hair in a Brylcreem 2007 poll, he also won Heat magazine’s Weird Crush award in the same year. His predecessor? Richard ‘The Hamster’ Hammond, who won in 2006. And the man who stole his crown? None other than his other Top Gear cohort, Jeremy Clarkson, who triumphed in 2008.

May’s Words

May was fired from Autocar magazine in 1992 after putting together a hidden message in an issue. He now writes a weekly column for The Daily Telegraph's motoring section, and authored a book called May On Motors. He also co-wrote Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure, based on the TV series of the same name.

Sky High

May holds a private pilot’s licence and owns his own plane. He flew a Cessna 182 in the Top Gear Bugatti Veyron challenge, inviting Richard Hammond onboard as his passenger as they raced Jeremy Clarkson across Europe. James has stated that if he didn’t work on Top Gear, his alternative dream job would be either an as airline pilot or a surgeon.

Wheels

He owns five cars, including a Porsche 911, a Rolls Royce and a Fiat Panda. Although he has the keys to a number luxury vehicles at his fingertips, he drives his humble Fiat Panda the most. He’s also a big fan of the old iron horse and owns six motorbikes.

Captain Fast?

His nickname is Captain Slow, although he normally refers to himself as ‘the other bloke off Top Gear’. Although his less-than-speedy moniker is inspired by the fact that he usually finishes last in the various Top Gear challenges, May has actually executed some sterling high-speed driving, including taking the famed super car, the Bugatti Veyron, up to top speed during one episode of the show.

Pet loves

James likes Ivan Cutler, the late Scottish surreal comedian, Chopin and the book Free Fall by William Golding. His favourite gadget in the mini cheese grater. He also claims that at night, he dreams of ladies and aeroplanes, and he admires the London skyscraper 30 St Mary Axe – better known as the Gherkin.