former Top Gear presenter Quentin Willson Dies Aged 68
Quentin Willson, a familiar face to British television viewers as a presenter on Top Gear and host of The Classic Car Show, has died aged 68. The motoring journalist and broadcaster passed away on August 1st, prompting tributes from former colleagues and industry figures. No cause of death has been publicly disclosed.
Willson rose to prominence in the 1990s as a presenter on the original Top Gear format, becoming known for his expertise and enthusiastic approach to cars. Beyond television, he established himself as a respected motoring writer, contributing for 15 years to the Mirror and Sunday Mirror, and also writing for Classic Cars magazine. He was awarded motoring writer of the year at the British Press Awards in 2004.
Fellow Top Gear presenter James May described Willson as a “great bloke,” recalling, “Quentin Willson gave me proper advice and encouragement during my earliest attempts at TV, back in the late 90s. I’ve never forgotten it.” Tiff Needell, a former presenter on both Top Gear and Fifth Gear, expressed his sadness, stating, ”Oh Quentin how can you leave us so soon. So many memories of the @BBC_TopGear we built in the nineties that I wanted to remember with you again.” Needell also jokingly requested the upload of a film featuring himself, Willson, and Jeremy Clarkson in a Ford Puma, highlighting the camaraderie of their time together.
Willson’s career extended beyond reviewing and presenting.He founded the warranty company Warrantywise, lauded by Lawrence Whittaker, owner of Lister Cars, as having “revolutionised…the car warranty market” and “made the entire UK motor trade a better place.” More recently, Willson championed electric vehicle accessibility through his work with faircharge, described by Ginny Buckley, chief executive of Electrifying.com, as demonstrating his “passion for making electric vehicles accessible to all.”
Despite his professional successes, Willson also experienced a memorable moment on the dance floor, achieving the lowest score in the history of Strictly Come Dancing in 2004, receiving an eight for his cha-cha-cha with Hazel Newberry. He is survived by his wife.
