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Mr Wilman’s Motoring Adventure: Top Gear, Grand Tour, Clarkson and Me
Not yet published
Expected 12 May 26Pre-order the rollicking, rowdy and hilarious memoir of twenty years of magic and mayhem through Top Gear and The Grand Tour, from the elusive man behind the camera
Top Gear and The Grand Tour have filled our screens with dead-cool cars, hair-raising challenges and the hilarious antics of its hosts, Clarkson, Hammond and May. Off camera, one man was there from day one – the elusive Mr Wilman.
Challenge-setter, mission-controller and arse-kicker-in-chief, Producer Andy “Neville” Wilman rode the rollercoaster as Top Gear, then Grand Tour became global phenomena – and had the time of his life doing it.
Close friends with Jeremy since their school days, their relationship was always at the heart of the shows they crafted together. In this hilarious memoir, Wilman relates the exhilarating highs and crashing lows of the biggest TV car shows . . . in the world.
Top Gear and The Grand Tour have filled our screens with dead-cool cars, hair-raising challenges and the hilarious antics of its hosts, Clarkson, Hammond and May. Off camera, one man was there from day one – the elusive Mr Wilman.
Challenge-setter, mission-controller and arse-kicker-in-chief, Producer Andy “Neville” Wilman rode the rollercoaster as Top Gear, then Grand Tour became global phenomena – and had the time of his life doing it.
Close friends with Jeremy since their school days, their relationship was always at the heart of the shows they crafted together. In this hilarious memoir, Wilman relates the exhilarating highs and crashing lows of the biggest TV car shows . . . in the world.
405 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication May 12, 2026
384 people are currently reading
1305 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
November 10, 2025
It’s difficult to articulate how much Top Gear meant to me growing up. Any peak behind the curtain would be a must-read for me.
However, Andy Wilman gives so much more than just a peak. The book sparkles with humour that had me in tears, intensity which meant I couldn’t put it down, and most importantly - a deeply human look at some of the more fraught moments without a hint of deflection.
I didn’t intend to read it in one sitting, but I couldn’t help myself.
However, Andy Wilman gives so much more than just a peak. The book sparkles with humour that had me in tears, intensity which meant I couldn’t put it down, and most importantly - a deeply human look at some of the more fraught moments without a hint of deflection.
I didn’t intend to read it in one sitting, but I couldn’t help myself.
November 8, 2025
As someone who has watched Top Gear and The Grand Tour for years, this book is everything I wanted! These shows have gotten me through some dark times, and reading behind the scenes has just made me love them even more.
January 2, 2026
Outstanding is the only way to describe this book by Top Gear and The Grand Tour co-creator, Andy Wilman—that’s Mr Wilman to you.
Top Gear was the reason Sunday nights existed, and despite the BBC slaughtering their golden goose, they did us a favour when The Grand Tour was unleashed. Wilman has been there since the beginning right through to the last moment. And what a moment it was. ‘One for the Road’ brought the trio full circle and when they unplugged their microphones on Kubu Island in Botswana and drove off in different directions into the sunset, I doubt there was anyone who didn’t cry.
In this book, he doesn’t give us any unknown titbits. He doesn’t spill the beans as it’s not a tell-all book but it’s his own take on how they created the episodes and the storylines and the magic. And boy, was it magic.
Top Gear was the reason Sunday nights existed, and despite the BBC slaughtering their golden goose, they did us a favour when The Grand Tour was unleashed. Wilman has been there since the beginning right through to the last moment. And what a moment it was. ‘One for the Road’ brought the trio full circle and when they unplugged their microphones on Kubu Island in Botswana and drove off in different directions into the sunset, I doubt there was anyone who didn’t cry.
In this book, he doesn’t give us any unknown titbits. He doesn’t spill the beans as it’s not a tell-all book but it’s his own take on how they created the episodes and the storylines and the magic. And boy, was it magic.
November 30, 2025
"… we really missed the simple days, and we knew there was no way we could ever get them back." (pg. 382)
While it lacks the comedic flair and writing skill of And on That Bombshell, the memoir of Top Gear scriptwriter Richard Porter, Mr Wilman's Motoring Adventure is a very welcome opportunity to revisit the unique magic of the Top Gear phenomenon. Author Andy Wilman was the executive producer from beginning to end and was a regular collaborator with Jeremy Clarkson going back to their schooldays (he still is, on the hit show Clarkson's Farm). After a brief exploration of his own childhood, which is useful context for explaining his motivations later on, Wilman focuses almost exclusively on the Top Gear years. He knows what readers are here for.
In one sense, the memoir is limited; there's little here that would be revelatory or even unexpected to an avid Top Gear fan, and Wilman is too genial and grateful for his good fortune to ever risk much contention or controversy. Even topics that should generate heat, like Hammond's crash(es), controversial Top Gear moments, Ben Collins' unmasking as The Stig, or the BBC's eventually successful attempts to wilfully slaughter their golden goose, are addressed in a diplomatic way. Wilman, unfortunately, is not a raconteur (though the book is capable enough and pleasant to read) and special moments such as relief over Hammond's survival(s) or witnessing spectacular vistas on foreign road trips, are delivered with a rather safe, platitudinous prose. The dough's there, but there's no heat to make it rise.
But this doesn't matter, because any disappointment that there's no particular inside-scoop or unique perspective from Wilman, despite his role as George Martin to the on-screen trio's Beatles, is immediately mitigated by this excuse we're presented with as fans to revisit those remarkable years. We can go back and revisit old DVDs, of course, and watch our favourite moments, but reading a retrospective like this book brings back to you just how much of an unlikely phenomenon it all was.
For those of us who grew up with it – I started watching Top Gear's first season as it aired in 2002, when I was 12 years old, and watched the final episode of The Grand Tour on its release date last year – the Top Gear experience was a truly special one. As Wilman rightly intuits, the organic development of the show helped us feel like the show belonged to us in some ways (pg. 235) and every Sunday evening that it was on TV generated a sort of community, a momentum that it was fun to be a passive partner in.
It was a genuine lightning-in-a-bottle TV show, and Wilman is right in likening it to a rock band (pg. 397). As much as people watching it today can admire the quality, they will never know how good it felt to see that lightning-in-a-bottle at every step since the first thunderclouds formed, and soak in every raindrop: every segment, every car, every quip and every controversy. Theirs was the best job in the world: being paid to fulfil every teenage boy's dream of going on adventures in exotic places, in fast cars, doing daft stunts and – most importantly of all – doing it with your mates. As Wilman again rightly says, "nobody would ever see the like of us again" (pg. 396).
One of the reasons I read a lot of books is in the hope of coming across and experiencing some genuinely thrilling and meaningful artistic and creative expressions – and thereby some sense of being happy at just being alive. I can pick up Andy Wilman's book for a similar reason; that of reliving, somewhat nostalgically, that same happy sensation of being alive as it was delivered reliably to me, between the ages of 12 and 25, at 8pm on Sunday evenings on BBC Two.
While it lacks the comedic flair and writing skill of And on That Bombshell, the memoir of Top Gear scriptwriter Richard Porter, Mr Wilman's Motoring Adventure is a very welcome opportunity to revisit the unique magic of the Top Gear phenomenon. Author Andy Wilman was the executive producer from beginning to end and was a regular collaborator with Jeremy Clarkson going back to their schooldays (he still is, on the hit show Clarkson's Farm). After a brief exploration of his own childhood, which is useful context for explaining his motivations later on, Wilman focuses almost exclusively on the Top Gear years. He knows what readers are here for.
In one sense, the memoir is limited; there's little here that would be revelatory or even unexpected to an avid Top Gear fan, and Wilman is too genial and grateful for his good fortune to ever risk much contention or controversy. Even topics that should generate heat, like Hammond's crash(es), controversial Top Gear moments, Ben Collins' unmasking as The Stig, or the BBC's eventually successful attempts to wilfully slaughter their golden goose, are addressed in a diplomatic way. Wilman, unfortunately, is not a raconteur (though the book is capable enough and pleasant to read) and special moments such as relief over Hammond's survival(s) or witnessing spectacular vistas on foreign road trips, are delivered with a rather safe, platitudinous prose. The dough's there, but there's no heat to make it rise.
But this doesn't matter, because any disappointment that there's no particular inside-scoop or unique perspective from Wilman, despite his role as George Martin to the on-screen trio's Beatles, is immediately mitigated by this excuse we're presented with as fans to revisit those remarkable years. We can go back and revisit old DVDs, of course, and watch our favourite moments, but reading a retrospective like this book brings back to you just how much of an unlikely phenomenon it all was.
For those of us who grew up with it – I started watching Top Gear's first season as it aired in 2002, when I was 12 years old, and watched the final episode of The Grand Tour on its release date last year – the Top Gear experience was a truly special one. As Wilman rightly intuits, the organic development of the show helped us feel like the show belonged to us in some ways (pg. 235) and every Sunday evening that it was on TV generated a sort of community, a momentum that it was fun to be a passive partner in.
It was a genuine lightning-in-a-bottle TV show, and Wilman is right in likening it to a rock band (pg. 397). As much as people watching it today can admire the quality, they will never know how good it felt to see that lightning-in-a-bottle at every step since the first thunderclouds formed, and soak in every raindrop: every segment, every car, every quip and every controversy. Theirs was the best job in the world: being paid to fulfil every teenage boy's dream of going on adventures in exotic places, in fast cars, doing daft stunts and – most importantly of all – doing it with your mates. As Wilman again rightly says, "nobody would ever see the like of us again" (pg. 396).
One of the reasons I read a lot of books is in the hope of coming across and experiencing some genuinely thrilling and meaningful artistic and creative expressions – and thereby some sense of being happy at just being alive. I can pick up Andy Wilman's book for a similar reason; that of reliving, somewhat nostalgically, that same happy sensation of being alive as it was delivered reliably to me, between the ages of 12 and 25, at 8pm on Sunday evenings on BBC Two.
January 8, 2026
Goated TV show, great book.
January 20, 2026
An entertaining read, nicely paced.
Ten out of ten !
Ten out of ten !
January 4, 2026
Some say... this is the perfect nostalgia bomb for any TG/GT fan.
January 4, 2026
It’s a history of Top Gear & The Grand Tour by Mr. Wilman, it’s everything I wanted it to be.
I can still remember my dad putting an episode of Top Gear on and our family all piled onto the couch in front of the tv to watch. It’s what pushed my brother and I into karting/racing and wanting to drive fast cars at dangerous speeds (in as safe a manner as possible, of course); while also igniting a love of motorsport that continues to this day (just ask my wife, specifically when Le Mans is on and it’s 1 in the morning).
Top Gear was the catalyst for all of this and has been a part of my life through both good and bad, from nights where it was put on because I just needed the joy and comfort it brought, to begging to stay up past our bedtime to watch the next episode.
This book encapsulates all those feelings and its perfect.
I can still remember my dad putting an episode of Top Gear on and our family all piled onto the couch in front of the tv to watch. It’s what pushed my brother and I into karting/racing and wanting to drive fast cars at dangerous speeds (in as safe a manner as possible, of course); while also igniting a love of motorsport that continues to this day (just ask my wife, specifically when Le Mans is on and it’s 1 in the morning).
Top Gear was the catalyst for all of this and has been a part of my life through both good and bad, from nights where it was put on because I just needed the joy and comfort it brought, to begging to stay up past our bedtime to watch the next episode.
This book encapsulates all those feelings and its perfect.
February 3, 2026
Growing up, Top Gear was proper Sunday night TV in our house. Full of roast dinner, everyone slumped on the sofa by 8pm, mum included, despite it being marketed as a “blokes’ show”. Those evenings are baked into my childhood, and they’re where my love of cars really started.
This book feels like a nostalgic love letter to that era. Whether you loved or loathed the presenters, Clarkson, Hammond and May were the perfect trio, and Andy Wilman was right there shaping the magic. His writing is thoughtful, and a genuine insight into what was happening behind the scenes without just repeating the episodes we all remember. It’s more about the atmosphere, the chaos, and the moments off camera which makes it all the more enjoyable.
It’s an emotional read if you’re a fan, but in the best possible way. Warm, nostalgic, and in the same vein, very self deprecating. The plane analogy throughout is brilliant.
Much like the final moments of The Grand Tour, closing this book felt bittersweet. A gentle reminder that those golden days are over, and all we have now are the memories. And honestly? That’s enough.
Bravo, Andy.
This book feels like a nostalgic love letter to that era. Whether you loved or loathed the presenters, Clarkson, Hammond and May were the perfect trio, and Andy Wilman was right there shaping the magic. His writing is thoughtful, and a genuine insight into what was happening behind the scenes without just repeating the episodes we all remember. It’s more about the atmosphere, the chaos, and the moments off camera which makes it all the more enjoyable.
It’s an emotional read if you’re a fan, but in the best possible way. Warm, nostalgic, and in the same vein, very self deprecating. The plane analogy throughout is brilliant.
Much like the final moments of The Grand Tour, closing this book felt bittersweet. A gentle reminder that those golden days are over, and all we have now are the memories. And honestly? That’s enough.
Bravo, Andy.
November 11, 2025
Andy Wilman’s Motoring Adventure is an absolute gem. It is a beautifully told, heartfelt, and hilarious behind-the-scenes journey through the epic world of Top Gear. It made me laugh out loud and cry in equal measure. Every page radiates Andy’s unmistakable voice: wickedly funny, brilliantly self-deprecating, and full of that rare humility of someone who has no idea just how much brilliance he’s brought into the world. His gratitude to the fans and the people who shared the journey is woven through every line. His humanity and kindness shine through every story. It’s an honest, tender, and deeply human love letter to one of the most extraordinary chapters in television history.
December 31, 2025
Mr. Wilman’s Motoring Adventure is a nostalgic and genuinely funny memoir. Although I came to Top Gear fairly late, that didn’t stop me from enjoying this immensely.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Andy Wilman himself, and his delivery perfectly captures the humour, chaos, and irreverent spirit that defined the show. You already know the when and the what—this book focuses on the why and the how. It’s fascinating to hear how Top Gear became such a cultural phenomenon, often succeeding in spite of its own setbacks and near-misses.
The narrative jumps around at times, but it’s an easy, entertaining listen that reliably raises a smile—and more often than not, a laugh.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Andy Wilman himself, and his delivery perfectly captures the humour, chaos, and irreverent spirit that defined the show. You already know the when and the what—this book focuses on the why and the how. It’s fascinating to hear how Top Gear became such a cultural phenomenon, often succeeding in spite of its own setbacks and near-misses.
The narrative jumps around at times, but it’s an easy, entertaining listen that reliably raises a smile—and more often than not, a laugh.
January 13, 2026
As Top Gear was a tv show that I adored growing up I was expecting big things from this behind the scenes perspective from its infamous producer. I was not disappointed. Lots of interesting tidbits and stories and I was pleasantly surprised to find out how “real” a lot of the films were. Easy reading, perfect for a holiday on the beach. Definitely found myself chuckling along with some sections!
November 26, 2025
Una de mis lecturas favoritas del año. El libro es un compendio de anécdotas y momentos “entre bambalinas” que encantará a cualquier fan del mítico trío. El humor es fantástico y muy en la línea de lo que transmitían en TV. Lo mejor es poder ver la química y, sobre todo, la espontaneidad real que siempre los ha caracterizado.
El libro está estructurado de forma cronológica y muy clara, lo que hace que la lectura fluya casi como si estuvieras viendo los episodios en tu cabeza. Página tras página, descubrí un montón de detalles nuevos sobre cómo muchas de las situaciones icónicas surgieron realmente de manera improvisada. Eso sí, es un libro pensado para fans.
En resumen: divertido, cercano y lleno de sorpresas que amplían y celebran lo que ya queríamos del trío. Una lectura imprescindible.
El libro está estructurado de forma cronológica y muy clara, lo que hace que la lectura fluya casi como si estuvieras viendo los episodios en tu cabeza. Página tras página, descubrí un montón de detalles nuevos sobre cómo muchas de las situaciones icónicas surgieron realmente de manera improvisada. Eso sí, es un libro pensado para fans.
En resumen: divertido, cercano y lleno de sorpresas que amplían y celebran lo que ya queríamos del trío. Una lectura imprescindible.
December 21, 2025
For those of us who grew up with the infamous 2002 reformat of ‘Top Gear’ as the Sunday night backing track to our childhoods, this book is an utter joy to read, a very nostalgic look back at one of television’s most iconic and creative programs from the man who was there from the beginning. Will expand on this when I have time.
January 4, 2026
An entertaining and nostalgic read, especially for fans of Top Gear and The Grand Tour. It was fun to get a glimpse behind the scenes, with a few genuinely funny moments along the way. Not laugh-out-loud throughout, but still an enjoyable backstage look at twenty years of motoring TV magic.
November 14, 2025
loved listening to behind the scenes info of episodes i loved growing up.
November 15, 2025
A 5 IF you are a fan. Ut then again I can’t imagine anyone not a fan of the shows picking this up.
November 21, 2025
Nostalgic
January 11, 2026
One for the fans
December 3, 2025
Worked my way through the last few pages with tears in my eyes. Fabulous memories. If you were ever a fan of this show, then you really should read this book.
January 25, 2026
I have nothing but praise to sing about this book. What an absolutely fantastic and fascinating look into the most successful motoring shows in history. The detail Mr Willman goes into about the philosophy of top gear and the dynamic that made it such a once in a century show was incredible. I highly highly highly recommend this book
December 28, 2025
Like many people it's a story I mostly knew, but delivered in a way to moisten the eyes and make you laugh until you are gasping for breath.
December 14, 2025
The book promises a storyteller’s perspective but never really delivers one. Despite frequent reminders that storytelling is the author’s greatest strength, it lacks any narrative.
The repeated fallback to “as you would’ve seen in the show” is especially frustrating. Instead of adding depth or offering behind-the-scenes insight, the book simply gestures back to the programme, providing little that feels new or worthwhile. Fans gain nothing extra, and newcomers are left without proper context.
Overall, the book is thin, repetitive, and strangely hollow. There’s little in the way of substance or reflection, and it never commits to being a memoir, an exposé, or even a meaningful peek behind the curtain.
The repeated fallback to “as you would’ve seen in the show” is especially frustrating. Instead of adding depth or offering behind-the-scenes insight, the book simply gestures back to the programme, providing little that feels new or worthwhile. Fans gain nothing extra, and newcomers are left without proper context.
Overall, the book is thin, repetitive, and strangely hollow. There’s little in the way of substance or reflection, and it never commits to being a memoir, an exposé, or even a meaningful peek behind the curtain.
January 19, 2026
Just before reading this book, I read Diddly Squat: A Year on the Farm by Jeremy Clarkson. That book was nothing more than a collection of articles that were basically slightly more fleshed-out anecdotes taken from the TV show that fans of the show had already seen. I therefore worried that this book might be more of the same, but gladly, that was not the case.
In fact, in this book, references to the show we all know seem to exist only to create a timeline and milestones for the behind-the-scenes anecdotes Mr Wilman provides. It turns out that, as fascinating as Top Gear was as a show, there was just as much that was interesting happening behind the camera. The story about the crew's experiences in Argentina, in particular, was fascinating to read.
However, as much as there was here that was unique, there was also plenty of expansion on things that we already knew about from the show. This provided some welcome context to famous moments that either made me view those events in a new light or simply made me enjoy those stories even more. A good example of this was the insight into just how much of the show was scripted and how much wasn't. To my surprise, many scenes I expected to be scripted for dramatic purposes (like the team's adventures in Alabama) were actually genuine. They might have set up the drama in terms of doing something that they knew might be explosive, but the results were genuine and will make me watch that episode in a new light in the future.
Overall, I really enjoyed this behind-the-scenes look into the Top Gear and the Grand Tour world. My only disappointment was that I would have liked to see the author continue beyond the Grand Tour into Clarkson's farm. I know that it's not a motoroing adventure, but I have no doubt that there are some interesting stories to be told behind the scenes there as well. Never mind, I guess that will probably come in a future book if this book does well.
In fact, in this book, references to the show we all know seem to exist only to create a timeline and milestones for the behind-the-scenes anecdotes Mr Wilman provides. It turns out that, as fascinating as Top Gear was as a show, there was just as much that was interesting happening behind the camera. The story about the crew's experiences in Argentina, in particular, was fascinating to read.
However, as much as there was here that was unique, there was also plenty of expansion on things that we already knew about from the show. This provided some welcome context to famous moments that either made me view those events in a new light or simply made me enjoy those stories even more. A good example of this was the insight into just how much of the show was scripted and how much wasn't. To my surprise, many scenes I expected to be scripted for dramatic purposes (like the team's adventures in Alabama) were actually genuine. They might have set up the drama in terms of doing something that they knew might be explosive, but the results were genuine and will make me watch that episode in a new light in the future.
Overall, I really enjoyed this behind-the-scenes look into the Top Gear and the Grand Tour world. My only disappointment was that I would have liked to see the author continue beyond the Grand Tour into Clarkson's farm. I know that it's not a motoroing adventure, but I have no doubt that there are some interesting stories to be told behind the scenes there as well. Never mind, I guess that will probably come in a future book if this book does well.
January 13, 2026
The audiobook of Mr Wilman’s Motoring Adventure is an absolute treat — it feels less like a memoir being read to you and more like Andy Wilman chatting away on a long drive, sharing stories he’s finally got the time to tell. The conversational tone works perfectly in audio form, bringing warmth, humour and genuine affection to every chapter.
Hearing Wilman narrate (or effectively “tell”) his own story adds real authenticity. His delivery is relaxed, self-aware and often quietly funny, especially when recounting the chaos, ambition and sheer madness behind Top Gear and The Grand Tour. The behind-the-scenes stories land better in audio — you can hear the fondness, the exasperation and the pride in his voice, which makes the whole experience feel far more personal than print alone ever could.
What really shines is the pacing. The audiobook is broken into digestible sections, making it ideal for commuting or long drives — fitting, given the subject matter. Wilman’s reflections on creativity, friendship and risk-taking feel natural and unforced, and the motoring anecdotes are balanced nicely with broader life observations.
This isn’t a gossipy tell-all or a technical deep dive — it’s a thoughtful, funny and surprisingly moving account of how a group of people changed motoring television forever. For fans of Top Gear, The Grand Tour, or anyone interested in how great television actually gets made, the audiobook is easily the best way to experience it.
Highly recommended — especially if you enjoy your audiobooks feeling like a good companion on the road rather than a formal reading.
Hearing Wilman narrate (or effectively “tell”) his own story adds real authenticity. His delivery is relaxed, self-aware and often quietly funny, especially when recounting the chaos, ambition and sheer madness behind Top Gear and The Grand Tour. The behind-the-scenes stories land better in audio — you can hear the fondness, the exasperation and the pride in his voice, which makes the whole experience feel far more personal than print alone ever could.
What really shines is the pacing. The audiobook is broken into digestible sections, making it ideal for commuting or long drives — fitting, given the subject matter. Wilman’s reflections on creativity, friendship and risk-taking feel natural and unforced, and the motoring anecdotes are balanced nicely with broader life observations.
This isn’t a gossipy tell-all or a technical deep dive — it’s a thoughtful, funny and surprisingly moving account of how a group of people changed motoring television forever. For fans of Top Gear, The Grand Tour, or anyone interested in how great television actually gets made, the audiobook is easily the best way to experience it.
Highly recommended — especially if you enjoy your audiobooks feeling like a good companion on the road rather than a formal reading.
January 10, 2026
Ambitious, but excellent! Needless to say, this is a must-read for fans of the Clarkson, Hammond and May era of Top Gear. For those who never had an interest in this phenomenon of British TV then clearly this isn’t for you, but I would argue that for those in between who weren’t super fans but still enjoyed the show, this is still a worthwhile entertaining read.
This is a hilarious, revealing and poignant account of a man who inadvertently found his calling in life. Mr Wilman acknowledges his aptitude for (and love of) telling stories and this book is further proof of that. All of the key moments that fans want to read about are in here and he doesn’t unnecessarily describe everything we saw on screen, instead wisely choosing to elaborate on the details we didn’t see.
A few typos missed by the editor but in true Top Gear/Grand Tour fashion, Mr Wilman can rightfully be excused for sacrificing polished perfection for good storytelling. There are also a couple of minor factual inaccuracies, but these are so minor and inconsequential to the story that my pedantic corrections would be suited to Clarkson’s adenoids voice mockery.
Thank you Andy, Jeremy, Richard and James (and of course all the crew that worked on both shows that get their deserved mentions throughout the book). You made something special that will stay with me forever and this book felt like the perfect eulogy for what you created.
This is a hilarious, revealing and poignant account of a man who inadvertently found his calling in life. Mr Wilman acknowledges his aptitude for (and love of) telling stories and this book is further proof of that. All of the key moments that fans want to read about are in here and he doesn’t unnecessarily describe everything we saw on screen, instead wisely choosing to elaborate on the details we didn’t see.
A few typos missed by the editor but in true Top Gear/Grand Tour fashion, Mr Wilman can rightfully be excused for sacrificing polished perfection for good storytelling. There are also a couple of minor factual inaccuracies, but these are so minor and inconsequential to the story that my pedantic corrections would be suited to Clarkson’s adenoids voice mockery.
Thank you Andy, Jeremy, Richard and James (and of course all the crew that worked on both shows that get their deserved mentions throughout the book). You made something special that will stay with me forever and this book felt like the perfect eulogy for what you created.
December 15, 2025
This is a satisfying postscript to Top Gear / Grand Tour as it existed for over twenty years. However, it is not for newcomers. Andy Wilman assumes that his readers know (and have watched) Jeremy, Richard and James drive, test, build, destroy and prank one another. If you don’t understand me, stop now and look elsewhere for your next read.
If you are still with me let me tell you what this book is not. It is not controversial. It does not attack the BBC for their demise. It does not blame Jeremy (except with humor). It does not describe episodes in detail. It is not a practical history of the programs or their development.
So what is it? The book is Andy Wilman’s memories (roughly chronological) of personalities and places. He describes the inspiration and creative process that guided the programming. He discusses successful projects and failures. He does describe some events in detail (the escape from Argentina) and totally ignores many others.
I listed to the audio book, narrated by Andy himself. He does a nice job. I enjoyed this for what it is, an episodic memoir that fills some of the gaps in the video record.
If you are still with me let me tell you what this book is not. It is not controversial. It does not attack the BBC for their demise. It does not blame Jeremy (except with humor). It does not describe episodes in detail. It is not a practical history of the programs or their development.
So what is it? The book is Andy Wilman’s memories (roughly chronological) of personalities and places. He describes the inspiration and creative process that guided the programming. He discusses successful projects and failures. He does describe some events in detail (the escape from Argentina) and totally ignores many others.
I listed to the audio book, narrated by Andy himself. He does a nice job. I enjoyed this for what it is, an episodic memoir that fills some of the gaps in the video record.
December 18, 2025
I loved every single second of this book! It is scrumptious. Not only was I a huge fan of Top Gear and The Grand Tour, I also love the four creative minds behind those programs. Mr. Wilman provides an incredibly well-written and thoughtful bird's-eye view of what was happening behind the scenes, how the magic was conjured, and the realities of putting on a first-class motoring show for the entire world. The writing is absolutely superb. Nearly flawless in its delivery, it flows with the everyman feel of the TV shows, but offers blinding clarity into what was a global phenomenon. I cannot tell you how much Mr. Wilman's writing added to the pleasure of reading! One forgets from time to time what a great joy it is to read someone who crafts phrases and sentences for the reader's enjoyment. I felt, at the end, as if Mr. Wilman wrote this just for me. It is insightful, thoughtful, reflective, and a true testament to the four-way creative relationship between Wilman, Jeremy Clarkson, James May, and Richard Hammond. If you ever even caught an episode of one of the shows, buy this book and treat yourself. You will devour it and praise it to the heavens.
January 9, 2026
I've been eagerly awaiting Andy's take on the shows that have enchanted me for the last thirteen years. He doesn't disappoint.
Andy tells some great stories about being childhood pals with Jeremy Clarkson and how Jezza helped him get into the journalism and TV business. Over time, Andy developed into a fine producer and worked his butt off to turn Top Gear from a pedestrian motoring show into a global phenomenon. He then helped bring The Grand Tour to life in 2015.
I was particularly interested to see how he handled the accidents and controversies that surrounded the shows. As I pretty much suspected, Andy still defends some of the juvenile white-boy shenanigans even now.
*Shrug* It is what it is.
The backstory to the Argentina fiasco was a LOT scarier than I realized, and Andy does a great job explaining what happened there.
If you are a fan of Top Gear and/or The Grand Tour, you will appreciate this book.
Andy tells some great stories about being childhood pals with Jeremy Clarkson and how Jezza helped him get into the journalism and TV business. Over time, Andy developed into a fine producer and worked his butt off to turn Top Gear from a pedestrian motoring show into a global phenomenon. He then helped bring The Grand Tour to life in 2015.
I was particularly interested to see how he handled the accidents and controversies that surrounded the shows. As I pretty much suspected, Andy still defends some of the juvenile white-boy shenanigans even now.
*Shrug* It is what it is.
The backstory to the Argentina fiasco was a LOT scarier than I realized, and Andy does a great job explaining what happened there.
If you are a fan of Top Gear and/or The Grand Tour, you will appreciate this book.
December 28, 2025
A look behind the scenes of how Wilman and Clarkson took on and reinvented Top Gear, then as things fell out with BBC the creation of Grand Tour for Amazon.
There is a bit of biography- but just enough to provide context. Not that Andy’s own story isn’t interesting, it’s the dynamic between Andy, Clarkson, May and Hammond and getting some glimpses of them not as just presenters but as people that is fascinating.
We see how much of the mucking about is pre planned, what is purely by chance and spur of the moment, and the hoops that need to jumped through to achieve something that looks so effortless.
If you’re a Top Gear or Grand Tour fan - this is mandatory reading. But even if you think Clarkson & co are a bunch of chancers - there are great insights into the effort involved in making a TV show and worthy of reading.
There is a bit of biography- but just enough to provide context. Not that Andy’s own story isn’t interesting, it’s the dynamic between Andy, Clarkson, May and Hammond and getting some glimpses of them not as just presenters but as people that is fascinating.
We see how much of the mucking about is pre planned, what is purely by chance and spur of the moment, and the hoops that need to jumped through to achieve something that looks so effortless.
If you’re a Top Gear or Grand Tour fan - this is mandatory reading. But even if you think Clarkson & co are a bunch of chancers - there are great insights into the effort involved in making a TV show and worthy of reading.
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