Quentin Willson, an original host of Top Gear, has died at the age of 68 following a short illness.
The motoring journalist fronted the BBC programme in its first series, working alongside Jeremy Clarkson, before it reached stratospheric popularity.
He went on to host Fifth Gear on Channel 5.
Announcing his death, his loved ones shared that Willson had been diagnosed with lung cancer.
The TV star died ‘peacefully surrounded by his family’ on Saturday, November 8.
Their statement described the father of three as a ‘true national treasure’ and a ‘consumer champion’, as he advocated for several campaigns, including helping to freeze fuel duty with his FairFuel campaign, and recently worked ‘tirelessly’ to make electric vehicles affordable through his FairCharge campaign.
‘Quentin brought the joy of motoring, from combustion to electric, into our living rooms,’ said his family.
‘Long before it was fashionable, he championed the GM EV1 and the promise of electric cars, proving he was always ahead of the curve.
‘Much-loved husband to Michaela, devoted father to Mercedes, Max and Mini, and cherished grandfather to Saskia, Xander & Roxana. Quentin will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and all who knew him personally and professionally.
‘The void he has left can never be filled. His knowledge was not just learned but lived; a library of experience now beyond our reach.’
His relatives asked for privacy and said funeral arrangements will be announced in due course.
Last year, Willson spoke exclusively to Metro about working on Top Gear, where he also presented alongside Vicki Butler-Henderson and James May.
Reflecting on his stint on the show, he said: ‘We were very lucky to have lived through this wonderful golden age of cars and car programmes because you couldn’t make them now.
‘It wouldn’t get screened, and people aren’t as interested… or at least television commissioners aren’t as interested in cars as they were then.
‘It was a lovely time to make a TV programme about cars at a time when cars were much more socially acceptable than now.’
He further admitted to having some close calls during filming when the cars were driven ‘too fast’ and ‘had crashes’, scenes which are ‘probably not repeatable’ now. This came after Freddie Flintoff was almost killed in a horrific crash, resulting in the show being taken off air.
‘But it was a thrill ride in those days before health and safety,’ added Willson.
‘It was great to be able to go on camera and say, “I’m doing 155 miles an hour on a runway at an aerodrome”, whereas, you know, that wouldn’t happen now.
‘I mean, you know, working for the BBC, you have—there’s an expectation that you’ve got to be professional, you’ve got to be proper and accurate in what you’re saying.
‘And while there’s plenty of adrenaline from driving trials fast, you’ve also got to make sure that what you’re saying is absolutely right, factually accurate, because if you don’t, someone’s always going to write in from Eastbourne and say, you know, “Oh, I completely disagree with this,” etc.’
Despite this, Willson insisted he was the more ‘measured and sensible’ presenter out of his bunch, refusing to ‘name names’ about who was the ‘crazy one’.
Outside of his Top Gear stint, the broadcaster created and presented Britain’s Worst Drivers and The Car’s The Star and went on to perform on Strictly Come Dancing in 2004, where he continues to hold the lowest score in the show’s history.
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