Former Top Gear presenter Quentin Willson has died aged 68 following a short illness, his family has confirmed.
Willson, who was diagnosed with lung cancer, passed away on Saturday. The Leicester-born broadcaster, writer and campaigner was described by his family as a “true national treasure” and “a passionate voice for motorists and cleaner transport alike.”
“Quentin brought the joy of motoring — from combustion to electric — into our living rooms,” his family said in a statement. “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.”
A career that shaped British motoring television
Willson joined the BBC’s Top Gear in 1991, co-presenting alongside Jeremy Clarkson and later Tiff Needell, helping to turn the show into a national institution. Known for his sharp wit and unfiltered car reviews, he remained a co-host for a decade before moving to Fifth Gear on Channel 5.
He also fronted other popular motoring programmes, including The Car’s the Star and The Classic Car Show, and contributed as a motoring journalist to several newspapers and magazines.
In later years, Willson became a campaigner for fair fuel prices through the FairFuel UK group and was an early advocate for electric vehicles, having praised General Motors’ EV1 in the 1990s — long before EVs became mainstream.
His family said he had “worked tirelessly to make EVs affordable for all,” adding that he was “always ahead of the curve.”
Fondly remembered by colleagues
Tributes have poured in from across the motoring world. James May, who worked with Willson in the 1990s, called him a “great bloke” who offered “proper advice and encouragement” during his early days in television.
Willson was also known for his memorable appearance on Strictly Come Dancing in 2004, where his spirited Cha Cha Cha earned a record-low score of eight. He later joked that he was “the dancing equivalent of a JCB” but said he was “very proud” of the experience.
“Builders ran up to me to shake my hand because I failed so badly,” he told The Independent in 2007.
Willson is survived by his wife and three children.
