Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May have reportedly brought their long-running TV partnership to a close after more than two decades together, winding up their joint production company worth an estimated £24 million.
The trio, who became household names on the BBC’s Top Gear before launching Amazon’s The Grand Tour, set up W. Chump & Sons with long-time producer Andy Wilman after Clarkson’s departure from the BBC in 2015.
According to filings at Companies House, the firm is now set to be struck off following a voluntary winding up, with documents lodged this week. Reports suggest the company had £24,087,100 on its books at the time of closure, meaning each of the presenters is expected to receive around £6 million.
The decision effectively marks the end of a 23-year on-screen collaboration that began with Top Gear, the BBC motoring show that became one of the most-watched programmes worldwide before Clarkson’s contract was terminated after a clash with a producer.
The trio reinvented themselves on Amazon Prime with The Grand Tour, which ran for five series before wrapping up in 2024.
Since then, all three presenters have moved on to individual projects. Clarkson has enjoyed renewed success with Clarkson’s Farm on Prime Video, which follows his attempts to run his Diddly Squat Farm in Oxfordshire with the help of sidekick Kaleb Cooper. A fifth series of the hit show has already been commissioned. He also continues to host ITV1’s reboot of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?.
James May, 62, has launched his own gin brand and fronted the Channel 5 travel series Great Explorers.
Richard Hammond, 55, will return in October with a new series of Richard Hammond’s Workshop on Discovery+, which follows his car restoration business, The Smallest Cog, where his daughter Izzy also appears.
Hammond’s personal life has also drawn headlines this year following confirmation of his separation from his wife of 28 years, Mindy. As part of divorce proceedings, she is reportedly seeking to retain their £7m Bollitree Castle estate in Herefordshire. Hammond is said to be living in a rented property nearby, where he also runs his restoration garage.
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Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May wind down £24m joint company as TV partnership ends