Jeremy Clarkson Fights Back Tears as He Pays Tribute to Longtime Friend.
Jeremy Clarkson has received an outpouring of support from fans after posting a visibly emotional video honouring his longtime friend and collaborator, Andy Wilman—the producer widely credited with shaping Top Gear into one of the most successful motoring programmes in television history.
The heartfelt message, shared on Instagram on Thursday, November 6, offered a rare glimpse into Clarkson’s personal reflections on a professional partnership that has spanned more than two decades. While introducing Wilman’s newly released book, Mr Wilman’s Motoring Adventure, Clarkson struggled at moments to maintain his composure as he described the pivotal role his former schoolmate played behind the scenes of Top Gear and later The Grand Tour.
Clarkson, now 65 and best known to global audiences for both the motoring franchises and his more recent hit series Clarkson’s Farm, told viewers: “I just want to talk, if I may for a moment, about Top Gear. The man responsible for it being an incredible success is a man called Andy Wilman.”
A partnership forged long before the cameras rolled
Clarkson and Wilman met as teenagers at Repton School in Derbyshire, forming a friendship that would later help define modern motoring entertainment. When Clarkson returned to Top Gear in the early 2000s, it was Wilman—then a relatively low-profile producer—who helped reinvent the show with a new format, edgier storytelling, and ambitious international films.
In his emotional tribute, Clarkson recalled the earliest days of the revamped programme, painting a vivid picture of a show that struggled to keep studio audiences interested. “He had to pay audience members out of his own pocket a fiver to stay to the bitter end because they were so bored,” Clarkson said with a wry smile.
From those humble beginnings, Top Gear evolved into a global sensation, with Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May forming one of the most recognisable television trios in the world. Behind them, Wilman handled the complexities of production, network pressures, and the unpredictable personalities of the presenters.
“He was the producer, he was the editor, he had to deal with James, Richard and I,” Clarkson said. “He had to deal with Ofcom, he had to deal with the BBC, he just ran the whole thing.”
The painful end of an era—and a new beginning
Clarkson went on to reflect on the turbulent period that led to their departure from Top Gear in 2015, describing the much-publicised controversy as “the frakka”—a phrase fans will recognise from Clarkson’s earlier comments about the incident. After the BBC terminated Clarkson’s contract, Wilman faced the daunting task of rebuilding from scratch.
“And then, of course, he was there when the frakka happened and then he had to start all over again in a broom cupboard with one assistant and build it all up again from scratch,” Clarkson said, referring to the early development of The Grand Tour under their new partnership with Amazon.
What followed was another remarkable chapter. The Grand Tour, which launched in 2016 and concluded in 2024 with the special One For The Road, returned Clarkson, Hammond and May to the global motoring stage in ambitious road films shot across continents. And once again, it was Wilman orchestrating the chaos from behind the camera.
Today, Wilman serves as the editor for Clarkson’s Farm, the Amazon Prime series documenting Clarkson’s often-chaotic attempts to run his 1,000-acre Diddly Squat Farm in the Cotswolds. The programme has become one of Prime Video’s biggest unscripted hits, praised for its honesty, humour, and surprising poignancy.
A book that tells the story behind the cameras
Clarkson told fans he was “overflowing with joy” that Wilman had put his story into writing. Mr Wilman’s Motoring Adventure details the extraordinary journey behind both Top Gear and The Grand Tour, offering insight into the creative battles, logistical challenges, and personal moments that shaped two decades of groundbreaking television.
“It’s a fantastic book,” Clarkson said. “He explains really in it how he did it and what happened—what really happened.”
He ended with his trademark humour, adding, “After you’ve read my new book, The Farmer’s Dog, do get this. It really is worth your while.”
Fans respond with overwhelming support
Within hours, the video had sparked thousands of reactions from fans touched by Clarkson’s openness. One commenter wrote: “A Top Gear edit suite legend.” Another said: “Without Top Gear, my life would never have turned out how it has. Through the worst and best of my life, it was always there. Thank you all.”
Internet creator Connor Darlington echoed a sentiment shared by many long-time viewers: “And what a show it was—never to be replicated.”
Another fan summed up the nostalgic impact simply: “Best childhood memory I’ve had watching Top Gear every weekend.”
A tribute beyond television
Clarkson’s emotional message underscores not only the personal bond between the two men but also Wilman’s profound influence on the evolution of modern motoring television. While Clarkson, Hammond, and May became global icons, Wilman remained the architect behind the camera—managing crises, reinventing formats, and pushing creative boundaries.
In a rare moment of vulnerability, Clarkson illuminated just how deeply he values that partnership. The tears that threatened to surface were not just for nostalgia, but for admiration.
Fans recognised it immediately. And many agree: if Clarkson, May and Hammond are the face of Top Gear and The Grand Tour, then Andy Wilman is their heartbeat—quiet, tireless, and utterly essential.