James May

When James was first introduced on “Top Gear,” Jeremy Clarkson claimed he was “clearly a blithering idiot.” The reasoning behind this slightly harsh critique was that James’ car at the time was a Bentley T2. His first film on “Top Gear” was him telling people how great it is to own a 25-year-old classic luxury car while at the same time admitting it cost a small fortune to run and fuel.

James admits he was once fired from a job with a well-known magazine for putting a secret message in a supplement. It’s exactly this kind of fooling around that makes him perfect for the U.K.’s favorite motor show. James also has his own pilot’s license, which has come in handy on “Top Gear” once already (although it would help more if he was allowed to fly at night).