Quentin Willson
Quentin Willson | |
|---|---|
.jpg?lang=en) Willson in 2012, refueling a Hyundai ix35 | |
| Born | 23 July 1957 Leicester, England |
| Died | 8 November 2025 (aged 68) |
| Occupation(s) | Television presenter, author, journalist, broadcaster |
| Children | 3 |
| Website | www |
Quentin Willson (23 July 1957 – 8 November 2025) was an English television presenter and producer, motoring journalist, author and car dealer. He was best known as a presenter of the popular television motoring programmes Top Gear, Britain's Worst Driver and Fifth Gear.
Early life
[edit]Quentin Willson, a twin,[1] was born on 23 July 1957 in Leicester, England, the son of Professor Bernard Willson,[2] who was the first code breaker at Bletchley Park to decode the Italian Navy Hagelin C-36 code machine.[3]
Television
[edit]Willson joined the BBC in 1991 to co-host the original version of Top Gear with Jeremy Clarkson.[4] Until the original format's cancellation in 2001, he appeared every week on the programme, typically as an expert on used cars.[citation needed]
Willson later presented his own classic car series The Car's the Star, along with the property show All The Right Moves, both for the BBC.[citation needed]
Following Top Gear's cancellation, he left the BBC to present Channel 5's rival motoring programme, Fifth Gear. When Top Gear was relaunched, Willson said of Clarkson that "It's a compliment that the BBC are so afraid of losing ratings to us, they've lured my old co-host out of semi-retirement."[5] Willson stopped presenting Fifth Gear in 2005.[citation needed]
Willson also participated in the second series of Strictly Come Dancing in 2004, but received the lowest score ever on the show, which still stands to this day, on his single dance before being voted off.[6]
On 12 January 2009, and again on 4 December 2010, he appeared on BBC Breakfast giving advice on snow driving and which cars are better suited. On 5 April 2012, he once again appeared on BBC Breakfast talking about the Highway Code.[7] He also regularly featured on the ITV breakfast show Daybreak, when there were motoring related features.[citation needed]
In 2015, Willson returned to Channel 5 to host The Classic Car Show.[8]
Campaigning
[edit]In the 1990s, both in print and on television, Willson highlighted the artificially higher prices of new cars in the UK compared to Europe, campaigning for price parity for UK buyers. He was widely credited with drawing attention to uncompetitive pricing by the car makers which prompted the European Commission to take action and use block exemption regulations to force the industry to reduce UK list prices on new passenger cars.[9]
Fair Fuel UK
[edit]From early 2011 until 2021, Willson was the national spokesman for FairFuelUK campaigning for lower government fuel duty.[10] From March 2011, Willson and the FairFuelUK Team successfully pressured the UK government to defer 11p of duty rises,[11] reducing the overall tax take by £5.5 billion in fuel duty. His campaigning appeared on various television news programmes and The Times, The Telegraph, The Sun and other national newspapers. The House of Commons Back Bench Committee allowed Willson to be present in the House at a Commons fuel duty debate in 2011.[10]
Fair Fuel UK is funded by two industry associations: the Freight Transport Association and the Road Haulage Association. Its previous funders have included the RAC, the Association of Pallet Networks and UKLPG, among others.[12]
In September 2021 Willson resigned from Fair Fuel UK because he was "unhappy with the direction the lobby group was going and their lack of environmental sensibilities".[13]
Consultancy and speaking
[edit]Willson was a consultant to various organisations and companies including the car warranty company Warrantywise.[14] He was also a former consultant to BP,[15][16] BSI (British Safety Institute) and Castrol Oil in 2008–10.[17] He also made regular appearances on the conference and after dinner speaking circuit.[18] Willson had been at the forefront of raising awareness about the dangers of buying stolen cars,[citation needed] fronting the 'Real or Rogue' campaign in March 2009.
Death
[edit]Willson died on 8 November 2025, at the age of 68, after being diagnosed with lung cancer.[6]
Writing
[edit]In 2004, Willson was awarded Motoring Writer of the Year.[4] He wrote regularly for Daily Mirror and the The Sunday Mirror for 15 years[4] as well to Classic Cars magazine.[4]
He was also the author of ten books:
- "Top Gear": Good Car Guide by Quentin Willson (BBC Books, 1993)
- "Top Gear": Good Car Guide by Quentin Willson (BBC Books, 1994)
- Classic Cars of the World by Quentin Willson and David Selby (DK Publishing, 1995)
- Ultimate Classic Car by Quentin Willson (DK Publishing, 1995. Republished with David Selby.)
- Classic American Cars by Quentin Willson (DK Publishing, 1997)
- The Quentin Willson Guide to Used Cars: Everything You Need to Know by Quentin Willson (Virgin Books, 2001)
- Quentin Willson's Cool Cars by Quentin Willson (DK Publishing, Second edition 2001)
- Cars, A Celebration by Quentin Willson (DK Publishing, 2001)
- Great Cars by Quentin Willson (DK Publishing, 2001)
- Ultimate Sports Car by Quentin Willson (DK Publishing, 2002)
Videos/DVDs
[edit]| Year | Title | Format |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Top Gear – Classic Cars | VHS |
| 1999 | Project Healey 3000 | VHS |
| 2009 | Project Healey 3000 | DVD |
References
[edit]- ^ "Index entry – WILLSON, Ashley L." FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
- ^ "Biography – Quentin Willson". Quentin Willson. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
- ^ "July 1941". Bletchley Park. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
- ^ a b c d Nadeem Badshah (8 November 2025), Former Top Gear presenter Quentin Willson dies aged 68, The Guardian
- ^ Methven, Nicola (27 March 2002). "Car wars; Exclusive Quentin's dig at 'old hat' Clarkson". Daily Mirror. p. 22.
- ^ a b "Former Top Gear presenter Quentin Willson dies aged 68". ITV News. 8 November 2025. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
- ^ "Do you know the Highway Code?". BBC News. 5 April 2012.
- ^ Babbage, Rachel (15 January 2015). "Quentin Willson's The Classic Car Show coming to Channel 5 next month". Digital Spy. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
- ^ Private Eye magazine issue no.1016 1 December 2000
- ^ a b "FairFuelUK Campaign". fairfueluk.com.
- ^ "FairFuelUK prepares for second stage of battle". Commercial Motor. 21 April 2011. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
- ^ "FairFuelUK". index.html. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
- ^ "Former Top Gear presenter Quentin Willson quits lobby group in row over electric cars". iNews. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
- ^ "Warrantywise". 23 January 2012. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
- ^ "Quentin Willson teams up with BP to help HR and fleet managers 'go green'". personneltoday.com. 27 May 2008. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2008.
- ^ "BP at the Goodwood Festival of Speed – July 2008". save-petrol.co.uk. 11 July 2008. Archived from the original on 17 September 2008. Retrieved 30 September 2008.
- ^ "Quentin Willson pushes Castrol Oil campaign". AM Online. 30 May 2008. Retrieved 30 September 2008.
- ^ "Quentin Willson Talent Profile". NMP Live Ltd. 30 September 2008. Retrieved 30 September 2008.
