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Richard Hammond

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TV Personality

The Resume

    (December 19, 1969- )
    Born in Solihull, England, United Kingdom
    Broadcaster, Writer, Journalist, Motoring Enthusiast and voice over-artist
    Co-host of 'Top Gear' with Jeremy Clarkson, James May and The Stig (2002)
    Presenter for 'Top Gear,' 'Brainiac (2003-06), 'Total Wipeout,' 'Richard Hammond's Engineering Connections' and 'Richard Hammond's Blast Lab' (2009)
    Subject of the biography, 'On The Edge: My Story'

Why he might be annoying:

    He is nicknamed the hamster by fans and co-hosts due to his short stature.
    That name was further reinforced when he chewed cardboard on 'Top Gear' mimicking a hamster.
    'Top Gear' received a lot complaints and criticism over comments he made during a discussion about a Mexican sports car on the show (2011).
    He suggested that no one would want to own a Mexican car, since cars are supposed to reflect national characteristics, so a Mexican car would be a ‘lazy, feckless, flatulent, overweight oaf’.
    He would finish the sentence with ‘I'm sorry, but can you imagine waking up and remembering you're Mexican?!’.
    He did a commercial for Morrisons Supermarket.
    He appeared in a commercial for Telecom New Zealand in which they claimed that their network system was better than it’s competitors, but it failed miserably (2009).
    Later, he became the butt of a joke by his co-presenters when he did not return to New Zealand for 'Top Gear Live,' saying he was too embarrassed.
    He demanded his salary of 15,000 pounds per 'Top Gear' episode, to be doubled for his next contract.
    He crashed a very rare and expensive handmade Morgan AeroMax.
    He had a lot of bad luck.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He is very likable.
    He was seriously injured when the front tire of the jet-powered car he was driving burst, causing it to overturn at 288 mph.
    The accident left him with slight brain damage and memory loss, but, he recovered from his physical injuries and returned to 'Top Gear' three months later.
    He is great with children.
    He was the last person to interview Evel Knievel a week before his death.
    He does lots of work for charities involving brain and spinal injuries.
    When his car was stranded during a flood, he abandoned it to run home to be there in time for his daughter’s birthday (July 2007).
    He quit smoking.
    The BBC responded to complaints about the Mexican comments, that comic use of a stereotype is a ‘robust part’ of British humor.
    He also likes to ride bicycles (much to dislike of Jeremy Clarkson).
    He achieved his dream job (and the dream job of many other men).
    In a survey of 10,000 women to find the World's Sexiest Man, he ranked no. 32 (2007).

Credit: ash5667


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 6 Votes: 16.67% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 9 Votes: 88.89% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 8 Votes: 37.50% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 3 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 8 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 7 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 11 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 40 Votes: 55.00% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 53 Votes: 32.08% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 160 Votes: 49.38% Annoying