Quentin Willson, the charismatic motoring journalist and original co-host of the BBC’s Top Gear, has died at the age of 68 following a brief but courageous battle with lung cancer. His family announced his passing on Saturday, November 8, 2025, sharing that he died peacefully, surrounded by loved ones. Willson’s death marks the end of an era for British automotive broadcasting, as he was widely recognized for bringing the world of motoring—both the thrills of combustion engines and the promise of electric vehicles—into millions of living rooms across the country.
Born in Leicester, Willson’s journey into the national spotlight began in 1991 when he joined the BBC to co-host Top Gear alongside Jeremy Clarkson. Over the next decade, he became a fixture on the show, celebrated for his sharp wit, encyclopedic knowledge of used cars, and a delivery that was both wry and incisive. According to BBC News, Willson was “Top Gear’s used car expert,” known for his scathing reviews and for educating viewers on how to save money—sometimes hundreds or even thousands of pounds—when buying a car.
Willson’s tenure on Top Gear lasted until 2001, when the original format was cancelled. During those years, he worked alongside a who’s who of British motoring television: Jeremy Clarkson, James May, Vicki Butler-Henderson, and Tiff Needell. Reflecting on their collaboration, Needell shared, “So many memories of the Top Gear we built in the nineties that I wanted to remember with you again.” James May echoed similar sentiments on social media, writing, “Quentin Willson gave me proper advice and encouragement during my earliest attempts at TV, back in the late 90s. I’ve never forgotten it. Great bloke.”
After Top Gear’s original run ended, Willson moved to Channel 5 to help launch Fifth Gear, a rival motoring show that continued his mission to inform and entertain car enthusiasts. He also created and presented several other popular programs, including Britain’s Worst Drivers and The Car’s The Star. His television presence extended beyond motoring: in 2004, he appeared on Strictly Come Dancing, where he earned what his family affectionately called “the dubious honour of the lowest score in history”—just eight points out of forty for a single dance. Willson, ever the good sport, later said he was “very proud” of the score, remarking, “Builders ran up to me to shake my hand because I failed so badly. I tried, but I was the dancing equivalent of a JCB.”
But Willson’s impact stretched far beyond television. He was a tireless campaigner for motorists’ rights and consumer interests. According to Sky News, he was instrumental in the FairFuel campaign, which helped freeze fuel duty in the UK and, as his family noted, “saved UK consumers a fortune by helping to freeze fuel duty.” The campaign reportedly prevented over £100 billion in new taxation, a feat hailed as “a real consumer win by a true consumer champion.”
His advocacy didn’t stop with petrol. Willson was ahead of his time in championing the electric vehicle revolution. Long before EVs became fashionable, he promoted the General Motors EV1 and later devoted himself to making electric cars accessible and affordable through his FairCharge campaign. His family recalled, “Long before it was fashionable, he championed the GM EV1 and the promise of electric cars, proving he was always ahead of the curve. More recently he had worked tirelessly to make EVs affordable for all.”
Willson’s expertise and passion earned him recognition throughout the industry. He was named Motoring Writer of the Year at the British Press Awards in 2004 and contributed regularly to publications like Classic Cars magazine and the Mirror. AA president Edmund King called him a “brilliant TV presenter” and “amazing campaigner,” adding, “He will be missed by all.”
Behind the public persona, Willson was a devoted family man. He is survived by his wife Michaela, their children Mercedes, Max, and Mini, and grandchildren Saskia, Xander, and Roxana. In a heartfelt statement, his family described him as a “true national treasure” and “a library of experience now beyond our reach.” They added, “The void he has left can never be filled. His knowledge was not just learned but lived.”
Willson’s commitment to demystifying car ownership and championing the consumer was perhaps best summed up by Vicki Butler-Henderson, his former co-presenter on both Top Gear and Fifth Gear. She told BBC Radio 4’s PM programme, “He was very much the champion of the consumer and educated people throughout many car deals, saving people hundreds—if not thousands—of pounds. I think he made a huge difference, particularly with the campaign to freeze fuel tax. He definitely helped keep money in our pockets for well over a decade.”
Willson’s approach to television was as fearless as it was fun. In a recent interview with Metro, he reminisced about the “golden age” of car programming, admitting, “We were very lucky to have lived through this wonderful golden age of cars and car programmes because you couldn’t make them now.” He recounted the thrill of filming high-speed segments—sometimes at 155 miles an hour on a runway—and the camaraderie of those early days, noting, “It was a thrill ride in those days before health and safety. It was great to be able to go on camera and say, ‘I’m doing 155 miles an hour on a runway at an aerodrome’, whereas, you know, that, that wouldn’t happen now.”
His legacy is not just in the shows he made or the campaigns he led, but in the countless viewers and drivers he educated, entertained, and inspired. As the tributes poured in from colleagues, friends, and fans, one thing became clear: Quentin Willson’s passion for cars—and for people—left an indelible mark on British culture.
Funeral arrangements will be announced in due course, with the family requesting privacy at this difficult time. For now, the motoring world pauses to remember a man whose knowledge, humour, and advocacy will be deeply missed but never forgotten.
