Quentin Willson
About
Quentin is one of Britain’s best-known motoring authorities, perhaps most widely known as a presenter of the motoring programmes Britain’s Worst Driver, Fifth Gear, and the original incarnation of Top Gear.
He studied English Literature at the University of Leicester. He founded a car dealership selling Ferraris and Maseratis. In the early 1990s, he was the deputy editor of the only magazine solely devoted to second hand motors, Buying Cars.
Quentin Wilson joined the BBC to co-host the original version of Top Gear with Jeremy Clarkson. For a decade between 1991 and 2001, he appeared every week on the programme, typically as an expert on used cars.
He also presented his own classic car series The Car’s The Star, along with the first property show to talk about money, All The Right Moves, both for the BBC.
After Top Gear’s cancellation he left the BBC to present Channel Five‘s rival motoring programme, Fifth Gear. Also while he was at Five, Willson created the Britain’s Worst Driver format, which was nominated for best reality show in the Montreux Golden Rose Awards. A raft of similar shows followed, including Britain’s Worst DIYer, Worst Mother in Law, Worst Husband, Worst Teenager, Worst Builder, Worst Zookeeper, and Worst FIFA 2002 Player.
In 2004 Willson was awarded Motoring Writer of the Year. He writes regularly for The Sunday Mirror and has also written ten books. Also in 2004 Willson participated in the popular television program Strictly Come Dancing.
On the 12 January 2009, and again on the 4 December 2010, he appeared on BBC1’s Breakfast programme giving advice on snow driving and which cars are better suited.
In 2012 he once again appeared on BBC Breakfast talking about the Highway Code.
Quentin Willson is a consultant to many organisations and companies including the car warranty company Warrantywise. He also consults for BP as an advocate of ‘going green’. He is also a regular face on the conference and after dinner speaking circuit and has been at the forefront of raising awareness about the dangers of buying stolen cars, fronting the ‘Real or Rogue’ campaign in March 2009.