Top Gear’s James May was due in court over motoring charge

The TV star hosted BBC’s Top Gear from 2003 until 2015 before moving on to Prime Video’s The Grand Tour until 2024.

Both shows saw him present alongside Richard Hammond and Oxfordshire farmer, Jeremy Clarkson, who owns both Diddly Squat Farm and The Farmer’s Dog pub locally.

Mr May reached an out-of-court settlement after being charged with keeping a motorcycle which did not meet insurance requirements.

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James May outside the court. (Image: Jordan Pettitt / PA)

He was due to stand trial after being prosecuted by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) over an allegation relating to his 50-year-old orange Suzuki motorcycle.

The 63-year-old arrived at Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court by bike on Thursday morning (March 24) wearing an orange shirt and coat.

The charge states that on July 17 of last year, Mr May kept a vehicle – a Suzuki GT750 motorcycle – which did not meet insurance requirements.

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James May outside the court. (Image: Jordan Pettitt / PA)

The Grand Tour star, of west London, did not appear before magistrates and settled the case outside of court, prosecutors told reporters.

It was reported by The Sun that Mr May did not comment on the hearing but did ask the awaiting photographers: “How did you know I would be here?”

The 63-year-old was recently in Oxford with his live theatre show, Explorers: The Age of Discovery, which he performed for one night only at the New Theatre.