In loving memory
Quentin Willson
23 July 1957 – 8 November 2025
Champion of Classic Cars and Consumer Rights
Remembering Quentin
One of the UK’s best-known motoring faces
Quentin Willson was an award-winning motoring journalist, broadcaster and transport campaigner. He presented Top Gear for over a decade, created Britain’s Worst Driver, started Channel 5’s Fifth Gear and presented The Classic Car Show. He wrote for the national press for decades and campaigned tirelessly on behalf of Britain’s 40 million drivers.
This site celebrates his life and career, and gathers the memories of the people he worked with, informed and entertained.
On screen
Quentin’s show reel
A life in motoring
His life at a glance
23 July 1957
Born
In Leicester, the son of Professor H. B. Willson, a wartime Bletchley Park code breaker.
1993 & 1995
Top Gear’s Good Car Guide
Author of the BBC’s Top Gear The Good Car Guide – the first of many motoring books.
1996
Over a decade
Top Gear and beyond
Top Gear, The Car’s The Star, Fifth Gear and the Britain’s Worst Driver format, shown in 14 territories.
2 March 2011
FairFuelUK at Downing Street
Handed the first wave of the FairFuelUK petition to Number 10.
2015
The Classic Car Show
Co-presented Channel 5’s celebration of classic cars.
His final years
FairCharge
Founded FairCharge, his campaign to make electric cars fair and affordable for every driver.
8 November 2025
Remembered
Quentin died peacefully, surrounded by his family, on 8 November 2025. He leaves his wife Michaela, their children Mercedes, Max and Mini, and three grandchildren.
His career
Four chapters of a remarkable career
Television
Top Gear, Britain’s Worst Driver, Fifth Gear and The Classic Car Show.
Campaigning
FairFuelUK, fair car prices and a better deal for 40 million drivers.
Writing & Books
Columns for the Mirror and Classic Cars Magazine, and a shelf of books.
Electric Cars
Driving and championing electric cars long before it was fashionable.
His campaign for electric drivers
FairCharge
Quentin founded FairCharge to make the switch to electric cars fair for everyone. The campaign puts the cost of charging, the charging network, clean air and the price of electric cars on the political agenda.
- Fair VAT on charging. Drivers without a driveway pay 20% VAT at public chargers, against 5% at home. FairCharge wants the same rate for everyone.
- Electric cars for everyone, including people on lower incomes.
- Cheaper, cleaner power: reform of the electricity market to cut bills and move Britain to home-grown renewable energy.
- Facts, not myths: answering misinformation about electric cars, including with its free Little Book of EV Myths.
Its call for fair VAT is backed by the RAC, the AA and MPs from all sides.
Unless a message is amusing, arresting and delivered in everyday language, it will always fall on stony ground.
Quentin Willson
Share your memories
Whether you worked alongside Quentin, watched him on television or were helped by one of his campaigns, please leave a tribute. Messages appear once they have been read.
Photographs & his own website
Browse photographs from across his career, or visit Quentin’s own website, preserved as it was.