Acclaimed automotive journalist, broadcaster and electric car campaigner Quentin Willson has died at the age of 68 after a short illness, his family has said.
Willson was born in Leicester in 1957 and began his career as a motor trader before moving into moving into broadcasting. He became a Top Gear presenter in 1991, a role he enjoyed for 20 years. He subsequently featured in a number of television shows, being a host for Fifth Gear and contributing to an episode of the 2012 series War Hero in My Family that profiled his father, a key Bletchley Park codebreaker during World War II.
A fierce consumer advocate, Willson was Top Gear’s resident used-car expert and became national spokesman for FairFuelUK from 2011 to 2021.
An early proponent of electric cars, Willson spoke at Forecourt Trader’s 2018 Top 50 Indies and also worked closely with the company Warrantywise. The firm’s chief executive, Lawrence Whittaker said he was “utterly devastated” to learn of Willson’s passing, and shared that Willson demanded Warrantywise completely rewrite its terms and conditions to be more favourable to customers, while also requiring the right to veto any warranty decision the firm made before he would lend his support to it.
A skilled and charismatic presenter, journalist and interviewer, former Top Gear colleague Jeremy Clarkson described Willson as a “properly funny man”, adding this is “the highest accolade you can bestow on someone”.
James May, who would go on to present the same show, said 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.”
Similar sentiments were shared by many of Willson’s peers. Richard Porter, script editor for Top Gear and The Grand Tour, commented: “Such sad news about Quentin. He was so supportive in my early career. I owe him more than I can ever say. Unique, brilliant and knowledgeable on camera, funny, generous and unfailingly excellent company off it. Go well Q.”
Steve Fowler, former Auto Express editor-in-chief, offered his condolences to Willson’s family, describing him as “the most talented broadcaster, journalist and campaigner”, and “an incredibly generous man who, on a personal level, helped me and my family enormously”. Steve Cropley, editor-in-chief of Autocar, said: “Very sad to hear of the untimely death of Quentin Willson, my friend and colleague for 37 years, adding: ”I’ll never forget the wonderful times we had learning from one another. So sorry to his family. RIP.”
Retired F1 Driver Damon Hill described Willson as “an intelligent serious journalist with style”, and said his death was “a big loss”.
Willson is survived by his wife, Michaela, and three children.
