The ex-Top Gear presenter and Motoring Writer of the Year doubles as an entrepreneur and a doughty campaigner against rises in fuel duty. His Bordeaux vineyard produces 15,000 cases each year, while his TV formats go out in 14 countries around the globe. Quentin continues to make gloriously irreverent speeches.
View / Submit“Quentin’s contribution exceeded our expectations. Some say it was the best event ever.”
Car Care Plan
Quentin Willson is a distinctive television presenter, journalist and writer. As well as being an authority on all things motoring, he is an avowed champion of consumer awareness and customer service in every area of life. Having established himself alongside Jeremy Clarkson on Top Gear, he also created, produced and presented Britain’s Worst Driver.
With a degree in English, Quentin went on to work as a second-hand car dealer and soon became the proud owner of a large upmarket dealership. Whilst there, he started one of the first magazines devoted to the used car industry, Buying Cars - later renamed Car Choice. He then went on to make his name as a presenter on Top Gear, The Car’s the Star and the property show All the Right Moves.
As well has broadcasting and writing work, Quentin has spearheaded a range of consumer and motoring based campaigns. He led the call to bring UK car prices into line with Europe and the FairFuel campaign to end the government fuel duty escalator (the country’s most successful public petition). He was also instrumental in highlighting oil price manipulation in the oil and commodities industries in the UK, US and Europe. He continues to lobby for better driving standards and training, especially for young people, and for increased investment in electric and hydrogen vehicles (he is a patron of The Hydrogen Trust and has consulted for the Office of Low Emission Vehicles and Technology Strategy Board.)
A regular contributor to The Times, the Telegraph, the Mirror and Classic Car, Quentin has written The Ultimate Classic Car Book. He’s also a regular on Radio 4, BBC One and ITV on various news and consumer programmes.
Quentin is a skilled conference and awards presenter and a highly engaging after dinner speaker. In his own characteristically dry way, he touches on everything from houses and architecture, the media, motoring, modern art and the highs and lows of customer service - not forgetting his other passion: political correctness.