Quentin Willson
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Quentin Willson | |
|---|---|
| Born | 23 July 1957 Lyng, Norfolk, United Kingdom |
| Occupation | Television presenter, Author, Journalist, Broadcaster |
| Height | 6' 1" (1.85 m) |
| Website Official website |
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Quentin Willson (born 23 July 1957) is a British TV presenter and motoring expert, and perhaps most widely known as a presenter of the motoring programmes Top Gear, Britain's Worst Driver, and Fifth Gear.
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[edit] Career
[edit] Early years
Willson studied English Literature at the University of Leicester. He founded a car dealership selling Ferraris and Maseratis. In 1988 Willson was convicted in Coalville Magistrates Court after admitting eight offences of applying and selling cars with false descriptions including a Cavalier clocked from over 100k to 27k.[1] In the early nineties he was the deputy editor of the only magazine solely devoted to second hand motors, Buying Cars. He lives in Warwickshire with his wife and three children.
[edit] Top Gear
He joined the BBC to co-host Top Gear with Jeremy Clarkson. For a decade between 1991 and 2001 he appeared every week on Top Gear, routinely exposing shoddy service and poor product, educating car buyers on how to beat the system as well as pressurising the industry to lower new car prices in the UK.
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.
[edit] Post Top Gear
After Top Gear's cancellation he left the BBC to present Channel Five's rival motoring programme, Fifth Gear. When Top Gear was relaunched Willson derided his former colleague, Clarkson, saying "It's a compliment that the BBC are so afraid of losing ratings to us they've lured my old co-host out of semi-retirement."[2] The relaunched Top Gear has gone on to be a "massive success"[3] with an audience of 8 million in 2007.[4]
While at Five, Willson created the Britain's Worst Driver format, which was nominated for best reality show in the Montreux Golden Globe Awards.[citation needed] A raft of similar shows followed, including Britain's Worst DIYer, Worst Mother in Law, Worst Husband, Worst Teenager, and Worst Builder.
Willson also participated in the 2004 season of Strictly Come Dancing, but ignominiously got the lowest score ever on the show with his one and only dance before being voted off. Judge Craig Revel Horwood described Willson as "Britain's Worst Dancer".[5]
[edit] Writing
Quentin Willson is widely regarded for his unique vocabulary and style in his writing.[citation needed]
In 2004 Willson was awarded Motoring Writer of the Year. He writes regularly for The Sunday Mirror and has also written ten books.
- "Top Gear": Good Car Guide by Quentin Willson BBC Books 1993
- "Top Gear": Good Car Guide by Quentin Willson BBC Books 1994
- Classic Cars of the World by Quentin Willson and David Selby DK Publishing 1995
- Ultimate Classic Car by Quentin Willson, DK Publishing 1995. Republished with David Selby.
- Classic American Cars by Quentin Willson, DK Publishing 1997
- The Quentin Willson Guide to Used Cars: Everything You Need to Know by Quentin Willson Virgin Books 2001
- Quentin Willson's Cool Cars by Quentin Willson, DK Publishing. Second edition 2001
- Cars, A Celebration by Quentin Willson, DK Publishing 2001
- Great Cars by Quentin Willson, DK Publishing 2001
- Ultimate Sports Car by Quentin Willson, DK Publishing 2002
[edit] Consultancy and speaking
Quentin Willson is widely accepted as a definitive authority for motoring within the UK[citation needed] and is consultant to many organisations and companies including BP[6][7] as an advocate of 'going green', BSI (British Safety Institute) and Castrol Oil[8]. He is also a regular face on the conference and after dinner speaking circuit[9]. Quentin has been at the forefront of raising awareness about the dangers of buying stolen cars[10], fronting the 'Real or Rogue' campaign in March 2009.
[edit] Videos/DVDs
| Year | Title | Format |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Top Gear - Classic Cars | VHS |
| 1999 | Project Healey 3000 | VHS |
| 2009 | Project Healey 3000 | DVD |
[edit] References
- ^ Private Eye magazine issue no.1016 01-12-2000
- ^ Methven, Nicola (2002-03-27). "Car wars; Exclusive Quentin's dig at 'old hat' Clarkson". Daily Mirror (MGN): p. 22.
- ^ "Top Gear's chequered past". BBC News (bbc.co.uk). 2006-09-21. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5367516.stm. Retrieved 2007-02-15.
- ^ "Top Gear sets new ratings record". Digital Spy. 2007-03-06. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcasting/a43563/top-gear-sets-new-ratings-record.html?rss. Retrieved 2007-03-13.
- ^ Quentin and Hazel Cha Cha Cha at YouTube (requires Adobe Flash)
- ^ "Quentin Willson teams up with BP to help HR and fleet managers 'go green'". personneltoday.com. 2008-05-27. http://www.personneltoday.com/articles/2008/05/27/45955/quentin-willson-teams-up-with-bp-to-help-hr-and-fleet-managers-go-green.html. Retrieved 2008-09-30.
- ^ "BP At The Goodwood Festival Of Speed - July 2008". save-petrol.co.uk. 2008-07-11. http://www.save-petrol.co.uk/bp_at_goodwood.php. Retrieved 2008-09-30.
- ^ "Quentin Willson pushes Castrol Oil campaign". AM Online. 2008-05-30. http://www.am-online.com/news/story/?nID=42897053. Retrieved 2008-09-30.
- ^ "Quentin Willson Talent Profile". NMP Live Ltd. 2008-09-30. http://www.nmplive.co.uk/viewTalent.aspx?id=1446. Retrieved 2008-09-30.
- ^ "Is Your Car Real or Rogue?". Youtube.com. 2009-03-26. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgBr5Wx916w. Retrieved 2009-03-31.
[edit] External links
- Quentin Willson's Official Website
- Quentin Willson at the Internet Movie Database
- Quentin Willson Interview
- Official Link Top Gear (magazine) website
- Official BBC Top Gear website
- Sunday Mirror column
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