Richard Hammond says being TV presenter is ‘catastrophic'

Richard Hammond, a television host, sat down to discuss his career and life choices on the podcast that he hosts with his daughter, Who We Are Now.

Joined by guest Steve Jones, the episode comes weeks after his separation from his wife of 28 years became public.

“As a bloke, keeping your head straight, managing your mental fitness. I think being a television presenter, especially a male one, is catastrophic,” explained Hammond.

Discussing the impact of his television career, he added, “For 36 years my male ego has been rewarded for some of the worst traits we can exhibit. I've been encouraged to show off, I've been encouraged to believe that what I'm about to say is compelling enough to hold the attention of 365 million people that my questions are pertinent. It can be hideous.”

The Top Gun star then joked, “I'm perfect of course. Completely balanced and happy.”

Comparing the F1 presenter Jones’ looks to his own, he continued, “I'd like to put something heavy in here. This is the sum of your roots, as a TV presenter and as a model, as somebody who was spotted twice then rejected.”

Hammond joked further, “I was a TV presenter when you started presenting, I saw him and thought ‘Oh bugger look at him, I mean look at him’. A bit of me was thinking ‘Yeah Welsh hunk, nobody has ever said brummy hunk Richard Hammond’”.

The host remained noticeably quiet about his separation from his spouse, after a source claimed that he had “tried everything” to avoid a divorce.