BBC Breakfast Pays Tribute to Quentin Willson – The “Living Library” of Top Gear and Strictly Come Dancing

On Sunday morning (November 9), BBC Breakfast presenters Roger Johnson and Emma Vardy paid a heartfelt tribute to Quentin Willson, the former Top Gear host and Strictly Come Dancing contestant, who passed away at the age of 68 after battling lung cancer.

Willson’s family confirmed the news in a statement, describing him as a “national treasure” and a “true consumer champion.” They wrote:

“Quentin brought the joy of motoring – from combustion to electric – into our living rooms. His knowledge was not just learned but lived; a library of experience now beyond our reach.”

A Top Gear Icon

Quentin Willson co-hosted Top Gear from 1991 to 2001, before the show’s new era with Jeremy Clarkson and James May. Known as the programme’s “used car expert,” his style was direct, witty, and deeply knowledgeable.

After leaving Top Gear, Willson became a passionate campaigner — first fighting to lower fuel taxes for motorists, then advocating for the affordability of electric vehicles.

From Cars to the Ballroom

Beyond his motoring fame, Quentin Willson also made an unforgettable appearance on Strictly Come Dancing in 2004 — where his Cha Cha Cha earned the lowest score in the show’s history, just eight points from the judges.

He later laughed about it, saying:

“I’m very proud to have the lowest recorded score on Strictly Come Dancing. Builders ran up to shake my hand because I failed so badly. I tried, but I was the dancing equivalent of a JCB.”

His love for cars ran so deep that he even named his daughters Mercedes and Mini.

Colleagues Remember a True Character

During BBC Breakfast, Roger Johnson said:

“Jeremy Clarkson and James May have led tributes to Quentin Willson, who brought the joy of motoring into people’s living rooms.”

Reporter Graham Satchell added:

“Quentin’s presenting style was unforgettable – forthright, insightful, and laced with wry humour. He leaves behind a void that can never be filled.”

From afar, Jeremy Clarkson shared:

“I’m far away so I’ve only just heard that Quentin Willson has died. We had some laughs over the years. Properly funny man.”

James May wrote on X:

“Quentin Willson gave me real advice and encouragement during my earliest TV days in the late 1990s. I’ve never forgotten it. Great bloke.”

Quentin Willson (1956–2024) — journalist, presenter, and lifelong motoring advocate — leaves behind not only a legacy in the world of cars but also a warm, lasting impression on audiences across the UK.