Quentin Willson

Infobox_Celebrity
name = Quentin Wilson


caption =
birth_date = Bda|1957|7|23|df=yes
birth_place = Leicester, Leicestershire, United Kingdom
occupation = Television presenter,
Author,
Journalist,
Broadcaster
height = 6' 1" (1.85 m)
networth =
website = [http://www.quentinwillson.co.uk Official website]

Quentin Willson (born 23 July 1957) is a British TV presenter and motoring expert. He is perhaps most famed as a presenter of the motoring programmes "Top Gear", "Britain's Worst Driver", and "Fifth Gear".

Career

Early years

After studying English Literature at the University of Leicester he started up a car dealership selling Ferraris and Maseratis. 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.

"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.

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." [cite news | first = Nicola | last = Methven | title = Car wars; Exclusive Quentin's dig at 'old hat' Clarkson | work = Daily Mirror | publisher = MGN | page = 22 | date = 2002-03-27] The relaunched "Top Gear" has gone on to be a "massive success" [cite news | title = Top Gear's chequered past | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5367516.stm
work = BBC News | publisher = bbc.co.uk | date = 2006-09-21 | accessdate = 2007-02-15] with an audience of 8 million in 2007. [cite news | title =Top Gear sets new ratings record | url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcasting/a43563/top-gear-sets-new-ratings-record.html?rss | publisher = Digital Spy | date = 2007-03-06 | accessdate=2007-03-13]

While at Five, Willson created the "Britain's Worst Driver" format, which was nominated for best reality show in the Montreux Golden Globe Awards.Fact|date=February 2007 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". [YouTube|9spM6DSkDA8|Quentin and Hazel Cha Cha Cha]

Writing

In 2004 Willson was awarded Motoring Writer of the Year. He writes regularly for The Sunday Mirror and has also authored 10 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 Car" by Quentin Willson, DK Publishing 2001
* "Ultimate Sports Car" by Quentin Willson, DK Publishing 2002

Consultancy & Speaking

Quentin Willson is widely accepted as a definitive authority for motoring within the UK and is consultant to many organisations and companies including BP [cite news | title = Quentin Willson teams up with BP to help HR and fleet managers 'go green' | url = http://www.personneltoday.com/articles/2008/05/27/45955/quentin-willson-teams-up-with-bp-to-help-hr-and-fleet-managers-go-green.html
publisher = personneltoday.com | date = 2008-05-27 | accessdate = 2008-09-30] [cite news | title = BP At The Goodwood Festival Of Speed - July 2008 | url = http://www.save-petrol.co.uk/bp_at_goodwood.php | publisher = save-petrol.co.uk | date = 2008-07-11 | accessdate = 2008-09-30] as an advocate of 'going green', BSI (British Safety Institute) and Castrol Oil [cite news | title = Quentin Willson pushes Castrol Oil campaign | url = http://www.am-online.com/news/story/?nID=42897053 | publisher = AM Online | date = 2008-05-30 | accessdate = 2008-09-30] . He is also a regular face on the conference and after dinner speaking circuit [cite news | title = Quentin Willson Talent Profile | url = http://www.nmplive.co.uk/viewTalent.aspx?id=1446 | publisher = NMP Live Ltd | date = 2008-09-30 | accessdate = 2008-09-30] .

Other

"Conviction"

In his early car trading days Willson was once convicted for supplying a car that had its mileage doctored by a third party.Fact|date=April 2008 He has since campaigned for greater legislation to protect buyers from clocked cars.

References

External links

* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0932753/ Quentin Wilson at the Internet Movie Database]
* [http://www.asrecommended.co.uk/lifestyle/tips/?FaqID=64 "Quentin Willson Interview"]
* [http://www.topgear.com/ Official Link "Top Gear" (magazine) website]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/topgear Official BBC "Top Gear" website]
* [http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/news/motoring/willson Sunday Mirror column]