You are here : Cars Homepage > News and Reviews Hub > Channel Five star too mad for Top Gear
Channel Five star too mad for Top Gear
25 April 2007 Channel Five's motoring show Fifth Gear returns next week – and sees former circus performer and all round car nut Tom Ford promoted to co-host. Alex Eckford speaks to Fifth Gear's 'big, hairy bloke' about chainsaws, crashing his dad's BMW, and being too mad to work for Top Gear. "Everyone thinks I used to juggle chainsaws. It's not true. I used to fight with them." That's my introduction to Tom Ford - Fifth Gear's larger than life road test guru and rising star. I've arrived at the Ace Café on London's North Circular - the show's home for the past two series. A line of Smart cars is surrounded by a film crew, setting up their cameras for the first shots of the day. For a handful of the shows in the new series he'll co-host with Vicki Butler-Henderson - a job formerly filled by Tim Lovejoy. Not bad for a man who used to be in a performance art group called Kiss My Axe. "I joined when I went to university," says Tom. "We did sword fighting, chainsaw fighting, fire breathing and things like that. We took a tank to Glastonbury. I ended up in the circus." Tom's first introduction to driving, at the age of 14, was less than successful. "I was a very naughty little boy, who grew into a naughty little teenager," says Tom. "I tried to go for a little drive in my dad's 6-series BMW. I got the wrong gear and smacked it into the back wall. Gutted." Having passed his test, Tom first car purchase was one which allowed him to get his hands dirty. "It was a 1967 Land Rover Series 2a – diesel," says Tom. "It was the first thing I ever rebuilt. I rewired the headlights wrong and it blew up. I melted my parents' tarmac driveway. Four fire engines. Gutted." "My parents just think I'm weird. My dad's got really into it ever since I started taking really fast cars home to show him. He never believed anyone got paid for doing what I do." With the circus life paying poorly, Tom soon found himself in massive amounts of debt. "I had five County Court Judgements against me. After a while I realised I had to face the music and sort everything out. I went back to university - this time to do a journalism degree. The two things I loved doing were writing and cars - so I knew I had to become a car journalist." Having turned a corner, Tom's path to his current role - Contributing Editor for Top Gear magazine - wasn’t entirely smooth. "I went to do work experience at the magazine, but they said I was too mad and too shouty to hold down a job in the office. They farmed me out to do loads of driving jobs – and that's how I started being a road-tester." "I drove all the cars, read all the press packs and became a boring twerp, but a boring twerp who knew what he was talking about. I went on to become road test editor, which was my favourite job ever. I was in heaven." One of the disadvantages of being a walking encyclopaedia of car knowledge is people are always asking Tom what car they should buy. "I tell them to do their research," says Tom. "and tell them to sit down with Auto Trader or go on the Auto Trader website and do their research three to four months before buying a car." The jump from journalist to TV star was helped by some lubrication. "I got drunk at a party," says Tom, munching through a plate of scampi and chips. "I talked to a producer and he said 'do you want a screen test?'. Six months later I was on the telly." The team have filmed five days so far of the new series so far. "It's going great," says Tom. "This series is going to be quite different - I'm really pleased with it. We're trying to get across the idea that cars are so much fun - we're all into cars and I think it comes across. We shouldn’t be ashamed of being really into it." "There's some fantastic stuff coming up in the new series. We've been driving a Brabus Rocket at 191mph on an autobahn, doing loads of stunts, it's been a lot of fun." The pedigree of the show's presenters can't be denied – and it's one thing which makes Tom proud to be in his job. "Tiff Needell is a driving god," says Tom. "Jason Plato is currently winning the BTCC, Vicki instructs drivers at Silverstone - there are some serious drivers here, and we all know what we're talking about." "I think Vicki is really funny, and I love the fact that she can out-drive me around every track - you can’t fail to respect that." Now some questions from readers. Tim Ludworth asks 'what's your favourite ever car?' "It's a complicated a question – there are so many different types of cars. Of the cars I've owned I’d say the BMW 535D Touring - a twin-turbo diesel. I used to have one as my family car and for the money you can’t beat them. I loved it." Paul Foster asks 'How much do you love your job?' "I love my job. My job is awesome. I really love it, and I hope that comes across to people." Being a TV star has changed Tom's life in one way - he keeps being stopped by people who aren’t sure why they've stopping him. "I think it's because I'm a big, hairy bloke," says Tom. "They kind of remember me, but they don’t know where from." says Tom. "They say 'do you go down the Dog and Duck?" With his new higher profile in the new series of Fifth Gear, all that may be about to change. Auto Trader links
Auto Talk: Vicki Butler-Henderson - interview 2
Auto Talk: Fifth Gear's Jason Plato
Auto Talk: Richard Hammond |
Page 1
