1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,280 Speaker 1: Well, James May not only back, but he's heading our way. 2 00:00:02,279 --> 00:00:05,080 Speaker 1: If you haven't seen as our Man in series, it's 3 00:00:05,120 --> 00:00:08,080 Speaker 1: well worth watching Japan, India and Italy. He also has 4 00:00:08,119 --> 00:00:10,960 Speaker 1: the pub, He's got his own gin, but it's the 5 00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:14,200 Speaker 1: theater that brings him here explorers the Age of Discovery. 6 00:00:14,360 --> 00:00:16,759 Speaker 1: It will be arriving in August. James May is with 7 00:00:16,880 --> 00:00:19,520 Speaker 1: this good morning, Good morning sir. We last had you 8 00:00:19,560 --> 00:00:23,239 Speaker 1: on the program in twenty nineteen, and that was just 9 00:00:23,320 --> 00:00:25,919 Speaker 1: ahead of season three of the Grand Tour. This will 10 00:00:25,920 --> 00:00:28,440 Speaker 1: be the only Grand Tour question, I ask, But given 11 00:00:28,520 --> 00:00:32,680 Speaker 1: it's been six years, has that contribution to your side 12 00:00:32,720 --> 00:00:36,400 Speaker 1: of television, both Top Gear and Grand Tour settled in 13 00:00:36,479 --> 00:00:39,200 Speaker 1: your mind? Are you at peace with yourself and life 14 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:39,640 Speaker 1: moves on. 15 00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:43,640 Speaker 2: That's very nice of you to put it that way, 16 00:00:43,640 --> 00:00:46,720 Speaker 2: because I think, yes, you are right. I am largely 17 00:00:46,760 --> 00:00:49,839 Speaker 2: at peace with myself. I'm very happy with what happened, 18 00:00:49,880 --> 00:00:52,680 Speaker 2: and I am ready to move on to a broad 19 00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:54,600 Speaker 2: Sunday's Upland. 20 00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:57,520 Speaker 1: You seem very busy. Are you deliberately busy? 21 00:00:58,880 --> 00:01:00,800 Speaker 2: No? Quite the opposite. This year was going to be 22 00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:04,280 Speaker 2: what I called a dry run, a retirement to see 23 00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:07,480 Speaker 2: how much I liked it that I've ended up doing 24 00:01:07,480 --> 00:01:11,440 Speaker 2: a live talk, a couple of TV shows, various other 25 00:01:12,040 --> 00:01:14,560 Speaker 2: odds and sods. It's actually the busiest year I've had 26 00:01:14,600 --> 00:01:18,880 Speaker 2: for probably a decade in terms of demands on my time. 27 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:20,640 Speaker 2: But maybe that's a good thing. You know, maybe if 28 00:01:20,640 --> 00:01:22,560 Speaker 2: I was left on my own devices, i'd sit in 29 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:23,600 Speaker 2: the garden and rot. 30 00:01:23,840 --> 00:01:26,320 Speaker 1: Because what I wanted to know is is post you 31 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:29,720 Speaker 1: ground to a top gear thing? Was the work you 32 00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:32,720 Speaker 1: wanted to do, ideas you wanted to explore and you're 33 00:01:32,760 --> 00:01:35,000 Speaker 1: now doing that or has it just happened. 34 00:01:38,280 --> 00:01:41,679 Speaker 2: It's a boringly predictable answer, but it's a bit of both. 35 00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:44,679 Speaker 2: There were some things I wanted to do, none of 36 00:01:44,680 --> 00:01:47,360 Speaker 2: those have come to fruition. And there were things that 37 00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:49,640 Speaker 2: other people wanted me to do that I've agreed to. 38 00:01:50,680 --> 00:01:54,120 Speaker 1: And have you enjoyed them and enriched yourself through the process. 39 00:01:55,360 --> 00:01:58,240 Speaker 2: Well, actually yes, I think. I mean I tried to 40 00:01:58,320 --> 00:02:00,160 Speaker 2: deny it, as I'm sure a lot of us do, 41 00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:03,760 Speaker 2: But I quite like being busy and I like having 42 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:08,960 Speaker 2: I like having things to do and an objective and 43 00:02:09,160 --> 00:02:11,880 Speaker 2: I mean, let's be honest, a sense of purpose and 44 00:02:11,960 --> 00:02:17,120 Speaker 2: self worth. We're all needy underneath, especially people in TV, 45 00:02:17,280 --> 00:02:20,200 Speaker 2: in the media, we're all just crying for help. 46 00:02:21,760 --> 00:02:24,520 Speaker 1: Our Man in. I enjoyed them all, but I particularly 47 00:02:24,639 --> 00:02:28,200 Speaker 1: like Japan. It struck me that that could go for river, 48 00:02:28,240 --> 00:02:30,240 Speaker 1: couldn't it. There's one hundred and ninety six countries you 49 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:31,200 Speaker 1: could be our Man in. 50 00:02:33,240 --> 00:02:36,760 Speaker 2: Yes, I think you're right. Amazon didn't think so, though, 51 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:39,560 Speaker 2: so they binned it. I was quite cooking to do 52 00:02:39,639 --> 00:02:42,200 Speaker 2: Our Man in the UK because I thought the one 53 00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:45,119 Speaker 2: thing none of us ever does is explore our own countries. 54 00:02:45,160 --> 00:02:47,520 Speaker 2: We always think I must go if you've been written 55 00:02:47,560 --> 00:02:49,160 Speaker 2: for example, I must go to New Zealand, or I 56 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:51,760 Speaker 2: must go to the Maldives, or I must go and 57 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:55,680 Speaker 2: explore India. But why not go and explore ten miles 58 00:02:55,760 --> 00:02:57,400 Speaker 2: down the road exactly? 59 00:02:57,480 --> 00:02:59,760 Speaker 1: And so well, why not make it an independent production 60 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:03,160 Speaker 1: as may incorporate it brings you our Man. 61 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:05,000 Speaker 2: Oh Man at home? 62 00:03:05,600 --> 00:03:08,960 Speaker 1: Yes, precisely. We might have just whiteboarded a half decent 63 00:03:09,040 --> 00:03:13,440 Speaker 1: idea other things submitted exactly. The show you're bringing to 64 00:03:13,520 --> 00:03:17,440 Speaker 1: the country is that fraught given its live and from 65 00:03:17,440 --> 00:03:22,119 Speaker 1: what I can understand ab it, it's scripted but technically 66 00:03:22,120 --> 00:03:26,359 Speaker 1: involved as well, So the potential for chaos is there 67 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:26,880 Speaker 1: is it not. 68 00:03:29,800 --> 00:03:31,880 Speaker 2: That's a very polite way of putting out. I think 69 00:03:31,919 --> 00:03:35,520 Speaker 2: the potential for cocking it up is enormous. I'm not 70 00:03:35,560 --> 00:03:38,800 Speaker 2: really very experienced at live things. We used to do 71 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:41,360 Speaker 2: top Gear Live and then Clarkson Hammond and May Live. 72 00:03:42,440 --> 00:03:44,880 Speaker 2: But there were three of us doing it, plus our 73 00:03:45,120 --> 00:03:49,840 Speaker 2: stunt driving team and various other circus performers, and it 74 00:03:49,880 --> 00:03:53,120 Speaker 2: was I mean, it wasn't. It was quite it was 75 00:03:53,200 --> 00:03:56,240 Speaker 2: quite nerve wracking at times, but it wasn't really technically 76 00:03:56,280 --> 00:04:00,160 Speaker 2: very different. This one is quite intimidating because it's just me. 77 00:04:01,160 --> 00:04:03,680 Speaker 2: If it goes wrong, I can't just turn to Richard 78 00:04:03,680 --> 00:04:06,000 Speaker 2: Hammond and go, so, Richard, what do you think you know? 79 00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:08,520 Speaker 2: And completely throw it to him and watch him the squirm. 80 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:11,960 Speaker 2: I don't have that option. I've I have to I 81 00:04:12,040 --> 00:04:14,560 Speaker 2: have to keep going, which on the whole I don't 82 00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:16,360 Speaker 2: have a problem with. I mean, I'm quite good at 83 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:22,359 Speaker 2: keeping going. But yes, it's I'm slightly nervous about it, 84 00:04:22,440 --> 00:04:24,360 Speaker 2: if I'm honest, But that's also quite a good thing 85 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:28,680 Speaker 2: because it's it's stimulating. You know, it's exciting. You have 86 00:04:28,720 --> 00:04:32,080 Speaker 2: a live audience. You can't you can't rewind, you can't edit. 87 00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:34,279 Speaker 2: You just have to go out there and feel either 88 00:04:34,360 --> 00:04:37,000 Speaker 2: the love or the hate, depending on which comes out 89 00:04:37,040 --> 00:04:37,640 Speaker 2: of the audience. 90 00:04:37,880 --> 00:04:41,680 Speaker 1: Is this entirely your show? You wrote it, Therefore you 91 00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:44,440 Speaker 1: put the parameters around it. Who's the discoverer? What you 92 00:04:44,520 --> 00:04:46,080 Speaker 1: say about them? Or is they more to it than that? 93 00:04:47,440 --> 00:04:49,960 Speaker 2: It's a bit, it's a it's a slightly more complicated 94 00:04:50,160 --> 00:04:53,800 Speaker 2: process than that. The organizers came up with the bare 95 00:04:53,800 --> 00:04:56,279 Speaker 2: bones of the show, and then I've added a few bits, 96 00:04:56,279 --> 00:04:57,840 Speaker 2: and we've taken a few bits out, and then I've 97 00:04:57,839 --> 00:05:00,839 Speaker 2: turned it into my own words, and I have written 98 00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:03,680 Speaker 2: the entire script. But I mean, it's two hours long. 99 00:05:03,720 --> 00:05:06,440 Speaker 2: I don't think since I'm not part of the Royal 100 00:05:06,480 --> 00:05:08,520 Speaker 2: Shakespeare Company or anything like that, I don't think I 101 00:05:08,560 --> 00:05:11,279 Speaker 2: can actually remember it word for word. I've got to. 102 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:15,440 Speaker 2: I have to remember the gist of it, what is 103 00:05:15,480 --> 00:05:19,040 Speaker 2: often referred to as the narrative arc. There's a terrible 104 00:05:19,040 --> 00:05:22,000 Speaker 2: expression that we all hate it. But I have to 105 00:05:22,240 --> 00:05:26,279 Speaker 2: essentially remember that and just stand there and tell the stories. 106 00:05:26,360 --> 00:05:28,760 Speaker 2: There are there special effects. We've got an artist on 107 00:05:28,800 --> 00:05:32,160 Speaker 2: the stage, We've got lights and projections of pictures, and 108 00:05:32,880 --> 00:05:34,680 Speaker 2: dry eyes and fog and the power of the ship 109 00:05:34,720 --> 00:05:37,039 Speaker 2: and all these things, so it'll be you know, it'll 110 00:05:37,080 --> 00:05:39,440 Speaker 2: be good to look at, but ultimately I have to 111 00:05:39,520 --> 00:05:40,919 Speaker 2: stand there and tell stories. 112 00:05:41,320 --> 00:05:43,360 Speaker 1: Have you actually done it yet in terms of it's 113 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:45,039 Speaker 1: coming to Australia in New Zealand. Have you run it 114 00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:46,480 Speaker 1: through Britain as a bit of a taste trial to 115 00:05:46,520 --> 00:05:47,880 Speaker 1: warm it up for us? Or is this are we 116 00:05:47,920 --> 00:05:48,919 Speaker 1: the guinea pigs. 117 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:53,520 Speaker 2: We're actually running it through Australia in New Zealand and 118 00:05:53,520 --> 00:05:57,200 Speaker 2: then Singapore before doing it in Britain. I don't think 119 00:05:57,200 --> 00:06:01,599 Speaker 2: it's because we're regarding the endtivities as a guinea pig. 120 00:06:01,640 --> 00:06:05,200 Speaker 2: I think it's more because the way that the timing 121 00:06:05,240 --> 00:06:07,560 Speaker 2: of the thing is such that we come to you 122 00:06:07,600 --> 00:06:09,320 Speaker 2: in your winter in Sentity and by the time we 123 00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:11,119 Speaker 2: bring the show back to Britain, it will be winter 124 00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:15,680 Speaker 2: here and people will be you know, depressed, drunk, no 125 00:06:15,839 --> 00:06:18,159 Speaker 2: money or whatever. So I'll consider going to watch me 126 00:06:18,240 --> 00:06:19,240 Speaker 2: in a theater show. 127 00:06:19,279 --> 00:06:21,919 Speaker 1: All right, now, listen, James, we're going to talk about cars. 128 00:06:21,920 --> 00:06:23,920 Speaker 1: I watched you the other day. I saw your think 129 00:06:23,920 --> 00:06:27,600 Speaker 1: with Jay Lino. Now I'm assuming he's on a zimpigre. 130 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:30,560 Speaker 1: He's on a diet because he's literally vanished. 131 00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:32,680 Speaker 2: He's a lot thinner than he used to be. I mean, 132 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:34,920 Speaker 2: I didn't ask him about it because that would be 133 00:06:35,279 --> 00:06:39,080 Speaker 2: terribly indiscreet and rather rather unmanly. Let to be honest, 134 00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:42,080 Speaker 2: I thought. I mean, some people have commented saying, oh, 135 00:06:42,160 --> 00:06:44,440 Speaker 2: Jay looks so thin, but I actually thought he looked 136 00:06:44,520 --> 00:06:45,320 Speaker 2: quite healthy. 137 00:06:46,200 --> 00:06:49,000 Speaker 1: But it's just I was just concerned. But he wasn't 138 00:06:49,040 --> 00:06:51,680 Speaker 1: done well the Triumph though, the tr This is what 139 00:06:51,760 --> 00:06:54,279 Speaker 1: I got out of your video with Jay, and people 140 00:06:54,279 --> 00:06:58,360 Speaker 1: should watch it. Your relationship with the Triumph TR six 141 00:06:58,960 --> 00:07:02,159 Speaker 1: Is it about the car or is it about your 142 00:07:02,200 --> 00:07:05,360 Speaker 1: time and place in life and therefore your relationship with 143 00:07:05,360 --> 00:07:07,280 Speaker 1: with what happened to be there at the time. 144 00:07:08,279 --> 00:07:11,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, what you see, that's the That's the sort of 145 00:07:11,480 --> 00:07:13,920 Speaker 2: question that owns you the big bucks, because I think 146 00:07:13,960 --> 00:07:17,840 Speaker 2: it is quite a complicated thing. There are there are 147 00:07:17,920 --> 00:07:20,840 Speaker 2: aspects of the of the TR six that connect with 148 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:24,920 Speaker 2: my teenage years, well even with my childhood. I suppose 149 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:28,200 Speaker 2: it was the first It was the first car I 150 00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:31,720 Speaker 2: drove that wasn't my own car. As a solo review 151 00:07:31,800 --> 00:07:36,160 Speaker 2: on top Gear, I've always admired I always wanted one, 152 00:07:37,560 --> 00:07:39,800 Speaker 2: So is it I mean, I do like them as well. 153 00:07:39,880 --> 00:07:42,040 Speaker 2: Even though I'm not a massive fan of classic cars, 154 00:07:42,040 --> 00:07:43,720 Speaker 2: I tend to think that you know, you're better offer 155 00:07:43,760 --> 00:07:45,679 Speaker 2: the model. But I do really like the TR six. 156 00:07:46,240 --> 00:07:49,760 Speaker 2: Is it about the car? Is it about my yearning 157 00:07:49,840 --> 00:07:56,120 Speaker 2: for the past? Is it about some unresolved personal trauma 158 00:07:56,200 --> 00:07:59,200 Speaker 2: or crisis. I don't really know. I think that's for 159 00:07:59,280 --> 00:08:04,760 Speaker 2: someone else to decide. Yeah, there that you're mad? 160 00:08:05,240 --> 00:08:09,080 Speaker 1: Are you riveling as much as I am? In the 161 00:08:10,160 --> 00:08:11,760 Speaker 1: I mean, I don't say this in a nasty way. 162 00:08:11,800 --> 00:08:14,400 Speaker 1: In the back down of the motor industry on internal 163 00:08:14,400 --> 00:08:16,840 Speaker 1: combustion engines and what we have seen, what we thought 164 00:08:16,920 --> 00:08:19,040 Speaker 1: was going to happen and what is happening are two 165 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:21,720 Speaker 1: completely different things. And I reference to your review the 166 00:08:21,760 --> 00:08:25,280 Speaker 1: other day with the Ferrari, the chill Andre twelve cylinders. 167 00:08:25,320 --> 00:08:29,200 Speaker 2: Who would have thought, Yeah, I know it was. It 168 00:08:29,240 --> 00:08:32,520 Speaker 2: was surprisingly delicious. It shouldn't have been surprising. I know, 169 00:08:32,920 --> 00:08:35,200 Speaker 2: I know what that sort of thing is like, and 170 00:08:35,240 --> 00:08:37,319 Speaker 2: I know I still have a soft spot for it. 171 00:08:37,720 --> 00:08:41,800 Speaker 2: You're meaning that the electric car revolution hasn't quite no 172 00:08:41,920 --> 00:08:47,040 Speaker 2: one we thought it well. I mean, I don't rejoice 173 00:08:47,040 --> 00:08:49,160 Speaker 2: in it. I'm open minded about it. I have I 174 00:08:49,200 --> 00:08:53,720 Speaker 2: have a Tesla. I've been driving electrically for over a 175 00:08:53,800 --> 00:08:57,360 Speaker 2: decade because I sort of, I mean, the way I've 176 00:08:57,360 --> 00:08:59,040 Speaker 2: always put it is, I feel I should take part 177 00:08:59,080 --> 00:09:03,000 Speaker 2: in the experiment car enthusiast. I'm in the fortunate position 178 00:09:03,040 --> 00:09:06,480 Speaker 2: of being able to so I ought to be interested 179 00:09:06,480 --> 00:09:10,080 Speaker 2: in where the cars going or not going, So I 180 00:09:10,120 --> 00:09:13,079 Speaker 2: should I should join in. There's no point in sort of, 181 00:09:13,440 --> 00:09:15,439 Speaker 2: you know, digging a trench and sticking your head over 182 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:18,280 Speaker 2: in a tin hat and going bar electric cars. Bugger off, 183 00:09:18,280 --> 00:09:20,720 Speaker 2: I'm going to have this flat six until I die. 184 00:09:22,800 --> 00:09:24,080 Speaker 2: You've got to You've got to look at a bit 185 00:09:24,120 --> 00:09:27,480 Speaker 2: of both and and sort of. You don't have to 186 00:09:27,480 --> 00:09:29,920 Speaker 2: make a decision so much, but you have to. You 187 00:09:30,040 --> 00:09:33,080 Speaker 2: have to be the way I always put it is 188 00:09:33,200 --> 00:09:35,079 Speaker 2: absorbent to possibilities. 189 00:09:35,840 --> 00:09:38,199 Speaker 1: But you would be. It would be fair to suggest, 190 00:09:38,240 --> 00:09:42,760 Speaker 1: would it not, that the Ferrari does more for you 191 00:09:42,840 --> 00:09:44,760 Speaker 1: emotionally than an electric car? 192 00:09:44,880 --> 00:09:50,280 Speaker 2: IBL will uh mechanically? Yes, I think I believe in 193 00:09:50,559 --> 00:09:52,960 Speaker 2: I don't really believe the argument that cars or any 194 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:55,760 Speaker 2: machines have sold I think that's a that's a slight 195 00:09:55,840 --> 00:09:58,280 Speaker 2: cop out for people who can't articulate what it is 196 00:09:58,320 --> 00:10:01,920 Speaker 2: they like about something, But I do leaven machine character, 197 00:10:02,520 --> 00:10:08,480 Speaker 2: and the character of electric motors everywhere, not just in cars, 198 00:10:08,679 --> 00:10:12,880 Speaker 2: is fairly uniform because they simply spin round around and whine. 199 00:10:13,520 --> 00:10:16,480 Speaker 2: The thing that makes internal combustion engines interesting and full 200 00:10:16,520 --> 00:10:19,920 Speaker 2: of character is ultimately because they are flawed. But of 201 00:10:19,960 --> 00:10:23,000 Speaker 2: course so are we, so therefore maybe we can relate 202 00:10:23,040 --> 00:10:26,600 Speaker 2: to them better and explore their their foibles and their 203 00:10:26,640 --> 00:10:30,120 Speaker 2: their strengths and their weaknesses, and either sympathize with them 204 00:10:30,240 --> 00:10:30,880 Speaker 2: or exploit them. 205 00:10:31,400 --> 00:10:33,320 Speaker 1: Listen, I tell you what we're looking forward to having 206 00:10:33,320 --> 00:10:35,079 Speaker 1: you in the country. It's turning a month or so away, 207 00:10:35,600 --> 00:10:36,400 Speaker 1: and the show. 208 00:10:36,320 --> 00:10:38,720 Speaker 2: I've been terribly pompoused. Then I should apologize. 209 00:10:38,760 --> 00:10:41,080 Speaker 1: No, you're never miror you're not not pompoused, and there's 210 00:10:41,080 --> 00:10:43,040 Speaker 1: no need to apologize. It's always a joy. And I 211 00:10:43,080 --> 00:10:45,040 Speaker 1: just hope it's not another six years before we get 212 00:10:45,040 --> 00:10:46,480 Speaker 1: you back on the program. 213 00:10:46,920 --> 00:10:49,680 Speaker 2: No, well, I'll gladly come on. It was you know 214 00:10:49,720 --> 00:10:51,360 Speaker 2: when I'm there, which is only let me work out 215 00:10:51,360 --> 00:10:55,839 Speaker 2: how many weeks away it is, six, five, six or seven. Well, 216 00:10:55,880 --> 00:10:56,520 Speaker 2: I can't do that. 217 00:10:56,520 --> 00:11:00,720 Speaker 1: Calculation's waste of Lovely, James, my lovely to see you again. 218 00:11:00,840 --> 00:11:03,720 Speaker 2: Nice to talk and you sir, very nice as ever, 219 00:11:03,760 --> 00:11:04,560 Speaker 2: see you again soon. 220 00:11:04,640 --> 00:11:06,199 Speaker 1: There we go, and we'll get him in the studio 221 00:11:06,280 --> 00:11:09,720 Speaker 1: when he turns up in August. James may always a pleasure. 222 00:11:10,160 --> 00:11:13,040 Speaker 1: For more from the Mic Asking Breakfast, listen live to 223 00:11:13,160 --> 00:11:16,240 Speaker 1: news talks it'd be from six am weekdays, or follow 224 00:11:16,280 --> 00:11:17,840 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.