Overview
- Willson died on November 8 after a short battle with lung cancer, with his family saying he passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones.
- He helped define Top Gear’s original 1991–2001 run as its used-car expert before moving to Channel 5’s Fifth Gear and creating shows including Britain’s Worst Drivers and The Car’s The Star.
- A longtime campaigner, he fronted the FairFuel effort to hold down fuel duty and later founded FairCharge to make electric vehicles more affordable, with his family crediting the fuel campaign with averting over £100 billion in extra tax.
- Tributes poured in from former colleagues, including James May and Tiff Needell, while Jeremy Clarkson posted messages on X and Instagram, calling Willson a “properly funny man.”
- His family requested privacy and said funeral arrangements will be announced in due course; he is survived by his wife Michaela, children Mercedes, Max and Mini, and grandchildren.