Richard Hammond and his wife Amanda have decided to part ways after an “amazing 28 years together”. The couple, who became household names through Richard’s work on Top Gear and The Grand Tour, released a joint statement confirming the decision to separate.
Sharing the statement on his X account, Richard, 55, shared: “A little update from us; this Christmas we were together as a family and this year we will still be a family but just structured a bit differently. Our marriage is coming to end, but we’ve had an amazing 28 years together and two incredible daughters.
“We will always be in each other’s lives and are proud of the family we created. We won’t be commenting further and sincerely hope that our privacy and that of our children will be respected at this time. With Love, Richard and Mindy.”
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The statement was quickly met by an outpouring of sorrow from fans, offering their support. One fan said: “Wishing you both all the best.”
Another added: “Its no one’s business but your own, as much as some would love it to be otherwise. Enjoy life.” While a third commented: “Sorry to hear that buddy. Best of luck.”
The couple tied the knot in 2002 and share two daughters, Isabella, 24, and Willow, 22. Richard, who was born in Solihull, co-hosts the Who We Are Now podcast with his daughter Izzy.
Amanda, known as Mindy, previously recalled a terrifying moment after Richard was involved in a near-fatal car crash in 2006. He was left in a coma for two weeks following the accident during filming for BBC’s Top Gear.
Mindy played a crucial role in nursing him back to health after the jet-powered supercar he was driving at 319mph crashed and flipped. His wife was left stunned when he failed to recognise her after waking up from his coma.
“It was disconcerting when, early after the crash, Richard looked at me from his hospital bed and said, ‘You’re lovely, but you’re not my wife’,” she previously shared with the Telegraph. “When I corrected him, he responded, ‘No, you’re not my wife, my wife is French’.
“Indeed, when he was allowed home five weeks later, it became clear that Richard’s memory loss was no short-term affliction.”
She revealed his memory suffered hugely after the crash, and the star also battled mood swings. “It was a harrowing, horrible time,” she confessed. “The nurse had tried all these observations by prodding him and she was clearly getting nothing. And I remember saying to her ‘It’s bad, isn’t it? ‘ Because obviously things were going in the wrong direction, she started shouting ‘Richard, Richard’ at him. I said ‘Can I shout at him too?
“I got really close to his face and shouted: ‘Richard, Richard, squeeze those bloody fingers. You’ve got to come back’. You are hysterical because you just know if you don’t get a response, the slide is starting. I was swearing at him. You would do anything.”