RICHARD Hammond and Amanda “Mindy” have announced they are separating after an “amazing 28 years together”.
The Sun has learned that newspaper columnist Mindy, 59, has demanded a divorce after a source claimed she “wants him gone”.
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Richard and Mindy at the BAFTAs last February Credit: Getty
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The former Top Gear presenter has moved out of the family homeCredit: Getty
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Mindy Hammond, Isabella, Willow and Richard at the Global Champions Tour at the Royal Hospital Chelsea in August 2018 Credit: Getty
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Hammond announced their split on X/TwitterCredit: Twitter
Top Gear star Hammond, 55, shared the news on the X account the couple shared.
The couple, who have been together for 28 years and married for 23 years, said: “A bit of news from us; this Christmas we were together as a family, and this year we will continue to be a family, just structured a little differently.
“Our marriage is coming to an end, but we’ve had an amazing 28 years together and two amazing daughters.
“We will always be in each other’s lives and we are proud of the family we have created.
“We will not be commenting further and sincerely hope that our privacy and that of our children will be respected at this time. Love, Richard and Mindy.”
Mindy is believed to be asking to keep their £7million estate at Bollitree Castle in Herefordshire while they make divorce settlements.
A source told The Sun: “Richard is very upset about all this. It seems he tried hard to rekindle the relationship, but to no avail.
“There is no suggestion that any third party is involved.”
It is understood that Richard is currently staying in rented premises in a pretty village nearby where he runs his car restoration garage ‘The Littlest Cog’.
He stole from a converted barn in a fake medieval castle where a couple keep a stable of thoroughbred horses.
Richard Hammond announces that he is separating from his wife Mindy after 28 years of marriage
Mindy suggests that Richard keep their holiday home in Buttermere in the Lake District and his flat in London as part of their settlement agreement.
But she is also said to have demanded a share of their horses and a £500,000 annual stipend.
Mindy further demanded a half share in his affairs; including Smallest Cog and their TV production company Chimp Productions, of which she is the director.
The couple met in 1995, and Richard previously wrote in his autobiography, On The Edge: My Story: “I fell in love with her instantly and realized I had met my soulmate and best friend for life.”
After marrying in 2002, the couple snapped up Grade II listed Bollitree Castle in 2008.
It has six bedrooms, a swimming pool and 20 hectares of land.
Despite Richard’s on-screen presence, the couple have largely kept their relationship and two daughters out of the limelight.
Their eldest daughter Izzy, 24, works alongside her dad in his garage to record episodes for their podcast Who We Are Now.
Meanwhile, younger sister Willow, 22, is a keen horse rider and lives separately, the source revealed.
Their father, a former Top Gear legend alongside Jeremy Clarkson and James May, is estimated to have a net worth of around £70million.
Richard, known as ‘The Hamster’ on the show, has an impressive car collection including a Ford Mustang, Porsche, Lotus Esprit Sport and 1931 Laguna, as well as a Bentley.
In 2009, he treated himself to a £150,000 helicopter which he used to transport him to and from his £2.5m Herefordshire home.
He recently bought a £170,000 Porsche 911 Turbo S convertible with a DICK H number plate which he shows off in his social media videos.
Richard made a name for himself on local radio before landing a great job on Top Gear and going on to present The Grand Tour on Amazon for a salary of £7m.
It also introduced Brainiac and Total Wipeout.
In 2006, he miraculously survived a 288km/h crash into a jet-powered car while filming a segment for Top Gear.
He was airlifted to the neurological ward of Leeds General Infirmary where he remained in a coma for two weeks.
It was questionable if he would survive, and Mindy revealed that he didn’t recognize her when he woke up.
Richard revealed that his brain injury has left him suffering from memory loss, depression and sometimes finding it hard to “connect emotionally”.
On June 10, 2017, Richard had to be airlifted to hospital after again cheating death in another accident in Switzerland while filming The Grand Tour.
He was driving the £2million supercar for an Amazon show when he lost control before it overturned and then burst into flames.
Luckily, Richard only got away with a broken knee.
Richard Hammond’s career through the decades
By Summer Raemason
Richard was born in Birmingham in 1970 and studied photography as well as television production.
He began his career in broadcasting at BBC Radio York.
This landed him another role at BBC Radio Cumbria, Leeds and Lancashire, before leaving in 1995 to follow his passion for cars.
He had always dreamed of hosting motoring TV shows, but initially took a job in PR after leaving the BBC.
He has been involved in corporate events for clients including the Ferrari Owners Club and Renault Sport.
In 1998, he landed his debut motoring job on TV, hosting Motorweek on the Men & Motors satellite channel.
This opened up many more avenues for him on screen and he eventually found his way to presenting Top Gear in 2002.
At its peak, the domestic show gathered up to six million viewers.
While filming Top Gear, Richard crashed in a jet engine traveling at over 300 mph.
The father of two children is one of the few people who survived such a horror accident.
Hammond also hosted science and nature programs including Should I Worry About? on BBC One.
Other TV projects for the BBC included fronting Battle of the Geeks, Time Commanders and team captain at Petrol Heads.
He also presented ITV’s eponymous Richard Hammond’s Five O’Clock Show and Sky One’s Brainiac.
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Richard and Mindy at Cheltenham Festival 2022 Credit: Splash
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Richard worked for years with Jeremy Clarkson and James May on Top Gear and then The Grand TourCredits: PA
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