Jason Dawe (presenter)

Jason Dawe
Dawe in 2021
Born
Jason Andrew Dawe

(1967-05-04) 4 May 1967 (age 57)
Occupation(s)Journalist
Television presenter
TelevisionTop Gear
Used Car Roadshow

Jason Andrew Dawe (born 4 May 1967) is an English journalist and television presenter. Brought up in Cornwall, Dawe worked at car dealerships and as a motoring industry trainer; he had been a long-time columnist of the motoring section of The Sunday Times.[1] He also presented the first series of the rebooted Top Gear on BBC Two alongside Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond before being replaced by James May from the next series of the show onwards.

Journalism

Dawe is a regular columnist in The Sunday Times motoring section, where he has written extensively about used cars.[1] Together with Nick Rufford of The Sunday Times he has also made many video broadcasts of car reviews.[1] He writes for many other motoring magazines and is a regular contributor to radio and TV shows as a motoring expert.

In addition to this, Dawe has also been occasionally known to write in the Automobile Association magazine.

Television career

Initially, Jeremy Clarkson wanted James May to present the rebooted series of Top Gear; however, May was rejected by the BBC,[2] with Dawe agreeing to present the first series alongside Clarkson and Richard Hammond.

When May wished to present the show for the second series due to the increasing popularity of the programme, Clarkson thought about Dawe staying and to have four presenters. However, his co-presenter Richard Hammond was close to being fired by BBC management alongside Dawe.[3] Nevertheless show executive producer Andy Wilman strongly supported Hammond's position on the show at the time, stating later in Top Gear magazine "There was no doubt that Richard would stay”.[3]

Following his departure from Top Gear, Dawe returned to his presenting career in 2005, appearing on ITV's Used Car Roadshow with Penny Mallory until the programme was cancelled in 2007.[4][5] From 2009 to 2010, he presented Classic Gear alongside Mallory and Alice Crocker, a show about classic cars.[6] Dawe went on to present the 2020 Body Shop Awards reuniting with Mallory again.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c "The Times & The Sunday Times". The Times. Retrieved 2 February 2018.[failed verification]
  2. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYcTyVJCoBk&t=1069s [bare URL]
  3. ^ a b Plunkett, John (20 May 2015). "Top Gear bosses considered ditching Richard Hammond, says Andy Wilman". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  4. ^ "Used Car Roadshow on Men & Motors". Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  5. ^ "Who needs new cars anyway?". The Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  6. ^ "Prime Video: Classic Gear". 19 September 2023. Archived from the original on 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  7. ^ "Penny Mallory & Jason Dawe presenting the 2020 Body Shop Awards". YouTube.