Richard Hammond has finally spoken out about his highly publicised split from wife Mindy Etheridge — revealing that he will directly address the divorce and the rumours surrounding it in the new season of his Discovery Plus series, Richard Hammond’s Workshop.
The 55-year-old former Top Gear host, who announced his separation from journalist Mindy, 60, in January after “28 amazing years together,” opened up about the difficult year during a candid appearance on Good Morning Britain.
“We Wanted to Get It Out of the Way”
When host Susanna Reid asked whether the new season begins with a personal message, Hammond responded openly:
“Yeah, well we wanted to get that out of the way and done because I got divorced this year,” he admitted.
“So at the beginning, we say, ‘There’s been a few changes to the workshop — and a little bit of a change to my situation,’ and then we move on from that very quickly.”
The moment drew attention not just for his calm tone, but also for the quiet honesty behind his words.
“It Wasn’t Betrayal — We Were Already Separated”
The divorce became even more talked about when reports surfaced that Mindy believed Hammond had grown close to a younger colleague before their official split.
However, Hammond firmly denied the allegations, clarifying that their relationship had already ended emotionally long before anything else began.
“That can’t be called betrayal,” he explained.
“At that time, we were already living separately and had accepted that our marriage was over. There were no secrets, no lies — just two people who had grown apart.”
His statement seemed to close the door on the speculation, painting a far more complex and respectful picture of their separation.
“Our Marriage Is Coming to an End…”
Earlier this year, the couple released a joint statement confirming their split:
“Our marriage is coming to an 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.”
In a later interview with The Daily Mail, Hammond reflected:
“I’m 55. Things change. That’s what happens at this age. Big things change.”
Sources close to the pair suggested that it was Mindy who decided to call time on the marriage, but Hammond emphasized that the decision was mutual:
“That’s a decision we took together, as we said at the time. The statement we put out still stands.”
“Top Gear Has to Come Back”
During the same GMB appearance, Hammond also spoke about Top Gear, expressing hope that the legendary BBC show will one day return:
“I have absolutely no power over it whatsoever, but yes, of course it will [come back]. It’s over 40 years old — we were just temporary custodians.”
He added that, with the evolution of electric vehicles and the changing world of transport, “there’s never been a more exciting time to talk about cars.”
Reflection, Recovery, and Respect
Hammond also took a moment to empathize with Top Gear’s Freddie Flintoff, who suffered a devastating crash in 2022:
“Part of me thought, ‘Oh no, not again,’ and I really felt for Freddie. I’ve been there — I’ve been publicly injured, and recovery takes time. I only wish him the best.”
Fans will recall Hammond’s own horrific 2006 crash that left him in a two-week coma with serious brain injuries — an event that permanently shaped his perspective on life and relationships.
Moving Forward
Despite the personal turmoil, Hammond seems focused on honesty and renewal.
“There’s been change,” he said softly. “But that’s life. You move forward.”
With his new show set to return to Discovery Plus this month, Hammond appears ready to close one chapter and begin another — this time, fully on his own terms.
