What we know as Richard Hammond splits from wife Mindy after 28 years

Richard Hammond has separated from his wife Amanda "Mindy" after 28 years.

The Top Gear and The Grand Tour presenter has shared a statement on his X account from both him and his wife, who works as a newspaper columnist. The couple were married in 2002 and have two daughters Willow and Isabella AKA Izzy together.

Only six months ago, Hammond had shared the secrets to their long-lasting marriage. He told The Telegraph that healthy marriages were about staying connected and the small things, including "know what’s in the fridge, know what cleaning products you use in the house".

Richard and Mindy split

After an "amazing" 28 years, the pair have decided to part ways in the new year.

They said in a statement on social media: “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.”

Richard and Mindy have two children

The couple's two children have grown up and Hammond has often fondly talked about them.

Hammond's brothers were his best friends but he has been delighted to have daughters.

He told The Guardian in 2013: "It has been amazing having daughters. I never had sisters, so when I had the girls a whole new world opened up. They are fascinating. I hope I can be like my parents and help the children enjoy the lives they have. It's been quite a journey, from a smelly Ford Anglia to a Land Rover full of hairbrushes and hockey sticks."

Hammond and his daughter Izzy also host a podcast Who We Are Now which come about after a conversation about men's mental health. The father and daughter duo are passionate about this, especially as Hammond suffered a brain injury in 2006 after a crash.

Support through Top Gear crash

His wife Mindy had been a pillar of support when Hammond had his near-death crash in 2006 while filming Top Gear.

The presenter had been driving at 288mph when his car flipped over at the RAF base in York.

Mindy shared her shock that her own husband didn't recognise her after the crash.

"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 told 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."

In 2022, however, Hammond said his worst life experience was telling his wife he had another car accident.

He told The Telegraph: "My worst experience was ringing my wife Mindy as they strapped me to a stretcher board next to an air ambulance and a blazing supercar at the bottom of a Swiss mountain. I said: “Mindy, I’m really sorry, but I’ve done it again! Please don’t worry. My head is not damaged. I am all OK – only a few broken bits that will mend.” It was pretty grim."

In September, Hammond called time on The Grand Tour with his presenting pals James May and Jeremy Clarkson.

First meeting

Hammond and his wife Mindy had been a strong celebrity couple, having been together for 28 years.

It was love at first sight for the couple back in 1995. Their paths first crossed when they were working at a PR firm in London. In his book On The Edge My Story, Hammond wrote: "In an instant, I fell in love with her and realised I had met my soul-mate and best friend for life."