Richard Hammond Suffers Huge Family Loss: ‘Tremendous Grief’
Richard Hammond, the popular television presenter known for his work on shows like Top Gear and The Grand Tour, is going through a period of tremendous personal loss. He recently shared the heartbreaking news of his father, Alan Hammond, passing away, leaving him in “tremendous grief.” Hammond announced this loss publicly on his podcast, ‘Who We Are Now’, which he co-hosts with his daughter, Izzy Hammond.
The revelation came during a conversation with clinical psychiatrist Dr. T, where besides the emotion-filled atmosphere, Hammond stated:
“I have to say quite early on that since we spoke to Professor Green…we’ve lost my father, Izzy’s grandfather, he died.”
This marked a poignant moment, as listeners could sense the raw emotions accompanying his words.
Dr. T, who was on the podcast to discuss the impact of bereavement on individuals, expressed empathy, saying:
“Firstly, I’m sorry for your loss and thank you for sharing and it’s so helpful, I guess, to hear because it’s so relatable.”
The passing of Alan Hammond has profoundly affected Richard, stirring memories of the two.
“And so we are, probably, both of us, Iz, are undergoing change right now – is that changing us?” he questioned. He mentioned feeling a “tremendous grief,” but not as a constant presence, sharing that, “For instance, I’ve noticed that since we lost my dad I don’t wander around daily in a cloud of… there was tremendous grief, of course, there was, he was my dad, but it’s kind of in the background.”
Additionally, Hammond’s personal life has seen another monumental shift with the formal end of his 28-year marriage to Mindy Hammond. The couple recently announced their separation, while confirming a commitment to their two daughters, Izzy and Willow.
“Our marriage is coming to an end, but we’ve had an amazing 28 years together and two incredible daughters,” a statement said. Despite their separation, they’re dedicated to family unity, requesting privacy from the public through a social media post:
“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.”
The podcast ‘Who We Are Now’ has become a therapeutic outlet for Hammond, where he processes both his father’s death and the impact it has on his everyday life. It also serves as a public platform for discussing grief and its complexities.
“That’s interesting because it’s your brain doing stuff that you only experience through emotions and sensations that it triggers,” reflects Hammond on the natural processing of emotions.
Dr. T elaborated on how grief affects neurological pathways and evokes a deep sense of longing for lost loved ones.
“And it’s painful because when we have someone, or something, in our life that we love, cherish, that’s important to us, that we’re used to, it forms part of the Neurocircuitry in our brain, but also our sense of self.”
