James May Opens Up on Retirement and Life Beyond Showbiz as 60th Birthday Passes
In a heartfelt revelation, James May, known for his role in The Grand Tour, opens up about considering retirement in the wake of a close friend’s death. As he nears his 60th birthday, May is introspectively contemplating a life beyond the glitz of showbiz.
Key Takeaways:
- Life Re-evaluation: Following the death of a close friend, James May, at 59, ponders over his life’s trajectory and the balance of experiences over possessions. His reflections lead him to consider retirement from the entertainment industry as he approaches a significant age milestone.
- Shifting Priorities: May reveals a change in his personal interests, especially post-pandemic. He finds himself moving away from previous passions like flying planes and motorcycling, embracing simpler joys like bicycling, indicating a shift in lifestyle preferences.
- Ongoing Projects: Despite these contemplations, May continues to engage in his work, with his latest project, “Our Man In Italy,” following the success of the Amazon Prime series “Our Man In Japan.” This project reflects his ongoing interest in travel and exploration.
James May, a renowned face in the world of automotive television, especially known for his work on The Grand Tour alongside Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond, has recently opened up about his thoughts on retirement. This introspection comes at a poignant time, just weeks after the death of a close friend, and as May reached a significant personal milestone – his 60th birthday.
In an interview with the Radio Times, May shared his fears and uncertainties about the future. He remarked:
“A very close friend of mine died a few weeks ago. He retired early, because he’d always had this fear that his family isn’t very long-lived, and he wanted to swap possessions for experiences and knowledge.”
This tragic event led May to a deeper reflection on his own life choices and priorities.
“That’s what he started doing, but unfortunately he got cancer and it killed him. It was quite interesting thinking about that after he’d gone because it takes a certain amount of courage to say, ‘No, I don’t want to telegraph my success and my sophistication.
“I simply want to have a nice life and contemplate the mystery and wonder of God’s creation.’”
May’s contemplation about retirement extends to his lifestyle and hobbies as well. The pandemic, he notes, shifted his focus away from activities like flying airplanes and motorcycling, which were once integral to his identity. Instead, he found solace and a renewed interest in bicycling, a simpler yet fulfilling pastime.
“During that time I couldn’t do quite a lot of hobbies that I thought were very important to me, like flying aeroplanes and running motorcycles.
“But I found that as we eased out of the pandemic, I didn’t start doing them again very much. I got heavily back into riding my bicycle…
“And I think that might actually make me feel better.”
Despite these reflective thoughts, May’s career in television is still vibrant. His recent endeavors include the successful unscripted travelogue series “Our Man In Japan,” and its sequel, “Our Man In Italy,” showcasing his enduring passion for exploration and adventure.
