Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Membership today.
Join today
Already a member?
Log in
Former Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond has discussed rebuilding his life following his divorce, revealing that losing his marriage, family home and much of his fortune left him happier than he had been in years.
The 56-year-old star spoke about the upheaval on the High Performance podcast on Thursday, having separated from his wife of 23 years, Amanda “Mindy” Hammond, in January 2025.
Hammond, who is now in a relationship with therapist Keira “Kiki” Glen, described finding unexpected happiness in a rented farmhouse after leaving his home at Bollitree Castle, near Ross-on-Wye in Herefordshire.
Reflecting on the losses he had experienced, Richard said: “In the last two years I lost my father, my dog, my marriage, my house, most of the chunk of the money I earned from The Grand Tour.”
He added: “And I don’t give a s***. The happiest I’ve been in years was living in a rented cottage, my divorce cottage.”
Richard Hammond divorced from his ex-wife Mindy last year (Getty)
The presenter, who became a household name alongside Jeremy Clarkson, 66, and James May, 63, on the BBC motoring programme Top Gear, said he had turned to a friend for somewhere to live following the breakdown of his marriage.
Richard added: “I loved it. I rang a mate of mine who runs a big estate. Sometimes a chap needs to no longer live where he lives quite suddenly. He owns this huge estate and he said, ‘I’ve got just the place for you’.”
He continued: “He rented me this beautiful tiny little farmhouse called Camp Farm, which caused some considerable amusement amongst my friends, obviously.”
The property was a considerable change from the castle where Richard had lived with Mindy and their daughters, Izzy, 26, and Willow, 23.
However, Richard said he found the simpler surroundings unexpectedly rewarding.
He said: “I lived there for like a year. I loved it. No furniture really to speak of, bits and pieces. Bit draughty in winter. But when friends came over, they came over to see me. Not the house, not the collection of cars – because that’d all gone.”
He recalled hosting large gatherings despite having little space or furniture.
Richard said: “I would cook a Sunday roast for like 14 of us and have to bring the outside table in and move all the furniture to get everyone in. And it was just, I loved it. Absolutely adored it. Very, very happy times.”
The comments come after Richard confirmed his new relationship with Glen, a therapist and governor at Headington Rye School in Oxford.
The couple went public with their romance in June, eight months after Richard and Mindy announced the end of their marriage.
Glen, who has two daughters aged 26 and 24, has also encouraged Richard to embrace new activities, including wild swimming.
Richard and Mindy had been together for 28 years and married for 23 when they publicly confirmed their separation.
Despite the split, the former couple have maintained a relationship as parents, appearing together at their daughter Willow’s graduation from Hartpury University in Gloucestershire.