TV presenter Richard Hammond and his wife Mindy have announced their separation after 28 years of marriage, citing long-standing personal struggles and the toll of his high-risk career.

Richard Hammond, the beloved co-host of the iconic car show “Top Gear,” has always been known for his daring stunts and infectious charm.

But behind the scenes, the man affectionately dubbed “the hamster” has been grappling with personal demons that have threatened to derail his career and family life.

In a shocking turn of events, Hammond and his wife, Amanda Mindy Eidge, have announced their separation after 28 years together, leaving fans and friends stunned.

In the mid-1990s, a young Hammond was hustling his way into the media world, juggling odd jobs at radio stations and public relations firms. It was at one of these PR gigs that he met Mindy, a vivacious woman four years his senior.

“From the moment I laid eyes on her, I knew I had found my soulmate,” Hammond later recalled. Their chemistry was immediate, and soon they were inseparable, navigating the bustling streets of London hand in hand.

By 2002, Hammond’s hard work paid off when he landed a coveted spot on the revamped “Top Gear.” That same year, he married Mindy in a quiet ceremony, marking the beginning of a new chapter in their lives.

Together, they welcomed two daughters, Isabella and Willow, and seemed to have the perfect family life, complete with a picturesque home in Herefordshire known as Ballet Tree Castle.

However, the seemingly idyllic life of the Hammonds was shattered on September 20, 2006. While filming a stunt for “Top Gear,” Hammond attempted to break speed records in a jet-propelled dragster called the Vampire.

In a horrifying twist, a tire blew, causing the car to flip and crash violently. Mindy received the dreaded phone call every spouse fears, racing to the hospital to find her husband in a coma with a severe brain injury.

For two agonizing weeks, Richard lay unconscious, while Mindy remained at his side, showing remarkable strength in the face of uncertainty. When he finally awoke, he looked at her and, to her horror, did not recognize his own wife.

“You’re lovely, but you’re not my wife,” he told her, leaving Mindy heartbroken. Through sheer determination and love, she helped him piece his life back together, guiding him through the challenges of recovery.

Despite his physical recovery, the emotional scars of the accident lingered. Richard returned to “Top Gear” in early 2007, greeted by a hero’s welcome, but behind the scenes, he and Mindy were battling the invisible wounds of trauma.

“We had been to hell and back,” Mindy later reflected, acknowledging the strain the incident placed on their marriage.

As the years passed, Richard’s career soared to new heights. “Top Gear” became a global sensation, and Hammond reveled in the fame and excitement. However, the pressures of his celebrity status began to take a toll on their relationship.

Mindy remained the steady anchor in their lives, managing the household and raising their daughters while Richard chased thrills on screen.

The couple’s challenges intensified after another near-fatal incident in 2017, when Hammond crashed a million-dollar electric supercar while filming in Switzerland. Miraculously, he escaped with only minor injuries, but the incident reignited Mindy’s fears.

“I told him, ‘Three strikes and you’re out,’” she joked during a TV interview, but the underlying message was clear—her patience was wearing thin.

By the late 2010s, friends began to notice a growing distance between the couple. While they maintained a facade of happiness in public, the reality was much different. Mindy craved stability after years of chaos, while Richard, now in his 50s, sought new challenges.

In 2020, he invested nearly half a million pounds into a classic car restoration business, a venture that initially excited Mindy. However, as the business struggled to turn a profit, Richard became consumed by work, further straining their relationship.

In early 2025, after months of speculation, the couple made the painful decision to separate. On January 9, they released a joint statement: “This Christmas, we were together as a family.

And this year, we will still be a family, but just structured a bit differently.” The announcement sent shockwaves through the entertainment world, with fans expressing disbelief at the end of a marriage that had seemed so solid.

Behind closed doors, the divorce process was amicable but undoubtedly painful. Richard, now 55, found himself living in a modest renovated barn on the estate that once housed their family, a stark contrast to the grandeur of Ballet Tree Castle.

“I never thought I’d be starting over like this,” he admitted, reflecting on the emotional toll of the separation.

Despite the heartache, both Richard and Mindy remain committed to their daughters, who are now in their early 20s. The couple has vowed to co-parent and maintain a united front for their children, ensuring that family milestones continue to be celebrated together.

“They’ve lost a husband and wife, but not parents,” a family friend noted.

As Richard navigates this new chapter of his life, he leans on the support of friends and colleagues, including his longtime co-hosts Jeremy Clarkson and James May. “I’ve stared death in the face twice,” he once said, a testament to his resilience.

Now, as he faces the challenges of divorce, he must also confront the emotional scars that have shaped his journey.

Richard Hammond’s story is a powerful reminder that even those who seem invincible can face profound struggles. As he embarks on this next phase, he carries with him the lessons learned from a marriage that, despite its end, has shaped who he is today.

The road ahead may be uncharted, but if there’s one thing we know about Hammond, it’s that he’s never shied away from a journey into the unknown.