Richard Hammond has at last spoken publicly about his highly publicised split from wife Mindy Etheridge, confirming he will confront the divorce – and the rumours swirling around it – in the upcoming season of his Discovery Plus series, Richard Hammond’s Workshop. 
The 55-year-old former Top Gear star, who announced the end of his marriage to journalist Mindy, 60, in January after what they called “28 amazing years together,” opened up during a raw and emotional appearance on Good Morning Britain.
“We Wanted to Get It Out of the Way”
When host Susanna Reid asked whether the new series begins with a personal explanation, Hammond didn’t shy away. “Yeah, well we wanted to get that out of the way and done because I got divorced this year,” he admitted.
“So at the beginning, we say, ‘There’s been a few changes to the workshop — and a little bit of a change to my situation,’ and then we move on from that very quickly.”
It was the calm honesty in his voice that struck viewers the most.
“That Can’t Be Called Betrayal”
Speculation intensified after reports claimed Mindy believed Hammond had grown close to a younger colleague before their official split.
Hammond firmly pushed back.
“That can’t be called betrayal,” he said.
“At that time, we were already living separately and had accepted that our marriage was over. There were no secrets, no lies — just two people who had grown apart.”
His words appeared to shut down months of gossip and paint a far more nuanced picture of their separation.
“Our Marriage Is Coming to an End…”
Earlier this year, the couple released a joint statement confirming their decision:
“Our marriage is coming to an 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.”
In a later interview, Hammond reflected simply:
“I’m 55. Things change. That’s what happens at this age. Big things change.”
Although insiders suggested Mindy had initiated the breakup, Hammond stressed it was mutual:
“That’s a decision we took together, as we said at the time. The statement we put out still stands.”
Hope for Top Gear – And Empathy for Freddie Flintoff
During the same appearance, Hammond shared his belief that Top Gear will one day return.
“It’s over 40 years old — we were just temporary custodians.”
He also spoke movingly about Freddie Flintoff’s devastating 2022 crash, recalling his own 2006 accident that left him in a coma:
“Recovery takes time. I only wish him the best.”
Closing One Chapter
Despite the heartbreak, Hammond seems determined to move forward.
“There’s been change,” he said softly. “But that’s life. You move forward.”
With Richard Hammond’s Workshop set to return to Discovery Plus this month, fans will soon see him confront the most personal chapter of his life – this time, on his own terms.
