Top Gear star cashes in with £18k speech

Mar 9 2007 By Jon Griffin, Birmingham Mail

TOP Gear presenter Richard Hammond was paid around £18,000 to speak for just 15 minutes at one of Birmingham's biggest business dinners.

The TV crash survivor, nicknamed the Hamster, earned £1,200-a-minute for his VIP speech at the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry awards event.

The rate was today described as "ludicrous" by fellow guests at the dinner which attracted hundreds to the International Convention Centre.

Hammond addressed the audience for around 15 minutes, with the vast majority of his speech devoted to his recent 180mph crash.

John James, regional chairman of the Institute of Directors who was present, said: "If the quoted figure of £18,000 is correct, I think it is a ludicrous sum of money to pay for such a short time. He was quite good but not that good."

And another guest, who asked not to be named, said: "When they booked Hammond, just after his crash, it would have been at the top rate because everybody wanted him. I understand that £18,000 was the figure quoted.

"There was ten minutes on the crash and five minutes on 'I used to go to school in Solihull.'

"I thought it was pretty poor. I do not blame Hammond Ð it's the market rate.

"He's on the payroll of the BBC and was rescued by the NHS. For two such large public organisations to fork out and for him then to earn £18,000 on top is not bad work."

Other public speakers who charge in the £10,000 to £25,000 bracket include impressionist Rory Bremner, veteran TV newsreader Michael Buerk, broadcaster Clive Anderson and comedienne Ronni Ancona.

John Lamb, of Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said: "Contractual arrangements between Birmingham Chamber and Richard Hammond are confidential."