RICH: ‘I DON’T TELL MRS TV RISKS’ ‘Hamster’ feared he’d drown in sea stunt

RICHARD Hammond says he tries not to scare his wife Mindy about his risky TV work.

The petrolhead regularly puts his life on the line while attempting stunts for The Grand Tour.

During filming for the latest special he navigated the South China Sea in conditions that were so bad he feared he might end up dead.

Recalling the expedition, Richard said: “We were constantly trying to keep the bloody thing straight to the waves and trying to just not die.

“I suppose if I’d stopped and thought about it I might have worried, but there was no time. When I got back I didn’t play that up to my wife. She might be a bit miffed when she sees it.”

Richard cheated death in 2006 when he had a 288mph car crash while filming Top Gear for the BBC.

In 2017 he had another near-miss when he escaped a crash moments before his car caught fire.

Recalling the incident, Richard said: “I was next to that car as it was blazing away beside me and the air ambulance was landing. I ran a sort of systems check… ‘OK, my name is… my age is… I’m doing this job… where I am and why I’m here. It was just to check everything was working. So then I was like, ‘Give me the phone, I’ve got to call my wife.’

“That was the worst phone call I’ve ever had to make.

“I said, ‘Erm Mindy, you’re probably going to see this on social media soon.

“I’ve had a bit of a shunt. I’ve broken a leg and some ribs and things, but don’t worry – nothing that won’t mend. My head’s OK, and I’ll be home soon.’ She was fine with this new special, but next time I will be pushing my luck.”