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TIFF NEEDELL

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Tiff Needell

Tiff’s media career began in 1982 as a track tester for ‘Autosport’ magazine and he has always written all his material himself.

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About Tiff Needell

TV Presenter / Media Personality

Tiff’s switch to the other side of the camera came in the early ‘80s when he was attending race meetings in the hope of picking up drives and instead got ‘picked up’ by the BBC to be the expert analyst alongside Murray Walker at the many live motorsport events featured on ‘Grandstand’ at that time.

Tiff commentated on Formula 3000, Formula Two, Touring Cars, Rallycross, and the Formula Ford Festival – which Tiff went on to cover on his own due to date clashing with Murray’s commitments at the Australian Grand Prix. By the late eighties when such events went ‘post-production’ Tiff would often stand-in for Murray when he was unable to attend the ‘as live’ commentary sessions at the BHP Studios and became the number two commentator for all motorsport on ‘Grandstand’.

In 1991 he was engaged as the ‘Grand Prix’ commentator for BSkyB but, after the first three races of the year, the company lost its rights so the transmissions ended. However, come 1992 and ‘93 Tiff was back in the Sky studios hosting live transmissions of both ‘NASCAR’ and ‘Indycar’.

By now ‘Top Gear’ was taking up more and more of Tiff’s time. Having started back in 1987 by just doing occasional motorsport items, he was now lining-up every week alongside Jeremy Clarkson and Quentin Willson on a show that was beginning to attract audiences of six million and more.

From 1995 to ’98 Tiff headed the ‘Top Gear Motorsport’ spin-off program, presenting and competing in a wide variety of events, and also appeared in ‘Top Gear Waterworld’ while, from 1997 to 2001, he co-presented BBC’s coverage of ‘The World Rally Championship’.

Sadly all good things have to come to an end and, with ‘Top Gear’ heading for a major BBC overhaul, 2002 saw Tiff switching over to Channel 5 and their brand new motoring program ‘5th Gear’. Since this successful switch, Tiff has gone on to present the much acclaimed ‘James Bond Special’ as well as a five program series on ‘The World’s Greatest’ engineering feats.

Tiff’s media career began in 1982 as a track tester for ‘Autosport’ magazine and he has always written all his material himself. When ‘Top Gear’ launched their own magazine in 1993 he went with it and has now been signed up to switch to the motoring weekly ‘Autocar’.

The Racing Driver

Started racing in 1971 driving a Formula Ford Lotus 69F.

‘Formula Ford Champion’ in 1975.

Premier Award winner at 1976 ‘Grovewood Awards’.                                                                                       

Turned professional in 1977 to drive for ‘Unipart’ Formula 3 Team.

‘Grand Prix driver’ for ‘Team Ensign’ in 1980.

Made Le Mans 24 Hours debut in 1981.

Concentrated on ‘World Endurance Sportscars’ through the ‘80s.

Contested 14 Le Mans 24 Hour races – the last in 1997.

‘Third at Le Mans’ in 1990 driving a privately entered Porsche 962.

Switched to ‘Touring Cars’ for ’93 and ’94 to drive works Nissan Primera.

Raced for ‘Newcastle United’ sponsored Lister Storm team from ’96 to 2000.

Drove an Aston Martin DBRS9 in 2006 ‘FIA GT3 Championship’.

Regular races at the ‘Goodwood Revival Meeting’ 

The Media Personality

Joined BBC ‘Grandstand’ motor racing and ‘World Rally’ commentary team in mid ‘80s spending much of his time working alongside Murray Walker.

Joined the BBC ‘Top Gear’ team in the spring of 1987 and went on to become one of the programme’s lead presenters throughout the nineties.

Hosted ‘Indycar’ and ‘NASCAR’ live coverage for Sky Sports in early ‘90s.

Parted from the BBC at the end of 2001 and started a brand-new motoring programme called ‘Fifth Gear’ for Channel Five.

Also presented series of ‘Ultimate’ and ‘World’s Greatest’ programmes for the same channel and returned to Sky Sports to present ‘Powerboat P1’ and ‘Licence to Le Mans’.

Appeared live on stage with Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May at the ‘MPH 03, 04, 05 and 06’ stage shows and rejoined them for the 2011 ‘Top Gear Festival’  shows in South Africa.

Currently filming for YouTube channel ‘Love Cars’ which included two series of              ‘On the Road’ which is available on ‘Amazon Prime’.

Away from the small screen Tiff is kept busy with a variety of corporate engagements including after-dinner speaking, hosting Track Days, fronting Conferences and compering Award Ceremonies.

Background

Born on October 29th 1951 in Havant, England.

Finished school in 1969 with four ‘A’ levels and seven ‘O’ levels.

Gained ‘Honours Degree in Civil Engineering’ at The City University.

Worked as a structural design engineer for George Wimpey & Co Ltd.

‘Married’ to Patsy in 1988. ‘Three sons’ Jack, born 23rd January 1992,

Harry, born 25th February 1996 and George, born 27th December 1998.

 
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