Hamster's 'hangover envy' - Sept 28 2007
Richard Hammond has reportedly declared that he actually misses hangovers, having been off the alcohol since his near-fatal crash.

The 37-year-old Top Gear presenter is taking doctors' advice to steer clear of booze while he recovers from the accident last year.

Richard, dubbed 'The Hamster', apparently told The Sun: "Alcohol can neurochemically affect your brain.

"I'm allowed the odd snifter, but I can't go on the lash. I get hangover envy."

The dad-of-two is still recovering from the 288mph smash.

"It affects your whole life. Your brain defines your personality and moods," he added.

The star - who has just published his book On the Edge - recently explained: "It was a big event, it's a long old journey. You get to the end of each week and realise you weren't actually better, and it goes on and on.

"Whole periods have just gone. I had a 22-second memory, very confusing for weeks [but] I can daydream now, it's all fixed. It was frightening, a real lesson for me. Damage can mend, it's a big bowl of porridge that revives itself if you're very lucky... which I was."



Top Gear star ’forgot he was married’ - Sept 22 2007
Top Gear star Richard Hammond forgot he was married in the aftermath of his top-speed crash - and tried to chat up his own wife.

The presenter, 37, said he thought his real wife was French.

He tells Friday Night With Jonathan Ross: "I didn’t forget Mindy, I fancied her - thank God - I attempted to chat her up."

Mindy, who has co-written Hammond’s book On The Edge: My Story, which documents life before and after the crash, said: "He didn’t believe we were married.

"He said ’you’re lovely, but I’ve got to stop talking to you because I’ve got to go back to my wife, she’s French’."

Hammond says of his recovery: "It was a big event, it’s a long old journey.

"You get to the end of each week and realise you weren’t actually better, and it goes on and on.

"Whole periods have just gone. I had a 22-second memory, very confusing for weeks (but) I can daydream now, it’s all fixed.

"It was frightening, a real lesson for me. Damage can mend, it’s a big bowl of porridge that revives itself if you’re very lucky ... which I was."

Hammond was left fighting for his life after a 315mph smash in a rocket-powered car last year.


Hammond laughs off latest ’crash’ - Sept 12 2007
Top Gear’s Richard Hammond has dismissed his second crash as "a bit of a collision".

The presenter, who was nearly killed in a 288mph crash less than a year ago, was involved in another incident while filming.

The 38-year-old skidded off the track while taking part in a 24-hour Le Mans-style race at Silverstone, but then rejoined the race.

But Richard, dubbed The Hamster, said: "Reports of my shunt this weekend have been greatly exaggerated.

"We were competing in a 24-hour race at Silverstone in a BMW. During one of my driving stints, a much faster car tried to overtake and there was a bit of a collision.

"It was nobody’s fault - it was what they call a ’racing incident’. I managed to limp the car to the side of the track and wait for a truck to take me back to the pits, where it was quickly fixed."

He added: "Most importantly, no, Jeremy and I did not enjoy a ’comforting’ hug.