James May has disclosed the method he would use to break the news of Jeremy Clarkson’s passing following the latter’s recent cancer diagnosis.

The former Top Gear host, appearing on a television programme, revealed that the celebrated trio had agreed upon a standardised approach for announcing one another’s deaths.

During an appearance on Channel 4’s Perfect Pub Walks, May explained that they had always jestingly agreed on Top Gear that should any of them pass away for any reason, the announcement would follow a particular format.

He stated the scripted message would begin with an expression of regret before delivering the news of Clarkson’s death, followed by the word anyway as a mandatory requirement, before immediately pivoting to presenting a new vehicle.

All three presenters had consented to this arrangement.

Clarkson disclosed in June of this year, during the fifth season of his Amazon Prime series Clarkson’s Farm, that he had received a diagnosis of an aggressive form of cancer.

The concluding two instalments of season five showed Clarkson visibly distressed as he conveyed the diagnosis to his colleagues Charlie Ireland and Kaleb Cooper.

Clarkson explained on the Amazon Prime Video programme, which was recorded between late 2024 and September 2025, that he had received his diagnosis in May the previous year. He informed Kaleb that ten percent of his prostate, specifically the area affected by the cancer, had become necrotic.

He commenced treatment and underwent surgical intervention in August, before being admitted to hospital in alarming circumstances that concluded the season.