Richard Hammond locked out of house in first video since split with wife

Richard Hammond has called himself “an idiot” after locking himself out of his house (Image: YouTube/DriveTribe)

Former Top Gear star Richard Hammond has called himself “an idiot” after locking himself out of his house during his highly anticipated return to YouTube. The incident comes just weeks after he announced his split from wife Mindy, following 28 years of marriage.

In his latest Drivetribe video posted on Wednesday, the 55-year-old presenter revealed how his day took an unexpected turn when he accidentally locked himself out.

“I’m late because I locked myself out of the house,” Hammond explained to his followers. “I’m actually getting ready this afternoon to go to the Lake District, I’ve got everything packed and ready, and then I thought I’ll go and empty the bins.

“So I took the kitchen bin out the front door – I never lock anything – but it’s a Yale lock, and the door stuck. I was stood outside, I was in my Crocs, I was in my dressing gown. I didn’t have my phone, the keys, anything.

“It was quite panicky, and I thought, ‘What do I do now?’ I thought about crying, but then I thought that won’t help. I felt about 10.”

The pair had lived together in the £7million Bollitree Castle in Hertfordshire (Image: YouTube/DriveTribe)

Desperate to get back inside, Hammond said he tried to smash a window using a stray brick, but his attempt failed miserably. “I don’t know how burglars make a living,” he joked. “I do not know. So in the end, I had to phone a locksmith, who got in in five seconds. So in short, I’m late because I’m an idiot.”

The video marks The Grand Tour star's first major public appearance since announcing his split from Mindy in January. The former couple released a joint statement confirming the end of their marriage, but emphasised they would remain close for the sake of their family.

“Our marriage is coming to an end, but we’ve had an amazing 28 years together and two incredible daughters,” the statement read. “We will always be in each other’s lives and are proud of the family we created.”

Hammond’s separation follows years of reported tensions in the marriage. Sources claim Mindy had become frustrated with Hammond’s constant travelling and high-risk stunts on The Grand Tour.

Richard announced his split from wife Mindy, following 28 years of marriage (Image: Getty)

The pair had lived together in the £7million Bollitree Castle in Hertfordshire, where Hammond also converted a listed barn into a “man cave”.

Hammond, who is now renting a property in a nearby village, runs his car restoration garage, Smallest Cog. Meanwhile, reports suggest that Mindy intends to keep the Herefordshire castle as part of the divorce proceedings.

In 2024, Hammond hinted at cracks in the relationship during a video tour of his barn. He admitted to breaking his wife’s “golden rule” by sneaking in his motorbike collection. “My wife swears blind it is haunted and so it is more for me and the chaps,” he said at the time.

Despite their separation, Hammond and Mindy spent Christmas together as a family with their two daughters. However, Mindy reportedly filed for divorce after previously warning Hammond he was on his “last chance” years earlier.