Petrolhead Jodie Kidd has teamed up with Quentin Willson for a glossy new series about classic cars.
Just hours after newspaper reports of a marriage split, model and presenter Jodie Kidd is back to her day job.
The 36-year-old beauty is posing, minus her wedding ring, with motoring expert Quentin Willson and a trio of shiny vintage cars to launch their new TV series, The Classic Car Show.
The Channel 5 series celebrates the glamour and history of the multibillion-pound classic car industry.
Over the 13 episodes, Jodie and Quentin visit California to celebrate the Ford Mustang’s 50th birthday, go for a spin in a Ferrari 246 Dino in Monaco, and drive a Ford GT40 to Reims, France.
There are also appearances from celebrity car enthusiasts, including David Gandy, Tinie Tempah, Jennifer Saunders and Steve Coogan.
“The funny thing is, they come to us, you don’t have to ask,” said Quentin.
Jodie was a late bloomer in the motoring world, discovering her passion for cars later in life.
“I started modelling when I was about 15, and I don’t think I got my driving licence until I was 21,” she said.
“Then I completely fell in love with cars, head first.”
The presenting duo enjoy good chemistry on screen and off, as Jodie teases Quentin – who, at 57, is two decades her senior – about his age and “terrible” driving.
Graciously, Quentin admitted that Jodie is the better driver, “without a shadow of a doubt”.
She agreed, adding: “Well yeah, that’s not hard.
“Blokey car shows will never really include a girl, or say a girl can be great at the wheel, but Jodie just gets in, drives and has no fear,” Quentin added.
“You get rid of this myth about women drivers completely, because it’s all male crap.”
Jodie can’t wait for son Indio – who has already amassed a huge collection of toy cars – to watch the show with her, “and see what Mummy does”.
“He’s probably going to be a racing car driver. I would prefer him to be a golfer, though, because it’s very safe,” she said with a smile.
“His father’s a polo player and I’m a racing car driver. I tried to get him a mini-golf club, but he was running around hitting it like a polo stick and I was saying: ‘No that’s far too dangerous, play golf.”’
As Jodie prepares to bid farewell to her co-host and jet back to training, the model-turned-driver-turned-presenter admits she could never have predicted her career trajectory.
“I like just to live life and do things; I had no idea
I’d be right here, right now, but it’s great,” Jodie added.
“I don’t know where I’m going, but I’m on my way.”