Chris Harris Biography: Siblings, Parents, Height, Ethnicity, Age, Net Worth, Kids, Awards, Films, Books

Chris Harris is a British automotive journalist, racing driver, and television presenter who gained significant recognition through his work on the BBC’s “Top Gear.”

He initially appeared as a recurring guest host in the show’s twenty-third series in 2016.

He was promoted to a leading presenter in the twenty-fourth series, co-hosting alongside Matt LeBlanc and Rory Reid.

Profile

• Full name: Christopher James Harris
• Nickname: Monkey
• Date of birth: January 20, 1975
• Age: 50 years old
• Gender: Male
• Place of birth: Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, England
• Nationality: British
• Profession: Automotive journalist, racing driver, television presenter
• Height: 5′ 7½″ (1.71 m)
• Parents: His father was a tall white man who adopted him as a child in the mid-1970s.
• Siblings: N/A
• Spouse: N/A
• Children: 3
• Relationship status: Married
• Ethnicity: Mixed
• Net worth: £7 million

Early Life and Education

Christopher James Harris was born on January 20, 1975, in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, England. He attended Clifton College, a public school in Bristol. Details about his higher education, including the institutions he attended, the year he graduated, and his major, are not publicly available.

Personal Life

Chris Harris is married and has three children. He is known to keep his personal life private, choosing not to publicly share pictures or detailed information about his family. Instead, he focuses on sharing his passion for cars through his professional work.

Career

Chris Harris began his career in automotive journalism as a reviewer, writer, and editor for several automotive magazines, including Evo, Autocar, and Jalopnik. He gained recognition for his honest and knowledgeable reviews.

In 2012, he launched his own YouTube channel, “Chris Harris on Cars,” producing and filming automotive reviews and content. The success of his YouTube series led to its television adaptation; in July 2016, “Chris Harris on Cars” was launched on BBC America.

In 2016, Harris joined the BBC’s “Top Gear” as a recurring guest host in the twenty-third series. He was promoted to a leading presenter in the twenty-fourth series, co-hosting alongside Matt LeBlanc and Rory Reid. He continued this role through subsequent series, co-hosting with Freddie Flintoff and Paddy McGuinness.

In addition to his journalism and television work, Harris has an extensive background in racing. He has competed in various racing events, including the 24 Hours Nürburgring in 2010, 2015, and 2016.

Awards

• Chris Harris has received recognition for his work in television. In 2009, as a co-executive producer for “How I Met Your Mother,” he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series.
• He also received multiple Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music, or Comedy Program nominations for his work on “Late Show With David Letterman” in the early 2000s.  

Net Worth

Chris Harris‘s estimated net worth is £7 million.  

Controversy

Chris Harris has been involved in a notable controversy concerning his critiques of Ferrari’s practices with press cars. He accused Ferrari of supplying vehicles not representative of the standard production models for media testing, alleging that the cars were specially prepared to perform better during reviews.

This led to tensions between Harris and Ferrari, with the manufacturer reportedly limiting his access to their vehicles for testing purposes.

Additionally, Harris has faced criticism for his blunt and forthright reviewing style. While many appreciate his honesty and in-depth knowledge, some manufacturers and viewers have taken issue with his candid assessments, leading to strained relationships within the automotive industry.

Social Media

• Instagram: @harrismonkey
• X: N/A

Filmography

• Drive: Chris Harris on Cars (2012)
• Top Gear (2016–2022)
• Paddy and Chris: Road Tripping (2024)

Books

• Variable Valve Timings (2023)