James May, former presenter of Top Gear and current host of The Grand Tour, has expressed deep sorrow following the sudden death of his good friend and long-time collaborator, television producer Will Daws. The news of Daws’ passing in London at the age of 57 was shared by May on social media, instantly drawing an outpouring of condolences from fans and colleagues alike.
Will Daws, co-founder of Plum Pictures, played a pivotal role behind the scenes of many acclaimed shows, including the Prime Video series James May’s Shed Load of Ideas. Known for his self-description as “10% man, 90% anecdote,” Daws built close bonds with numerous media personalities and was instrumental in shaping a variety of popular programs.
Throughout his career, Daws worked closely with James May on numerous projects, such as James May’s Toy Stories, The Reassembler, Our Man In…, Oh Cook!, and James May: Our Man in Japan. His broad production credits also include collaborations with Amazing Spaces host George Clarke and other prominent broadcasters and entertainers like Simon Reeve, Stefan Gates, Peter Snow, Hannah Fry, Johnny Vegas, and Ronnie Corbett.
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Paying tribute to Daws, May posted a heartfelt message on X (formerly Twitter), accompanied by a photo of the two together. He wrote: “If you’re wondering why episode three of my ‘Shed Load…’ series was postponed last night, it was out of respect for Will Daws, who produced the show and sadly died on Monday evening. You’ll meet him when the episode airs. Some of you may remember him from Manlab and Oh Cook too. A great bloke and a great mate. Here we are comparing shirts on the set of The Reassembler. I’m the awkward looking one.”
Fans quickly flooded the comments with condolences. Comedian Al Murray wrote, “So sorry to hear this.” Another follower expressed, “My deepest condolences to you and your team, James. I’ve always loved your shows.” A third fan reflected fondly on Daws, saying, “Every time he appeared in behind-the-scenes clips, he seemed like such a lovely chap. Sorry for your loss, James.”
George Clarke, who has worked with Daws since 2012 on Channel 4’s Amazing Spaces, also shared a moving tribute. Clarke affectionately referred to him as “Lord Daws,” highlighting his visionary nature: “He built the most beautiful ocean liner called HMS PLUM: the ultimate amazing space. We all travelled with him to some of the most magical places on earth. No matter what storms came our way, Lord Daws always steered us to safe harbor. We laughed with him, admired him, and above all, loved him. This week, Will safely dropped us all off at port. But true to form, he sailed on alone to explore new, unimagined spaces.”
Will Daws’ extraordinary contributions to British television and the relationships he nurtured remain deeply cherished by all who knew him.