Fuzz Townshend

John Richard Keith "Fuzz" Townshend (born 31 July 1964) is a British drummer, TV presenter of National Geographic Channel's Car SOS, also shown on Channel 4/More4, "Cherished and Classic Cars" ambassador for Carole Nash Classic Car Insurance, motoring journalist (writing, among others, for Classic Car Weekly, former technical editor of Practical Classics, and mechanic. He is also Honorary President of the famous Triumph Sports Six Club.

The early years

Christened Richard, his Afro hair was unique in his junior school and so, at seven years of age, his school chums renamed him Fuzz, a moniker that has remained to the present day.

Since childhood, Fuzz has had two passions: older motor vehicles, and music. A combination of both interests forms the core of the TV presenter, musician and classic car expert's current career.

His mother won a Vauxhall Chevette in a national newspaper competition when Fuzz was ten; and having never learned to drive, she instead opted to take the prize in cash: setting off for central Birmingham by bus on 30 December 1975, they returned home by taxi, complete with a drum kit, Fuzz's promised treat from the windfall.