FRIENDS OF THE BRAND.
FRIENDS OF THE BRAND.
At BMW we create driving pleasure from the perfect combination of dynamic, sporty performance, ground-breaking innovations and breath-taking design. Our team find inspiration everywhere, especially from those who are pioneers in their respective fields.
The BMW ‘Friends of the Brand’ network includes a host of leading figures from the worlds of broadcasting, motorsport, golf, design and luxury hospitality. All are independent thinkers who strive for the highest performance every day.
Paul Ainsworth
Paul Ainsworth is a British Michelin star chef based in Padstow, Cornwall and chef patron at No6 Padstow. Included in his portfolio of restaurants, are Caffe Rojano, The Mariners, CiCi’s Bar and the Padstow Townhouse. This year Paul released his first ever cookbook For The Love of Food.
Tommy Banks
Tommy Banks is one of the most innovative and exciting restauranteurs in the UK. He was the youngest ever Michelin star winner at aged 24 and now boasts two Michelin stars and a green star for sustainability. He owns two Michelin star restaurants; The Black Swan and Roots York and the The Abbey Inn pub.
Edith Bowman
Edith Bowman is an award-winning radio broadcaster, podcast host and television presenter. Edith is one of the most well-respected and sought after personalities in the film, television, and music industry. Edith hosts a weekly ‘Soundtracking’ podcast, where she interviews directors, actors, producers and composers about their relationship with music and has just launched Be In The Scene, which aims to build a map-based community for film.
Nick Dougherty
Nick Dougherty is former three times European Tour winning Golfer and top 50 player in the world and now President of The Golf Foundation. Nick is Sky Sports Golf lead presenter and broadcaster. Nick also hosts Tee Time Tips TV episodes for Sky Sports.
Ross Edgley
Ross is most recognised for completing the World's Longest Staged Sea Swim in 2018, when he became the first person in history to swim 1,780 miles around Great Britain, in 157 days. In 2024, he also became the first person in history to hold Official Guinness World Records in the sea and river when he completed a 317 miles non-stop swim down the Yukon River, Canada.
Jake Hill
Jake Hill is a British racing driver, who is currently competing in the British Touring Car Championship for Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport. He is the 2024 British Touring Car champion. He has also driven for Motorbase Performance, Rob Austin Racing, AmD Tuning and Team HARD.
Charlie Martin
Charlie Martin is a British racing driver and transgender rights activist, who competes in endurance racing. Charlie made LGBTQ+ history this year as the first transgender competitor to compete in the support race of the 24hrs of Le Mans, finishing in 2nd class.
Adam Morgan
Lancashire racer Adam Morgan drives with Team BMW on the British Touring Car Championship. Adam came to prominence in the BTCC-supporting Ginetta G50 Cup, which netted him a prize drive in the BTCC.
Paul O’Neill
Former British Touring Car Championship driver turned ITV4 commentator, Paul has an impressive career that spans over 16 years and many racing formats. His racecraft, aptitude is still put to good use, both as a talented and experienced racing instructor, and as a training facilitator for some of the world’s leading motoring manufacturers
Alex Scott
Alex is a former professional footballer for Arsenal and England who is now one of the UK’s leading football presenters and pundits, covering the elite fixtures in the sport on BBC and Sky Sports. Alex is also a well-known campaigner for equality and fair representation in the game.
Helen Skelton
Helen is the well-known face of Countryfile and a popular UK-based presenter with a large social following. Helen is famous for her love for the outdoors, taking on big challenges and, more recently, her passion for golf. Helen has just launched a new TV show Yorkshire Great and Small for Channel 5, along with good friend and co-presenter Dan Walker.
Russell Tovey
Russell is an award-winning actor, art collector and co-hosts art podcast, Talk Art, with friend and gallerist Robert Diament. Their aim is to make art more accessible through interviewing leading artists about their shared passion of art and have interviewed world renowned names.
Colin Turkington
British Touring Car Championship racing driver for Team BMW. Colin is the regarded as one of the greatest touring car drivers in the world with 4 BTCC titles to his name. He is a 4 -ime BTCC champion, winning the title in 2009, 2014, 2018 and 2019, having made his debut in the series in 2002.