Christian Williams spends his life either behind the wheel of a supercar or a microphone. But in the latest instalment of his monthly motoring column for the County Press, the DJ and ‘most hugged man in Britain’ headed back to the Isle of Wight for the first time since lockdown and needs your help for a new motoring feature!

Christian writes: I can’t think of any time in my life where I’ve missed the Isle of Wight more than in these last 18 months.

Scroll through our gallery of pictures above to see more of what Christian got up to!

Maybe it’s the fact my absence has been enforced, or that the pandemic has threatened those we love the most, but to say it’s been torture is an understatement.

I know I’m not alone in the struggles to see family and friends — who would have thought a hug or a handshake would be off-limits? — but thankfully the exile was ended this month and I was able to finally come back home!

I’m mega-pleased that my parents have a little Airbnb next to the family home so I could stay in there.

I’ve lived in London for long enough to get used to the shortage of space and cramped conditions so it’s been a real privilege to almost see the Isle of Wight anew. I could feel my shoulders relax as I sat on the ferry and by the time I was lunching at The Hut in Colwell Bay it was like I’d never been away.

Isle of Wight County Press:

Time to enjoy some refreshments at The Hut, Colwell Bay.

Maybe we’ve all looked at life with fresh eyes in the last 12 months but there are few better places on Planet Earth than this wonderful isle.

The weather has been spectacular — isn’t it always on the Isle of Wight? — but I made sure by bringing my own sunshine with me in the form of my sunbeam yellow GR Yaris!! It may have started life white but the yellow warp certainly makes this little monster stand out from the crowd.

I joined up with two Lotus-driving friends and we nipped around, revisiting favourite haunts such as Blackgang Viewpoint and Compton Bay.

Isle of Wight County Press: Christian Williams April column

Christian Williams enjoying the sunset at Blackgang Viewpoint.

It was a nostalgia overdose as it reminded me of my times 15-odd years ago doing the same thing in my Mk1 Mazda MX-5. God I loved that car: it was a 1.8 Eunos Roadster S Special which had a limited slip differential on the back to make sliding around really easy. Not content with all the extras, I also got it supercharged so there was 200bhp in a car that weighed as much as a shoe.

Hilariously, thanks to the drop-top, I was able to wedge a surfboard into the passenger seat and head to the beach. Win win! (Although what I haven’t told you is that on a trip to Cornwall I got it beached in the sand and needed a local farmer to come and tow me off with his tractor!)

On the subject of convertibles, Spring is the perfect time to be ditching the hood and enjoying the best Mother Nature can throw at you. I’ve been lucky enough to sit behind the wheel of some of the most jaw-dropping convertibles you can imagine, from the high-class Rolls Royce Wraith and the Bentley Continental through to an AC Cobra and Ferrari 488.

Few, though, can match the fun and excitement of our very own BOTB Caterham, a sliding, slippery, theme-park-of-a-ride which always puts a smile on your face.

Music, of course, goes hand-in-hand with roof-down driving and my show on Virgin Radio has been full of wind-in-the-hair bangers.

It’s impossible to beat the likes of Summertime by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, All Star by Smash Mouth and the Summer of ’69 by Bryan Adams, alongside some of the golden oldies like Back in Black by AC/DC and Here I Go Again by Whitesnake. Apologies if you heard too many of them last week pumping out of the GR!

From airwaves to television screens and I’ll be beaming out across the networks in BOTB’s new TV advert, which goes today (Saturday).

I may be well and truly tucked up back in London by then but there’s something quite comforting about knowing my mug will be bouncing onto televisions across the Isle of Wight. Covid can’t stop that visit at least!

Now before I sign off, a quick appeal for motoring enthusiasts to get in touch for a new series I’m running on BOTB’s Instagram channel called Torque Talk.

Each week I talk to people with great motoring careers and stories, from tuners and valeters to photographers and designers.

They’re a lot of fun and really lift the lid on the reasons why we all love the humble motorcar!

If you think you might fit the bill, please get in touch with me at christian@botb.com