Richard Hammond admits ‘addiction to work' cost him his relationship with two daughters

msn.com:

Top Gear favourite Richard Hammond has enjoyed a career of fast cars and exotic travel which, at times, left his schedule full to the brim.

However, his relationship with his two daughters has been impacted enormously by it, as he revealed in a very candid podcast interview.

He admitted he'd "made excuses" for his absences over the years, and has found himself comforting co-workers who had been separated from their families too. "Often I'll be sitting in the rainforest filming and there'll be a camera operator - maybe it's a bloke [who's] just had his first children and he's away from home and he's upset," James explained. "I've said to them 'You've got to remember you're their first example of how to lead a life,'" he explained, while being interviewed on the popular podcast, Diary Of A CEO. "They're gonna look at you and be like 'Wow - if he can pursue his dreams and do that, I can pursue mine' and you'll inspire them!" he insisted.

However, he also acknowledged that his daughters would have liked him to "just be around". Although he missed out on milestone moments with the two daughters he shares with wife Mindy - Willow and Isabella - he insists the "amazing stories" he came back with were his way to entertain them.