Dawe is a regular columnist in The Sunday Times motoring section, where he has written extensively about used cars.

[1] Together with Nick Rufford of The Sunday Times he has also made many video broadcasts of car reviews.

Initially, Jeremy Clarkson wanted James May to present the rebooted series of Top Gear; however, May was rejected by the BBC,[2] with Dawe agreeing to present the first series alongside Clarkson and Richard Hammond.

However, his co-presenter Richard Hammond was close to being fired by BBC management alongside Dawe.

[3] Following his departure from Top Gear, Dawe returned to his presenting career in 2005, appearing on ITV's Used Car Roadshow with Penny Mallory until the programme was cancelled in 2007.