New The Grand Tour presenter Francis Bourgeois has said the support of the show’s former hosts Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond has been “an absolute superpower”.
The 26-year-old will present the new series of the Prime Video motoring show alongside social media stars Thomas Holland and James Englesman, after the previous trio left the show.
Speaking at the London premiere of the forthcoming series, Bourgeois, who is known for his trainspotting videos, told the Press Association about his predecessors’ support: “They’ve been so warm and open.
“It’s that transition point where they know it’s going into nice, right hands, to have them, and to have their blessing is an absolute superpower.”
But his co-star Holland was quick to point out the new hosting team would avoid taking on similar roles to Clarkson, Hammond and May.
He added: “I mean there’s similarities between any of us and any other people right? Especially in the car world.
“You’re going to align with somebody on some things and disagree with them on others, that’s just kind of the nature of car enthusiasm right?”
Englesman added: “We’ve been presenting in our own worlds separately for so long, it’s more of a case of how we gel together rather than falling into the grooves of the old guys.”
The motoring journalist, who is from Canada, is best known for co-presenting YouTube channel Throttle House, with fellow Canadian Holland.
Bourgeois, whose real name is Luke Nicolson, added that the trio’s relationship had built up a year before filming began, with Englesman calling Bourgeois “the missing ingredient”.
The Grand Tour launched after Clarkson, Hammond and May’s departure from the BBC’s Top Gear, with its first series airing on Amazon Prime Video in 2016.
Clarkson, Hammond and May will make guest appearances during the forthcoming season.
May previously told The Standard that the trio left the show after they had “exhausted” the subject.
The new series of The Grand Tour launches on Prime Video on September 4.
