The Grand Tour gamble has paid off in Amazon’s eyes – the new hosts have impressed bosses so much that more episodes are being prepped before their debut has even premiered.
A rebooted version of the motoring series starts on Friday (4 September), with social media star and train enthusiast Francis Bourgeois, as well as motoring YouTubers Thomas Holland and James Engelsman, replacing former presenters Jeremy Clarkson, James May, and Richard Hammond.
According to executive producer Andy Wilman, a new series will fully establish the new hosts as personalities in viewers’ minds.
He told The Sun: “Work is ongoing for another series. There has been planning for more locations, although I don’t know what they’re looking for this time.
Wilman added that ”a first series is always a scramble”, but said “this trio need a good run now at making their second series their own”.
While it’s a sure bet they’ll rival the original hosts’ car knowledge, they’ll be hoping to emulate their chemistry for a new era.
Bourgeois, real name Luke Nicolson, said of his Grand Tour appointment: “The saying ‘big shoes to fill’ spring to mind. Well, in this case, it’ll be like Mo Farah running in Size 14 wellies – it’ll be a little awkward at first, perhaps blister-inducing, but will overall be an interesting watch.”
Meanwhile, Holland, who hosts Throttle House, a popular automotive YouTube channel known for its car reviews and track tests, alongside Engelsman, added: “When I first heard they were rebooting The Grand Tour and replacing Clarkson Hammond and May, I said, ‘Only a moron would take that job.’”
Engelsman said: “I’ve worked with Thomas for almost a decade making car films. Who knew that all this time, the one ingredient that was missing was a Francis Bourgeois? Let the car adventures commence.”
Holland joked: “When I first heard they were rebooting The Grand Tour and replacing Clarkson Hammond and May, I said, ‘Only a moron would take that job.’”
In the new series, the new presenters will tackle motoring’s most absurd questions across some of the world’s most challenging terrains. As part of the new episodes, they will cross the Angolan desert in track cars and explore Malaysia’s vibrant car culture.
Clarkson, Hammond and May’s on-screen relationship came to an end in September 2024 with their final episode of The Grand Tour, dubbed “One for the Road”. The trio joined the series after leaving Top Gear in 2015.
In July 2024, it was reported that the production company co-owned by the trio – W Chump & Sons – had been dissolved. As part of the company’s dissolution, the trio declared solvency and appointed a liquidator to “wind up” their business. However, they will cameo in the new season.
