James May has cancelled the Manchester performance of his live tour "Explorers: The Age of Discovery" without offering an explanation, prompting concern and confusion among ticket holders and fans.
The 62-year-old presenter was due to appear at the Manchester Apollo on Oct. 16 as part of a run of shows in the U.K. that also has dates scheduled in Bath and Southampton, along with planned performances in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. Ticketing platforms notified customers of the Manchester cancellation, and the date now appears greyed out on Ticketmaster; the event has also been removed from May's official website. No reason for the cancellation has been communicated by May or his representatives.
Fans shared reaction and questions about the unexplained change on social media and online forums. One Reddit user said they received an email from Ticketmaster notifying them that the Manchester show had been cancelled and that there had been no announcement from May or his team. Other commenters suggested the cancellation might reflect ticket sales, while several expressed concern for May's wellbeing.
Attendees who have seen the show on earlier legs of the tour offered positive reports. Audience members in overseas cities described lengthy, well-received performances that combined theatrical techniques with May's familiar storytelling style. One attendee posted that the event ran for about two and a half hours and was "very good," while others praised the show's presentation.
May launched the "Explorers: The Age of Discovery" tour earlier this year to accompany his documentary series "James May's Greatest Explorers." The live production is billed as an "evening of compelling intellectual entertainment," blending exploration-themed content with theatrical staging.
The Daily Mail reported the cancellation and said it had contacted May's representatives for comment. Ticketmaster's notice to customers did not include further details, and no official statement has been posted by May's public channels at the time of publication.
The unexplained Manchester cancellation comes amid other industry developments involving May's former Grand Tour colleagues. Media reports say Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and May have filed for a voluntary winding up of their joint production company, W. Chump & Sons, a move that Companies House documents indicate may return substantial assets to the principals. The three presenters previously worked together on the BBC series "Top Gear" and later on the Amazon Prime series "The Grand Tour." Representatives for the trio were contacted by news outlets for comment.
Since the end of "The Grand Tour," all three hosts have pursued individual projects. Clarkson has continued with the Amazon Prime series "Clarkson's Farm" and a hosting role on ITV's reboot of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire." May has developed television projects and consumer products, including a Channel 5 series and his own gin brand. Organizers of May's live tour did not provide information about ticket refunds or potential rescheduling of the Manchester date.
Fans awaiting clarification are watching May's official channels and ticketing sites for updates. Remaining U.K. dates on the tour schedule continue to be listed as active while the cause of the Manchester cancellation remains undisclosed.