The original stars of Prime Video's "The Grand Tour," Jeremy Clarkson, James May, and Richard Hammond, reunited for the premiere of the show's latest series, marking their official handover to a new presenting team. The trio, who first gained widespread recognition as hosts of the BBC's "Top Gear," stepped down from "The Grand Tour" in 2024 after six seasons.
The new era of the show will be fronted by viral train-spotter Francis Bourgeois, YouTuber James Engelsman, and motoring journalist Thomas Holland. The handover event took place at The Tower of London, where the original hosts posed for a photograph with their successors.
Clarkson shared a selfie with the new hosts on Instagram with a lighthearted caption, "Grand Tour handover. Good luck guys." He also shared that he had advised the new presenters to "not to fk it up." In a clip from the premiere, Clarkson can be heard telling the new team, "Have fun with this. Good luck. Don't f* it up. Right?" He added that he had been observing their work and found them to be "very, very good."
Andy Wilman, who remains as a consultant for the show, stated that the outgoing team is happy for "The Grand Tour" to continue. He confirmed that Clarkson, May, and Hammond will make cameo appearances in some segments, with Clarkson visiting his farm, Hammond at his workshop, and May at his pub. These appearances will feature them acting as "retired veterans" offering advice to the new hosts.
The first episode of the new series features the new trio visiting Clarkson at his Diddly Squat farm. The show's upcoming episodes will see the new hosts tackle various automotive challenges, including a road trip across Colorado in microcars, determining the most unbreakable car in history, and comparing the speed of a Pagani hypercar to F1 driver Alex Albon. Guest appearances are expected from Jenson Button, as well as the original trio.
Future segments will include the presenters testing American muscle cars against fighter jets in California, exploring Malaysia's car culture, and investigating the durability of inexpensive sports cars. The new team will also undertake a journey through the desert of Angola in unsuitable vehicles.
Fans have expressed anticipation for the new series, with many praising the initial trailer. Comments on social media indicated excitement about the new lineup, particularly with the blessing of the original hosts. This reboot marks the first full series of "The Grand Tour" without Clarkson, May, and Hammond as the main presenters since their departure. The original trio reunited for "The Grand Tour" on Prime Video in 2016, following their successful run on "Top Gear."