Jeremy Clarkson has shared his parting advice with the new hosts of Prime Video's "The Grand Tour," urging them to "not f**k it up" as the show prepares for its new series. The upcoming season will feature viral train-spotter Francis Bourgeois, YouTuber James Engelsman, and motoring journalist Thomas Holland taking the reins from Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May.
The new trio will visit Clarkson at his Diddly Squat farm in the opening episode, where he offers them encouragement and his stark warning. "Have fun with this. Good luck. Don't f*** it up," Clarkson told them. He also expressed confidence in their abilities, stating he has been observing their work and that they are "very, very good."
Andy Wilman, who remains as a consultant on the show, indicated that the original presenters will make cameo appearances. "Jeremy, Richard and James are doing cameos in some of the films, which I think is really important," Wilman explained. "Jeremy's at the farm doing his thing. Richard's down at his workshop, James is at his pub. They're the kind of retired veterans and these new guys pop in to get their advice."
A recently released trailer for the new series has generated significant enthusiasm from fans. Social media reactions included comments like "I can't believe I'm saying this but I think this has a chance to work," and "Honestly, the fact that these guys have the blessing from Clarkson, Hammond and May... I'm excited for it."
The new "Grand Tour" series sees Francis, James, and Thomas tackling various automotive challenges and questions. Their adventures include a trip to Colorado in Japanese microcars, an investigation into the most unbreakable car in history, and a test comparing a Pagani hypercar to other methods of getting an item to F1 driver Alex Albon.
The team also travels to California to test American muscle cars against fighter jets, explores Malaysia's car culture, and investigates the cost-effectiveness of sports cars. Another segment involves a journey through the deserts of Angola in unsuitable track cars.
Guest appearances in the series will include Clarkson, Hammond, May, and F1 World Champion Jenson Button. The new presenters, Thomas, James, and Francis, are transitioning to television from digital platforms and enthusiast communities, a path distinct from previous "Top Gear" hosts like Freddie Flintoff and Paddy McGuinness.
The departure of Clarkson, Hammond, and May follows their conclusion of a more than two-decade partnership that began on the BBC's "Top Gear" before they reunited for "The Grand Tour" on Prime Video in 2016. Clarkson has continued with his series "Clarkson's Farm," while Hammond and May have pursued separate projects. Clarkson previously stated his preference for "three complete unknowns" who are "absolute petrol heads" for the show's continuation, emphasizing deep automotive knowledge.
The new season, set to premiere on September 4, marks the first full series of "The Grand Tour" without its original trio as lead presenters.