The Grand Tour's new hosts have revealed the physical toll of filming the latest series, with Francis Bourgeois admitting the trio reached "borderline breaking point" during a 12-hour trek across the desert in Angola.
The new series of The Grand Tour has arrived on Prime Video, marking the first without former hosts Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond. Trainspotter Francis Bourgeois and YouTubers James Engelsman and Thomas Holland have taken over presenting duties, with the new episodes taking them across the globe.
Speaking exclusively to The Mirror, the trio discussed their filming highlights and their initial meeting before production began. Bourgeois admitted that the challenges of the shoot stayed with him long after the cameras stopped rolling.
Stomach issues and millipede bites
Bourgeois explained: "There are so many moments that go through my mind when I'm trying to sleep, and it just conjures a different feeling, some of them are stomach-turning, some of them get my heart racing, some of them make me laugh, make me smile when I'm just sitting there thinking about what we have done."
He added: "Each moment was special in its own way, even when we were at borderline breaking point after driving in Angola for nearly 12 hours, wrestling stomach issues, and just driving into the night. Looking back on that moment even, it's certainly character building."
Holland also opened up on the trials he faced during the trip, saying: "I was bitten by a millipede in the middle of the night. That really hurt, and that really has stuck with me, including the mark from it, but other than that I would say driving across the desert in Angola [was most memorable]."
Bond between the new presenters
Despite the setbacks, one thing that remained constant throughout filming was the close bond between the three presenters. Holland said it was "easy" during their first meeting, sharing with humour: "Because we are all car people. You know how dogs sniff each other's butts? It's the same with car people. It just turns into a conversation about cars immediately, so it's easy to hit it off with anybody who has that universal language."
Engelsman agreed, highlighting that he and Holland have worked together on car films for the past eight years. "So it was a case of how does Francis gel with us?" he added. "And the answer is, very well."
Bourgeois agreed the trio got along "extremely well" from the outset, adding: "Our friendship developed and grew through the chemistry tests, through the conversations in the bar before going back to bed, and then when it came to filming the first episode, it was just like, away we go."
Executive producer on the new dynamic
Executive Producer Phil Churchward said in a separate interview with Prime Video that the main thing he wanted viewers to take away from the new series was the chemistry between the three presenters. He shared: "That's always been the heart of The Grand Tour. You want to feel like you're on the road trip with them."
"They're very different people from Jeremy, Richard, and James, and it's important that they remain themselves rather than trying to imitate anyone else. Each brings a different perspective on cars, travel and adventure, and that dynamic will only continue to develop over time."
The Grand Tour is streaming on Prime Video.
