Jeremy Clarkson has issued a sweary warning for the three new hosts of The Grand Tour after he, Richard Hammond and James May were replaced ahead of the next series of the car show.
Clarkson, Hammond and May created the show as a Top Gear-esque programme and fronted the Prime Video series from 2016 to 2024. When the streamer decided to bring it back this September, they replaced the hosts with train TikToker Francis Bourgeois, YouTuber James Engelsman and motoring journalist Thomas Holland. The new trio will take on motor challenges in the series that airs from 4 September.
Clarkson's Warning and Faith in New Hosts
In the first episode, the three new hosts visited Clarkson at Diddly Squat Farm, the home of his Prime Video series Clarkson's Farm. He told them: "Listen, guys. Seriously, have fun with this. Good luck." He then added a warning, telling them: "Don't f*** it up."
But the star told the audience that he had faith in the new hosts: "I've got to be honest with you, I've actually been watching what they've been up to for the past year and a half, and they're very, very good. You're going to love it."
Producer's Comments on Fan Disappointment
Andy Wilman, who has kept his role as a consultant on the show, addressed the disappointment that some fans expressed about the hosts being replaced. He said: "We, as an outgoing team, don't have a monopoly on some blokes doing entertaining things around cars. We wouldn't want a monopoly."
He told The Sunday Times that Clarkson, Hammond and May will be doing cameos but that they all had their own things going on. Clarkson is focused on his farm and the series about that, while Hammond has an HBO series called Hammond's Workshop where he fixes up cars. May is running a pub called The Royal Oak in Swallowcliffe.
Fan Reactions and New Series Details
While some fans were disappointed not to see the original three returning, many were excited to see what they were capable of, especially after watching the first trailer, which was released on 19 August. In the trailer, Bourgeois attempted to reveal a car by removing a vehicle cover but struggled, causing the other two to break out into fits of laughter. Another moment saw Engelsman try to get into a boat and falling on his chest, joking that he was riding in "missionary" position.
Some key questions of the new series have been revealed. The series will follow Bourgeois, Engelsman and Holland as they try to drive undetected across the border of Colorado in microcars, figure out what the most unbreakable car is and see if a hypercar can catch up with an F1 driver.
