Jeremy Clarkson Endorses 'Completely Different' New Hosts for The Grand Tour
Jeremy Clarkson has delivered his verdict on the fresh faces set to take over The Grand Tour, following a sneak peek at the upcoming episodes. Last month, it was confirmed that a trio of social media stars would be stepping into the roles previously held by Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May, who bid farewell to the Prime Video series in 2024.
A New Era for the Popular Motoring Series
The new hosts include YouTubers Thomas Holland and James Engelsman, along with TikTok sensation Francis Bourgeois. Clarkson, who had previously joked about running low on ideas and becoming 'unfit, fat and old' with his co-stars, has shown no ill will towards his replacements. In fact, he has admitted to being impressed with what he has seen so far.
Speaking on the My Week In Cars podcast, Clarkson revealed that the show is still being produced by Andy Wilman, the veteran producer behind both The Grand Tour and Top Gear. He stated, 'I’ve seen the guys being chosen in the early days, and I’ve seen some of the stuff they’ve been doing. And it’s very, very good.'
Clarkson emphasized the differences between the new hosts and the original trio, noting, 'It’s different because they’re three completely different people to us. But they’re bl**dy funny. You shall see. I’m pretty confident that that will work. I mean, touch wood. But I love the idea that Grand Tour carried on in this way.'
Humorous Announcement and New Host Profiles
When the new hosts were confirmed last month, Clarkson appeared in an announcement video where he humorously reviewed CVs of prospective presenters. He poked fun at his former co-star James May, calling him 'dull,' and offered witty remarks about the new hosts' credentials.
For instance, when looking at Thomas Holland's CV, Clarkson read, 'Once held a 1300 metre drift. Zero evidence has been uncovered. Frequently presents an opinion as if it is fact and then if challenged will change the subject. Yes, funny man.' He praised Francis Bourgeois, saying, 'I know this one, he's the train man from the internet!' and added, 'He’s got a cycling proficiency test, 2020 vision, but claims he can see behind him. Yes...'
Clarkson also dismissed Richard Hammond's CV with a blunt, 'Blah. I'm 5ft4,' before throwing it away. Ultimately, he selected the new trio, concluding, 'Let's get them in, they look good, get them in.'
The new hosts will front a six-part series that will see them drive across some of the world's most challenging terrains in various vehicles. Thomas Holland and James Engelsman are known for their YouTube show Throttle House, which has over 3.2 million subscribers and focuses on testing and reviewing cars.
Francis Bourgeois, whose real name is Luke Magnus Nicolson, has gained fame for his trainspotting videos, amassing over 6 million followers across social media platforms. He counts the Prince and Princess of Wales and Stormzy among his fans.
Background and Future Prospects
Thomas Holland launched his YouTube channel in 2015 'out of boredom,' and was later joined by James Engelsman, who reached out as a fan. Francis Bourgeois rose to social media stardom after his first TikTok clip in February 2021, and has since interviewed celebrities like Louis Theroux and Tom Daley.
In 2023, Francis was joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales in a video, highlighting his crossover appeal. Meanwhile, the original Grand Tour trio have moved on to other projects, such as Amazon Prime Video's The Not Very Grand Tour, which aired its first episode in April this year.
Jeremy Clarkson has also returned to motoring TV with an episode of Car SOS, while Richard Hammond and James May recently revisited their old Top Gear studio, describing the experience as 'traumatising' yet nostalgic.
The Grand Tour is set to return to Prime Video later this year, marking a new chapter with its fresh hosts and continued production under Andy Wilman.
