The original hosts of The Grand Tour are reportedly set to return in a surprise comeback twist, joining the new presenters for a "smooth transition" to the new series. Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May, who presented the previous six series, will share their expertise to support the new team.
The new hosts include "trainspotter" Luke Magnus Nicolson, known as Francis Bourgeois, and YouTubers Thomas Holland and James Engelsman, creators of the car channel Throttle House.
Executive producer's support
Andy Wilman, co-creator and executive producer of Clarkson's Farm, told The Sun: "We've got three guys coming soon with a new Grand Tour and we've got behind them. We're really supporting them. Our guys are in the shows doing cameos, so we're wishing them well because we do want to pass that baton on."
Wilman also explained the decision to pick three young hosts over someone "who likes cars". He mentioned in an interview at the Buckingham Literary Festival: "When those three [Jeremy, James and Richard] go away, you can't parachute in three new, good presenters who are funny. That's like describing the show over the phone to an alien - 'you just need three funny blokes and they muck about'. It's not going to work."
Clarkson's advice
While the new hosts are not celebrities like Top Gear hosts Paddy McGuinness and Freddie Flintoff, Jeremy believed the decision might be better for the show. He said: "There's no point hiring somebody who 'likes' cars. Because that's not enough. I would get three complete unknowns. Start small, like we did. They've got to be absolute petrolheads. I've got to be able to show them a picture of a quarter of a door mirror from any car ever made, and they've got to know what it is. That would be my advice."
Upcoming series
The seventh series of The Grand Tour is set to air on September 4. Prime Video announced that the new trio will be "crossing the Angolan desert in track cars" before "exploring Malaysia's vibrant car culture" and "heading to California to test America's latest and greatest performance cars." They'll also challenge "fighter pilots and even an entire nation's legal system".
