A new series of The Grand Tour arrives on Amazon Prime today with a fresh lineup of presenters, but one TV expert has said she will not be watching. Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May have stepped aside, replaced by Francis Bourgeois, Thomas Holland and James Englesman for the revamped six-part series.
The new hosts will take on a series of adventures, from tackling Colorado's roads in a Japanese micro-car to testing muscle motors in California, before heading to Malaysia and Angola. Clarkson has admitted he approves of the lineup and changes, but the expert disagrees, saying the show should have ended when the former presenters quit.
Why the show should have ended
The expert argues that Clarkson, Hammond and May made the show, and that their friendship and on-screen camaraderie cannot be replicated. People do not tune in just for the cars, she says, noting that even those who do not care about vehicles have watched for the trio's wild adventures and moments of TV gold.
She asked her father, who has never missed an episode of Top Gear or The Grand Tour, for his thoughts on the revamp. His reply was telling: "I'll watch it, but I don't think I'll enjoy it." She says he is going one step further than her, as she does not think it even deserves a chance.
Concerns over new host
Another point of irritation is that one of the new hosts started out online as an absolute joke. Francis, also known as the Train Guy on TikTok and whose real name is Luke Nicolson, cannot be taken seriously, she says, as all you see when you think of him is an awkward eagle-eyed view of his face. While he seems genuinely passionate about motoring, his childlike demeanour has made people question if his persona is a parody, risking the whole show becoming one big joke.
The expert believes producers are aware the show could flop, as they are relying on a brief appearance from Clarkson in the first episode, with further cameos throughout. In the opening episode, the young presenters visit Clarkson at his pub to reclaim the iconic Grand Tour tent, which he has converted into a farm shop. The farmer turns down the request, as it is supposed to symbolise a handover from the original trio. To her, this hints that show bosses know the programme cannot survive without Clarkson or his pals.
