The Grand Tour fans have expressed mixed feelings about the announcement that original hosts Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May will make cameo appearances in the upcoming new season.
Producer reveals trio's involvement
Andy Wilman, who has produced The Grand Tour since its inception, discussed the trio's involvement during a conversation at the Buckingham Literary Festival, telling 3Bs radio that the beloved presenting team would appear alongside the new hosting line-up.
Fans have taken to Reddit to share their thoughts, with one saying: "Having the trio appear does feel like a nice way to try and amicably pass the torch. I get the impression Jeremy and Andy Wilman in particular like the idea of Grand Tour having a legacy beyond the three of them."
Mixed reactions from fans
Wilman said he was keen to "pass that baton on" to the new presenters and drew a distinction between this handover and the circumstances surrounding Clarkson, Hammond and May's exit from the BBC's Top Gear years ago, reports the Mirror.
Other fans were less enthusiastic, with one sharing: "Probably just for the first episode. They'll meet the new hosts. And then they'll be off." Another said: "Showing up in a cameo to show support for the new presenters is a very loose use of the phrase 'starring in rebooted show'."
End of an era and new beginnings
Clarkson, Hammond and May's final chapter together came in 2024, when they brought The Grand Tour to a close with a farewell drive through Botswana, ending a 22-year run together on screen.
Prime Video has since assembled a new trio to carry the motoring torch forward, with internet sensation Francis Bourgeois teaming up with Canadian YouTubers James Engelsman and Thomas Holland, who run the Throttle House channel.
Some fans have shown enthusiasm for the new hosts, with one saying: "If you haven't seen any of the new hosts and the stuff they do, they're honestly pretty good. They've done a few road trip specials on their YouTube channel that very much felt like Grand Tour audition shows when I first saw them. Honestly they feel like pretty good choices to continue the show."
The Grand Tour premieres on Prime Video on September 4.
