The Grand Tour Announces New Hosts Following Departure of Original Trio
Prime Video's acclaimed motoring series, The Grand Tour, has officially unveiled its new presenting lineup, marking a significant reboot after the departure of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May two years ago. The original trio, who left the show in September 2024, are being replaced by a fresh-faced team comprising two popular YouTubers and a viral social media sensation.
Meet the New Presenters: A Digital-First Trio
The revamped version of The Grand Tour will be fronted by Thomas Holland and James Engelsman, the duo behind the successful automotive YouTube channel Throttle House, alongside Francis Bourgeois, a train enthusiast and digital content creator who rose to fame through his infectious trainspotting videos. This new trio brings a blend of motoring expertise and online charisma to the long-running series.
Francis Bourgeois, whose real name is Luke Nicolson, is a 24-year-old mechanical engineer with experience at Rolls-Royce. He gained widespread popularity for his viral trainspotting content on TikTok and Instagram, which even featured cameos from celebrities like singer Joe Jonas and the Prince and Princess of Wales. Beyond social media, Bourgeois has ventured into modelling with brands like Gucci and The North Face, authored a book titled The Trainspotter's Notebook, and hosted the Channel 4 digital series Trainspotting with Francis Bourgeois.
Throttle House Duo Brings Automotive Credentials
Thomas Holland and James Engelsman, known for their Throttle House channel, bring substantial motoring credentials to The Grand Tour. Holland, originally from Canada and a biology graduate, founded the channel in 2015 "out of boredom," initially focusing on BMW builds and occasional car reviews. The channel gained significant momentum when Engelsman, from the UK, joined in 2018 after suggesting ideas to Holland and requesting to be part of his videos. The duo first met in person at a gathering of Miata car owners and have been creating car films together for almost a decade.
In response to their new roles, Bourgeois humorously remarked, "The saying 'big shoes to fill' springs to mind. Well, in this case, it'll be like Mo Farah running in Size 14 wellies – it'll be a little awkward at first, perhaps blister-inducing, but will overall be an interesting watch." Engelsman added, "I've worked with Thomas for almost a decade making car films. Who knew that all this time, the one ingredient that was missing was a Francis Bourgeois? Let the car adventures commence." Holland joked, "When I first heard they were rebooting The Grand Tour and replacing Clarkson Hammond and May, I said, 'Only a moron would take that job.'"
Original Trio's Legacy and Future Prospects
Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May concluded their on-screen relationship with The Grand Tour in September 2024 with the final episode, "One for the Road." They had joined the series after leaving Top Gear in 2015. In July 2024, it was reported that their production company, W Chump & Sons, had been dissolved, with the trio declaring solvency and appointing a liquidator to wind up the business. The company helped produce the show from 2016 to 2024, with Clarkson reportedly signing a contract worth £160 million with Amazon.
It remains unknown whether Clarkson, Hammond, and May will continue to earn income from future seasons of The Grand Tour. Clarkson is currently enjoying significant success with Clarkson's Farm, a Prime Video series documenting his attempts to run a 1000-acre farm he purchased in 2008. Since the show premiered in 2021, he has expanded his business empire by buying a Cotswolds pub for £1 million, which is featured in season four.
In September 2024, Hammond confirmed to Metro that The Grand Tour would continue with new hosts, calling it "amazing" news. At the time, he admitted not knowing who the new presenters would be but offered advice: "If you're making any show that at its heart has a subject, whether it's cooking, dancing or cars, the hosts, the primary makers of it, have to have that passion in their heart. And we always did."
The reboot of The Grand Tour with Holland, Engelsman, and Bourgeois represents a bold new chapter for the series, blending traditional motoring content with modern digital influence. Fans eagerly await to see how this new trio will steer the show forward, building on the legacy of their predecessors while injecting fresh energy and perspective into the automotive entertainment landscape.
