Amazon Prime Video has officially confirmed the return of its flagship motoring series The Grand Tour, but with a significant change that will mark the end of an era for fans. The original presenting trio of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May will not be returning to front the show, bringing their remarkable 22-year collaboration to a definitive close.
A New Era For The Hit Motoring Series
The Grand Tour is preparing for its big comeback to Prime Video screens after several years away, with six new episodes scheduled for release later this year. However, the familiar faces that viewers have followed from their BBC Top Gear days through to the Amazon series will be absent from the driver's seat. Their final appearance together was in the 2024 special episode titled One for the Road, which saw them driving into the Botswana sunset in what now serves as their farewell.
Meet The New Presenting Team
Prime Video has announced that the new series will be presented by an entirely fresh lineup. Leading the charge will be trainspotter and self-confessed petrolhead Francis Bourgeois, alongside YouTube sensations James Engelsman and Thomas Holland, who are best known as the creative forces behind the hugely popular automotive channel Throttle House.
The new trio will take the show across the globe in the upcoming episodes, inheriting what many consider to be one of the most challenging presenting roles in television. Speaking about his new position, Bourgeois acknowledged the scale of the task ahead, stating: "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."
Fellow presenter Thomas Holland offered a similarly candid perspective, revealing: "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.'"
The Legacy Of The Original Trio
Clarkson, Hammond, and May's journey together represents one of British television's most successful partnerships. Their collaboration began on BBC's Top Gear, where they transformed the motoring show into a global phenomenon before departing amid controversy in 2015. Amazon quickly snapped up the trio, and The Grand Tour became an immediate success, growing into Prime Video's most-watched unscripted UK Original series worldwide.
Since concluding their work on The Grand Tour, each presenter has pursued individual projects on the streaming platform. Clarkson has found considerable success with his agricultural series Clarkson's Farm, which recently completed filming for its fifth season. The show's fourth season proved particularly popular, averaging an impressive 4.4 million viewers per episode in 2025.
Richard Hammond now fronts Richard Hammond's Workshop, focusing on car restoration and building his automotive business near his home. Meanwhile, James May launched his own series last year titled James May's Shed Load Of Ideas, which sees him tackling various everyday problems with inventive solutions.
What This Means For Fans
The departure of the original presenters represents a significant shift for The Grand Tour, which has built its identity around the chemistry and banter between Clarkson, Hammond, and May. Their unique dynamic, forged over more than two decades, became the show's defining characteristic and contributed substantially to its international appeal.
Prime Video's decision to continue the series with new presenters indicates confidence in the brand's strength, even without its original stars. The streaming service appears to be betting that the format and global travel elements can succeed with fresh talent at the helm. The selection of Bourgeois, Engelsman, and Holland suggests a deliberate move toward a different presenting style, potentially appealing to younger audiences while maintaining the show's automotive focus.
As production prepares to begin on the new episodes, all eyes will be on how the incoming presenters adapt to the established format and whether they can capture the magic that made the original series such a standout success in Prime Video's catalogue.
