Prime Video's The Grand Tour Announces New Host Trio After Clarkson Era
The motoring entertainment landscape is shifting gears as Prime Video has officially announced the new presenting team for The Grand Tour, marking a significant transition following the departure of the original trio. Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond left the show two years ago, bringing their iconic on-screen partnership to a close after first gaining fame co-presenting Top Gear on the BBC.
Meet the New Presenting Team
The revamped version of the popular automotive series will be fronted by three fresh faces: Thomas Holland and James Engelsman, the duo behind the successful YouTube channel Throttle House, alongside Francis Bourgeois, the social media sensation known for his viral trainspotting content. This new combination brings together established digital creators with substantial followings in the motoring and transport enthusiast communities.
Bourgeois, whose real name is Luke Nicolson, has achieved remarkable fame through his infectious trainspotting videos that regularly go viral on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. The 24-year-old is also a qualified mechanical engineer with experience at Rolls-Royce, bringing technical expertise to the role. Beyond social media, he has ventured into modelling with brands including Gucci and The North Face, authored The Trainspotter's Notebook, and hosted Channel 4's digital series Trainspotting with Francis Bourgeois.
Throttle House Duo Bring Automotive Credentials
Holland and Engelsman established Throttle House in 2015, initially focusing on BMW builds before expanding to comprehensive car reviews and track tests. Holland, originally from Canada with a background in biology, founded the channel "out of boredom," while Engelsman, from the UK, joined in 2018 after suggesting collaboration ideas. The pair first met in person at a gathering of Miata car owners and have worked together for nearly a decade creating automotive content.
Regarding their new roles, Engelsman expressed enthusiasm about the trio's dynamic: "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."
Humor and Perspective from the New Hosts
The new presenters acknowledged the challenge of following in the footsteps of the original trio with characteristic humor. Bourgeois 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."
Holland joked about his initial reaction to the opportunity: "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.'"
End of an Era and New Beginnings
Clarkson, Hammond and May's final episode of The Grand Tour, titled "One for the Road," aired in September 2024, concluding their nine-year run on the show following their departure from Top Gear in 2015. Their production company, W Chump & Sons, was dissolved in July 2024, with the trio declaring solvency and appointing a liquidator to wind up the business that had helped produce the show from 2016 to 2024.
While it remains unknown whether the original presenters will receive income from future seasons, Clarkson has found substantial success with his Amazon series Clarkson's Farm, documenting his attempts to run a 1000-acre property he purchased in 2008. He has since expanded his business empire, including purchasing a Cotswolds pub for £1 million.
Hammond confirmed the show's continuation with new hosts in September 2024, describing it as "amazing" news. He offered advice to his successors: "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 appointment of Holland, Engelsman and Bourgeois represents a strategic shift toward digital-native presenters with established online followings, potentially attracting younger audiences to the long-running automotive entertainment franchise while maintaining the passion for vehicles that has always been at the show's core.
