The Grand Tour is set to premiere its six-episode new season on Prime Video on September 4, featuring a completely new trio of presenters who have already admitted to making "very poor decisions" during filming. The motoring series, which originally launched in 2016 with Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May, concluded its original run in September 2024. Now, the show enters a new era with Francis Bourgeois, James Engelsman, and Thomas Holland taking the wheel.
Who Are the New Presenters?
Francis Bourgeois, whose real name is Luke Magnus Nicolson, is a trainspotter and social media star who gained fame through viral train videos on TikTok and Instagram. He has millions of followers and later hosted the digital series Trainspotting with Francis Bourgeois for Channel 4. He has also authored a book titled The Trainspotter's Notebook. Reflecting on his experience, Bourgeois said: "Since completing the filming of the series, I haven’t stopped replaying every moment in my head. It has made me laugh, made my heart race and my stomach turn…remembering the tent I shared with Thomas and James filled with sulphuric farts whilst Angolan jackals snooped around outside. It feels as though it was a dream, but knowing we will get to share our adventures soon makes me so incredibly excited."
James Engelsman is a co-host of the popular YouTube channel Throttle House, which he joined three years after its launch by Thomas Holland in 2015. The channel features in-depth car reviews and track tests, amassing millions of followers. Engelsman said of the filming: "We took on the West African Desert. We contended with fighter pilots. We even decided to challenge an entire nation's legal system by protesting from the mountain tops. In doing so, the three of us learned our true strength: How to accept defeat gracefully."
Thomas Holland is the founder of Throttle House and a racing driver who has been creating YouTube content for over a decade. In 2023, he won first place in a race at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. He admitted the Grand Tour experience was daunting: "I figured someone would be there to hold our hand the whole time. Nope. We were on our own in some absolutely wild environments in very, VERY questionable cars. What did we learn from this experience? Only that we have very poor decision-making skills. When you watch in September, expect a good laugh. And maybe a few butt clenches."
What to Expect in the New Season
Prime Video has teased that the new presenters will "tackle motoring’s most pressing, and delightfully absurd, questions across some of the world’s most challenging terrains." The series will feature segments including crossing the Angolan desert in track cars, exploring Malaysia’s vibrant car culture, and heading to California to test cutting-edge performance cars. The streamer promises the show will "drive the new series into a new era." The Grand Tour premieres on Prime Video on September 4.
