Mark Wogan delivers honest prediction on future of The Grand Tour after Jeremy Clarkson and team’s exit


Broadcaster and classic car enthusiast Mark Wogan has delivered a rather cryptic assessment of the future of motoring television following Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May’s departure from The Grand Tour.

The presenter and restaurateur admitted the trio stepping away represents the “end of an era” and questioned whether the wider industry could now be facing an uncertain future.


Mr Clarkson, Mr Hammond and Mr May brought their long-running motoring partnership to a close with their final episode of the Amazon Prime Video series, having previously fronted the BBC’s Top Gear together.

Speaking exclusively to GB News ahead of CarFest, the UK’s largest family fundraising festival, Mr Wogan acknowledged that the way audiences consume motoring content is changing rapidly.

Mark Wogan

Mark Wogan spoke to GB News ahead of this year’s CarFest, which moves to Silverstone

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“I think television in general is changing all the time,” he said.

“The Americans say, ‘Find your niche.’

“There are so many niche content creators making fantastic content about every subject, particularly cars.”

Mr Wogan pointed to Chris Evans’s son, Noah, as one of the new generation of motoring personalities attracting viewers away from traditional television programmes.

Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May

Mark Wogan warned Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May’s departure marks the ‘end of an era’ for motoring television

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“One of them is actually Chris Evans’s son, Noah,” he explained.

“He does a fantastic channel called Noah Talking Cars on YouTube and Instagram.

“People will always be interested in cars if that’s their thing.”

However, Mr Wogan conceded that the conclusion of the famous trio’s partnership could represent a much more significant turning point for the genre.

Top Gear

Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May fronted the BBC’s Top Gear together before launching The Grand Tour

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“Clarkson and those guys stopping what they’ve been doing is definitely the end of an era,” he declared.

“Whether it’s the end of motoring journalism, we don’t know. We’ll see what the future brings.”

Mr Wogan also reflected on the wider challenges facing the BBC, touching on the broadcasting work of his late father, broadcasting legend Sir Terry Wogan, who spent decades at the corporation.

In recent months, the corporation’s licence fee model has come under enhanced scrutiny, while the BBC came under fire for replacing six of its most experienced radio hosts with influencers.

Terry Wogan

Mr Wogan’s father hosted BBC Radio 2’s Wake Up to Wogan

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“I don’t ever want to speak for my father,” he said. “But for me personally, there are people who can broadcast, and there are people who have a profile. The two things don’t necessarily always overlap.”

The broadcaster added that his father, who hosted BBC Radio 2’s Wake Up to Wogan for years, always believed radio forged a unique connection with audiences.

“As Dad always used to say, ‘Radio expands the mind and television contracts it.’ He always preferred radio,” Mr Wogan explained.

Terry Wogan

Broadcasting legend Sir Terry Wogan spent decades at the BBC

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Despite his uncertainty over the motoring TV’s future, Mr Wogan said he had remained an admirer of both Top Gear and The Grand Tour.

“I’ve always loved what Top Gear was about,” he said. “I’ve always loved The Grand Tour.”

However, the food entrepreneur revealed his own passion lies more with vintage vehicles than modern motoring programmes.

“For me, I’m more of a classics person,” he explained. “I like anything to do with classic cars, which is a huge part of CarFest.

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“You get to see cars there that you simply wouldn’t see anywhere else.”

Mr Wogan said the festival offers families the opportunity to see rare vehicles alongside live music, food and entertainment without paying the prices associated with some specialist motoring events.

“There are other car events where you’d pay a lot more for tickets just to see those cars,” he said. “As I keep saying, because I genuinely mean it, it really is the weekend that keeps giving.”

CarFest 2026 takes place at Silverstone Circuit, Towcester, Northamptonshire on August 28-30. Tickets are on sale now.



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