Can the show really survive without Jeremy Clarkson and co? The answer may surprise you
When Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May shook hands in the Botswanan wilderness at the end of The Grand Tour: One for the Road, it’s safe to say even the most stoic of petrolheads would’ve likely shed a tear.
The trio was calling time on their 22-year collaboration once and for all. All three had revolutionised motoring television, creating behemoths for the BBC and Amazon Prime Video along the way.
Aptly titled One for the Road, each presenter moved on to pastures new – from pubs to farms to workshops – and for many watching at home, this was the perfect way to turn off the ignition for good.
But Amazon felt differently, and on Friday, three new faces will get behind the wheel and jump-start The Grand Tour back into gear.
James Engelsman and Thomas Holland in the new series of The Grand Tour | AMAZON
The men who’ve taken on the baton from Clarkson and co are Francis Bourgeois, James Engelsman and Thomas Holland. Three men with a burning passion for all things automotive.
Bourgeois is a huge social media star while Engelsman and Holland have plied their trade on YouTube. Their car-centric Throttle House page has become one of the internet’s most popular motoring channels in recent years.
Scepticism has been high among the fanbase ever since their arrivals were announced by none other than Clarkson himself. “The show IS the classic trio,” was the sentiment being expressed by thousands in the cesspit of social media comment sections.
I even previously wrote how I thought Amazon missed a trick by not getting Izzy Hammond, the daughter of one-third of the iconic trio, to lead the revamp.
(From L to R) Richard Hammond, James May, Francis Bourgeois, Jeremy Clarkson, Thomas Holland and James Engelsman
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And as I sat down to take in the first instalment of the revamped series, I admit that apprehension remained. But within minutes, I’m very pleased to report it disappeared.
Bourgeois, Holland and Engelsman’s debut breathes new life into The Grand Tour that motor enthusiasts never knew was needed.
If you compare it to Clarkson, Hammond, and May, you’ll never be happy. But if you take in the new-look Grand Tour for what it is, it’s a fun hour of rubber-burning escapism.
In the series opening, the team visits California to test out the latest, greatest American muscle cars. Bourgeois gets behind the wheel of a $2.75m, 2,000-horsepower Hennessey Venom F5 Revolution Evolution while the Throttle House pair are left with a Ford Mustang GTD and Chevrolet Corvette ZR1.
Jeremy Clarkson has endorsed Francis and co to keep The Grand Tour alive
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But before they jet across the Atlantic, they pay a visit to the Cotswolds under the guise of trying to pry the Grand Tour tent from Clarkson’s hands.
In reality, they’re seeking the 66-year-old’s endorsement. He’s more than happy to oblige, breaking the fourth wall to tell viewers the new trio are “bl**dy funny”.
And with that stamp of approval, they arrive in the US, pitting their cars against one another in a joy-filled race where Bourgeois pips the other two to the finish line with his signature guffaw as the Venom careers off at an unholy speed.
Bourgeois proves a standout on the show. It’d be easy to label him as the one in the May mould, but he brings much more than the ‘Captain Slow’ character.
May, Clarkson and Hammond headed to Zimbabwe and Botswana for their final Grand Tour special in 2024
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AMAZONHis enthusiasm, quick wit, and charm make him seamlessly hold his own alongside the already established Throttle House duo, putting to bed any suspicion that a guy best known for trainspotting TikToks wouldn’t be able to do so.
His giddiness when spotting the chance to drive alongside a locomotive in the Californian backcountry, for instance, will pry a smile from the most ardent of Clarkson diehards.
But it’s not just surface level with these three. They clearly know their stuff. Throughout, they deliver explanations and opinions with acronym after acronym that would leave the most experienced mechanic scrambling for Google.
Clarkson, Hammond, May, and long-time producer Andy Wilman all had a say in who would be given the roles, keen to ensure the chemistry of potential candidates. And they got it spot on.
The original Grand Tour trio attended the London premiere this week
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A clumsy and awkward first meeting with F1’s Jenson Button is a perfect demonstration of this, with the trio playfully taking part in a clearly pre-planned scene without it feeling hammy or cringeworthy.
They sign off their debut by taking on the Patriots Air Display Team. Zippy, Intake, and Howler are the three veteran pilots who pit their fighter jets against each of the guys’ cars.
But not before giving each one their own nickname. Engelsman’s fondness for trips in the sun lands him the name Holiday, Holland is given the moniker Moleson, and Bourgeois’ lanky frame results in the nickname Stretch.
The final act is a breathless and bonkers demonstration of typical Grand Tour proportions. Three guys racing American muscle cars against US fighter jets? Why not.
For the rest of the series, trips to all corners of the globe beckon, from Angola to Malaysia. And Hammond and May follow in Clarkson’s footsteps by lending a helping hand in a series of cameos.
The question that would’ve been lingering in the minds of every Grand Tour fan prior to the new episodes would’ve undoubtedly been whether or not the show could survive without the original trio.
Following episode one, the only question left on my mind is why it has taken so long for these men to get their chance in the mainstream entertainment world.
Amazon is yet to confirm if there’ll be a second series featuring Bourgeois, Holland, and Engelsman, but they’d be bonkers not to greenlight it.
And with the BBC working on a Top Gear revival, keeping The Grand Tour going with this new trio at the helm is a surefire way to keep the Beeb floundering in the dust.
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