The new hosts of The Grand Tour have zoomed into focus in the reboot’s first teaser, showing the trio in action for the first time.
Replacing former presenters Jeremy Clarkson, James May, and Richard Hammond are social media star and train enthusiast Francis Bourgeois, as well as YouTubers Thomas Holland and James Engelsman, best known for their motoring content.
While it’s a sure bet they’ll rival the original hosts’ car knowledge, they’ll be hoping to emulate their chemistry for a new era – and the trailer has provided the first evidence of whether they have succeeded.
open image in galleryIn the new series, the new presenters will tackle motoring’s most absurd questions across some of the world’s most challenging terrains. As part of the new episodes, they will cross the Angolan desert in track cars and explore Malaysia’s vibrant car culture.
The trailer hints that 26-year-old Bourgeois, a qualified mechanical engineer with experience at Rolls-Royce, will bring the infectious enthusiasm he’s known for to the popular show.
Bourgeois, real name Luke Nicolson, gained widespread popularity for his videos about trainspotting, which would often go viral on TikTok and Instagram, and even featured cameos from singer Joe Jonas and the Prince and Princess of Wales.
He said of his Grand Tour appointment: “The saying ‘big shoes to fill’ spring 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.”
open image in galleryHolland and Engelsman are the duo behind Throttle House, a popular automotive YouTube channel known for its car reviews and track tests.
Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day
New subscribers only. £9.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled.
ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
Engelsman said: “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.”
Holland joked: “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.’”
Holland, who is originally from Canada and studied biology, founded Throttle House in 2015 “out of boredom”. The channel initially focused on BMW builds and occasional car reviews, but started to gain momentum when Engelsman joined in 2018.
Engelsman, who is from the UK, became part of Throttle House after suggesting ideas to Holland and asking to be part of his videos. The duo had their first meeting in person at a gathering of Miata car owners.
Clarkson, Hammond and May’s on-screen relationship came to an end in September 2024 with the final episode of The Grand Tour, dubbed “One for the Road”. The trio joined the series after leaving Top Gear in 2015.
In July 2024, it was reported that the production company co-owned by the trio – W Chump & Sons – had been dissolved. As part of the company’s dissolution, the trio declared solvency and appointed a liquidator to “wind up” their business.
open image in galleryThe company helped produce the show from 2016 to 2024, with The Mirror reporting that Clarkson signed a contract worth £160m with Amazon. It is unknown at this time whether Clarkson, Hammond and May will continue to make an income from any future seasons of the show, but the trio will cameo in the new season.
Clarkson is currently enjoying the biggest success of his career with Clarkson’s Farm, a series airing on Amazon’s Prime Video service that documents his attempt to run the 1000-acre farm he purchased in 2008.
Since premiering the show in 2021, Clarkson has extended his business empire by purchasing a Cotswolds pub for £1m – which is the focus of season four.
All six new episodes of The Grand Tour will launch on Prime Video on 4 September.