Jeremy Clarkson’s response to footage of the latest iteration of The Grand Tour caught many by surprise. Although Amazon has kept the original presenters at arm’s length from the revamped show, Clarkson was among a select group given an early look at the new series. While generally impressed with the fresh presenting team, one particular sequence made him ask why he and his former co-hosts had never tackled a similar challenge.
Andy Wilman, the producer behind the original Grand Tour, shared insights during a recent appearance on TellyCast. Following his long collaboration with Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May on Top Gear, the trio have now stepped aside. The new presenters consist of YouTube motoring influencers Thomas Holland and James Engelsman from Throttle House, alongside viral trainspotting sensation Francis Bourgeois.
Wilman clarified that Clarkson and his former co-hosts were not simply handed completed episodes to watch. Instead, the production team curated specific clips, presenting carefully chosen material to give them a taste of what the new hosts had created. “They didn’t see anything but version two,” Wilman explained.
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Clarkson was keen to see enough footage before giving his approval. “Jeremy wanted to see stuff because, and the other guys saw stuff because they weren’t going to endorse something that they thought was rubbish,” Wilman noted.
The reaction was largely positive. Wilman recalled Clarkson’s enthusiastic response: “He was like, ‘Oh, they’re good. They’re good, they’re good.'” The original hosts even met the newcomers and appeared to support the new direction of the show.
However, one scene in particular sparked a different reaction. While watching a segment filmed in Malaysia - which opened in Singapore at a striking venue - Clarkson asked, “Why the heck didn’t we do this?” Wilman responded jokingly, “And I’m like, ‘Alright, you know, what are you going to do, fire me?'”
Wilman described Clarkson as “quite jealous” of some of the new presenters’ accomplishments, though it seemed to be light-hearted envy rather than serious dissatisfaction. Both Hammond and May expressed their happiness with the new version and were willing to make cameo appearances in the series.
Their endorsement appears to have encouraged the new team. Francis Bourgeois, 26, revealed to the Press Association how warmly Clarkson, Hammond and May had welcomed them during the transition. “They’ve been so warm and open,” he said. “It’s that transition point where they know it’s going into nice, right hands, to have them, and to have their blessing is an absolute superpower.”
This latest series marks a notable change for The Grand Tour, which first launched in 2016 following Clarkson, Hammond and May’s departure from Top Gear. May has previously mentioned that the trio had “exhausted” the topic.
Holland, Engelsman and Bourgeois now lead the show’s signature adventures, travelling through locations including the US, Malaysia, and Angola, while undertaking increasingly bold motoring challenges.
The refreshed six-episode series will debut on Prime Video on 4 September, with appearances from the original presenters included throughout.