Fans of Top Gear are in for a nostalgic treat this weekend as Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May make a surprise return to the BBC. This reunion coincides with the winding down of their recent venture, The Grand Tour.
Nearly a decade ago, the trio left the BBC following a widely-publicised dispute, launching The Grand Tour on Amazon Prime in 2016. The show continued to deliver the camaraderie and thrilling automotive adventures their loyal audience cherished. However, earlier this year, Clarkson announced he would be stepping away from the show for good, marking the end of an era.
In response, BBC Two will air a repeat of the beloved Top Gear Botswana special, a fan-favorite episode where the presenters navigate South Africa’s challenging terrain in budget cars bought locally for under £1,500. Though this is a re-broadcast, its timing feels poignant and nostalgic, as noted by the Mirror.
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Clarkson has reflected openly on his decision to retire from the demanding lifestyle of automotive adventuring. Speaking to The Times, he revealed the creative energy behind their driving exploits is running low. “I’ve driven cars higher than anyone else and further north than anyone else. We’ve done everything you can do with a car. When we had meetings about what to do next, people just threw their arms in the air,” he explained.
He also highlighted the physical toll of filming, contrasting their rugged experiences with those of survival expert Bear Grylls, who enjoys hotel accommodations: “If you’re Bear Grylls you go to a hotel - there aren’t any hotels in the Sahara desert.” Reflecting on their time filming in extreme conditions, Clarkson said, “Camping in Mauritania was a stretch” for someone who describes himself as “unfit and fat and old.”
Despite their often humorous on-screen banter, Clarkson stressed the deep bond they share after 25 years of working closely together. “We’ve spent more time in each other’s company than our families’ over the last 25 years, so I don’t think it would have lasted as long as it did if we’d hated each other as much as James likes to think,” he quipped.
On the future of automotive entertainment, Clarkson offered his perspective on the industry’s shift, echoing James May’s sentiments: “James May thinks there’s never been a more interesting time for how we move around and he’s probably right, but I don’t think it’s very interesting television. An electric car is no different from a chest freezer or a microwave oven. There’s no glamour or excitement. This week on Top Chest Freezer! I think it suits the written media more.”
While The Grand Tour concludes, Clarkson’s presence remains strong with his hit agricultural documentary series, Clarkson’s Farm, which continues to attract record audiences on Amazon Prime and is its most-watched original UK series.
Though The Grand Tour has ended “naturally,” Amazon’s UK unscripted head, Fozia Khan, hinted at possible new iterations of the brand with fresh hosts in the future, keeping the door open for new adventures to come.
Don’t miss the Top Gear Botswana special airing on BBC Two this Sunday, May 11 at 8 pm — a perfect reminder of the trio’s legendary journey through automotive entertainment.