Jeremy Clarkson backs new Grand Tour hosts as series returns Sep 4

The Prime Video hit The Grand Tour is set to return on Friday 4 September with a brand‑new trio of presenters. Former Top Gear stars Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May have all signed off on the new lineup, giving the incoming motorheads a supportive hand‑shake before filming began.

Replacing the original hosts are social‑media star and train enthusiast Francis Bourgeois, along with YouTubers Thomas Holland and James Engelsman, best known for their motoring channel Throttle House. The trio were welcomed by the outgoing trio in a series of brief, candid comments.

“They’ve been very supportive, very warm, very open in just saying, ‘Go ahead – make it your own,’ even though we have been sensitive in honouring what the show is all about, and keeping car enthusiasm central,” Bourgeois told The Independent days before the new season’s premiere on Prime Video.

Holland admitted the initial conversation was “a lot of trepidation and fear” when he was first approached about becoming one of the new hosts, but he added “Obviously I was going to do it.” His approach was praised for its simplicity, with Holland explaining that “His sentiment was, ‘Don’t ask me – just do your thing,’” and that “It was the right thing to hear. It was like Yoda.”

Engelsman echoed the supportive vibe, noting that “It was a huge green flag early on,” and that the team “all had the same reaction – ‘but he’s the train guy.’ But he’s also the car guy.” The new trio’s varied backgrounds were highlighted by Bourgeois’s six‑month stint as a mechanical engineer at Rolls‑Royce and his viral train‑spotting videos that have amassed millions of followers on TikTok and Instagram.

Bourgeois is also a model, having collaborated with brands such as Gucci and The North Face, and he authored a book titled The Trainspotter’s Notebook. He also hosted the Channel 4 digital series Trainspotting with Francis Bourgeois, which featured appearances from footballer Jesse Lingard and musicians Sam Ryder and AJ Tracey.

Holland, originally from Canada, studied biology before founding Throttle House in 2015 “out of boredom.” The channel initially focused on BMW builds and occasional car reviews, but gained momentum when Engelsman joined in 2018. Engelsman, from the UK, became part of the channel after suggesting ideas to Holland and asking to be part of his videos, and the duo’s first meeting in person took place at a gathering of Miata car owners.

On the day of the premiere, the original hosts were in attendance at the Tower of London, where they posed for a selfie with the new stars. Clarkson later shared the image on Instagram with the tongue‑in‑cheek caption: “Grand Tour handover. Good luck guys.”

In a brief interview, Clarkson admitted he had warned the new presenters “not to f**k it up.” The advice was echoed by other former staff, with Andy Wilman stating “We – as in the outgoing team – don’t have a monopoly on some blokes doing entertaining things around cars.” Wilman also noted that when Amazon announced the return of The Grand Tour he was “all happy to get involved.”

The original trio stepped down from the show in 2024 after six series, and the new hosts will take over the mantle for the upcoming season. The series is set to launch on Prime Video on Friday 4 September, marking the first full season of The Grand Tour without Clarkson, Hammond and May as its main presenters.