Original The Grand Tour presenters Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May joined their new successor trio at London's Tower Bridge on September 2.
The launch event brought the veteran hosts face to face with Francis Bourgeois, James Engelsman and Thomas Holland ahead of the motoring show returning to Amazon Prime Video on September 4.
The upcoming season marks the return of the series after Clarkson, Hammond and May previously bid farewell to viewers in September 2024 with a final special episode titled One For The Road.
The Grand Tour is a British motoring television series created for Amazon Prime Video, the global subscription video streaming service operated by Amazon. Launched in 2016, the high-budget show features vehicular challenges, international road trips and vehicle reviews conducted across worldwide locations.
Clarkson, Hammond and May became household names across the globe during their decades-long tenure hosting the BBC television show Top Gear. After departing the British public broadcaster, the three journalists signed with Amazon to launch The Grand Tour, establishing a screen partnership known for lighthearted banter, physical comedy and automotive adventures.
Handover of the presenting duties
Although Clarkson, Hammond and May ended their roles as regular presenters of the show years ago, the original hosts will not disappear completely from the upcoming broadcast. All three presenters are set to make guest appearances throughout the new season.
In the first episode of the new season, the original trio will take part in a handing over of the baton to their successors. The symbolic handover took physical form on September 2 when both lineups assembled together at Tower Bridge, the landmark suspension bridge spanning the River Thames in central London.
Tower Bridge, constructed between 1886 and 1894, is one of the most recognizable landmarks in London, featuring dual towers connected by horizontal walkways and bascules that open to allow river traffic to pass. The location provided the backdrop for the generational handover between the two presenting teams.
The new presenting lineup
The new hosting team brings together three figures with distinct backgrounds in digital content creation. Francis Bourgeois gained widespread popularity on social media platforms for his passionate trainspotting videos and distinctive personal enthusiasm for railway locomotives.
Bourgeois became a viral internet sensation in the United Kingdom by recording his reactions to passing trains using a head-mounted fisheye camera. His cheerful enthusiasm for British rail transport built him a massive online audience across platforms such as TikTok and Instagram.
The remaining two presenters, Thomas Holland and James Engelsman, are the creators behind Throttle House, an automotive YouTube channel focused on car evaluations. The pair have established a substantial following by producing vehicle reviews, track tests and side-by-side drag races.
Throttle House is a popular online video channel that evaluates high-performance sports cars, sedans and everyday vehicles with a mix of cinematic production and comedic commentary. Holland and Engelsman have spent years testing vehicles on racetracks and highways across North America.
A new direction for the show
During promotional events for the upcoming season, Bourgeois, Holland and Engelsman indicated that they do not intend to act as direct copies of Clarkson, Hammond and May. Instead, the incoming presenters said they plan to bring their own distinct personalities and style to the long-running motoring format.
The return of the automotive show on September 4 comes as fans prepare to see how the new format balances its established motoring roots with the fresh perspectives of its new presenting team.
