The Grand Tour Confirms Exciting New Hosting Trio For Upcoming Season
Amazon Prime Video has officially announced a fresh lineup of presenters for the highly anticipated seventh season of The Grand Tour, marking a significant new chapter for the beloved motoring series. Following months of intense speculation and industry rumours, the streaming giant has confirmed that Francis Bourgeois, James Engelsman, and Thomas Holland will be taking over hosting duties, stepping into the substantial shoes left by the departing original trio.
A New Era Begins For The Iconic Motoring Franchise
This major announcement comes two years after Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May presented their final special for the show, driving off into the Botswana sunset. The new season promises a six-part adventure series where the three hosts will tackle some of motoring's most pressing questions across the globe's most challenging and diverse terrains.
The confirmed itinerary includes ambitious journeys such as:
- Crossing the vast Angolan desert in specially prepared track cars
- Exploring Malaysia's vibrant and unique car culture in depth
- Heading to California to rigorously test America's latest high-performance vehicles
Meet The New Faces Behind The Wheel
The newly assembled presenting team brings a distinctive blend of expertise, personality, and digital savvy to the long-running franchise. Francis Bourgeois rose to viral fame as an enthusiastic trainspotter whose hilarious online content following trains captured the public's imagination. Beyond his social media presence, which boasts nearly six million followers, Bourgeois is a qualified mechanical engineer with professional experience at the prestigious Rolls-Royce.
Alongside him, James Engelsman and Thomas Holland are the acclaimed creators behind the popular YouTube automotive channel Throttle House, where they have built a substantial global following through their insightful reviews of both classic and contemporary vehicles. Their collaborative chemistry has been honed over almost a decade of creating car-focused films together.
Hosts Reflect On Their Monumental New Role
Discussing the daunting task of following in the footsteps of television legends, Francis Bourgeois offered a characteristically humorous perspective: 'The saying "big shoes to fill" springs 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.'
James Engelsman revealed his excitement about the new dynamic, noting: 'Who knew that all this time, the one ingredient that was missing was a Francis Bourgeois? Let the car adventures commence.' Thomas Holland provided a more candid initial reaction, recalling: '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."'
Amazon Executives Express Confidence In New Direction
Tara Erer, Head of UK & Northern Europe Originals for Amazon Prime, described the extensive search process and ultimate selection with evident enthusiasm. 'Finding the right successors was no small feat – but we've absolutely struck gold,' she stated. 'We're beyond excited to pass the keys to Thomas, James, and Francis, three standout talents who emerged from an extensive search. Each brings distinctive talents and energy that will propel the series into exciting new territory while capturing the spirit of adventure and camaraderie of this beloved franchise.'
Legacy And Future Of A Television Institution
This new chapter follows the remarkable television journey that began when Clarkson, Hammond, and May first hosted BBC's Top Gear from 2002 to 2015, before launching The Grand Tour on Amazon Prime in 2016. Their final special aired in 2024, with Richard Hammond previously expressing his own anticipation about the show's continuation. 'We're stepping away as the hosts, but Prime will be continuing it. So I can't wait to sit on my own chair and watch somebody else do it. That's amazing,' he told Metro.co.uk.
The Grand Tour is scheduled to return to Amazon Prime Video later this year, promising global adventures, automotive challenges, and the unique chemistry of its new presenting team to millions of subscribers worldwide.
