The Grand Tour, Amazon Prime Video’s motoring entertainment series, is set to return with a new presenting lineup. The announcement, made on , marks a significant shift for the show, two years after Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May concluded their run with a final special in .
The streaming service has confirmed that Francis Bourgeois, James Engelsman, and Thomas Holland will take the helm for the seventh season. The new trio will front a six-part series, promising to tackle “motoring’s most pressing questions” across challenging global terrains, according to Prime Video.
Bourgeois, a transport enthusiast who gained prominence as a viral “trainspotter” on social media, brings a unique profile to the show. He has amassed a substantial following online and possesses a technical background, having previously worked with Rolls-Royce. Engelsman and Holland form the core of the new presenting team, operating as the creators of the popular YouTube channel Throttle House, which boasts 3.35 million subscribers and tens of millions of annual views.
Holland is described as a professional motoring journalist, amateur racing driver, and expert on performance cars, while Engelsman is a dedicated enthusiast with extensive knowledge of the automotive world. Their established partnership, spanning nearly a decade of car film production, is expected to provide a solid foundation for the new series.
The upcoming season will see the presenters navigate a diverse range of challenges. Planned segments include traversing the Angolan desert in track cars, exploring Malaysia’s car culture, and testing America’s latest performance vehicles in California. This commitment to adventure and high-performance motoring aims to honour the legacy of the original presenters while forging a new path for the show.
Andy Wilman, the producer who oversaw both Top Gear and The Grand Tour, expressed confidence in the new lineup. “We are really pleased to pass the baton to Thomas, James and Francis, because quite simply – they’re doing it right,” Wilman said, as reported by Variety. “Not only do they have the passion and knowledge, but more importantly, they aren’t just pale imitations of the old trio. There’s a fantastic chemistry between them.”
The transition follows a period of speculation regarding the future of The Grand Tour after Clarkson, Hammond, and May’s departure. Rumours of the new presenters began circulating in May , with confirmation coming from former Top Gear producer Jim Wiseman in December during an appearance on the Road to Success podcast. Wiseman also revealed that the outgoing trio would participate in a “handing down ceremony” for their successors, adding a layer of continuity to the change.
The Grand Tour has been a significant success for Prime Video, becoming its most-watched unscripted UK Original series globally. The selection of Bourgeois, Engelsman, and Holland reflects a deliberate effort to maintain the show’s appeal while introducing a fresh perspective. The challenge for the new presenters will be to build upon the established fanbase and demonstrate their ability to deliver the same blend of automotive expertise, humour, and adventure that defined the original series.
The new series is being produced by Studio Lambert. Prime Video’s Head of UK & Northern Europe Originals, Tara Erer, stated that finding the right successors was a “no small feat,” but expressed confidence that the new team represents a “strike of gold.”
Francis Bourgeois himself acknowledged the challenge of following in the footsteps of Clarkson, Hammond, and May, stating, “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 added, “I’ve worked with Thomas for almost a decade making car films. Who knew that all this time, the one ingredient that was missing was a Francis Bourgeois? Let the car adventures commence.”
