Prime Video has tapped Francis Bourgeois, Thomas Holland and James Engelsmann to helm a revamped “The Grand Tour,” which will return with a new lineup later this year, two years after Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May ended their appearances.
In the six-episode series, Bourgeois, a trainspotter turned gas enthusiast, teams up with the YouTube automotive duo behind Throttle House for a globe-trotting automotive adventure. The new game promises challenges in a variety of locations, from traversing the Angolan desert in a truck fleet, to immersing yourself in the Malaysian car scene, to testing American performance cars in California.
Studio Lambert is producing the series and aims to usher in a new chapter with young talent while maintaining the series’ DNA.
“The phrase ‘big shoes to wear’ comes to mind. Well, in this case it would be like Mo Farah running in size 14 rain boots. It would be a little awkward at first and probably prone to blisters, but overall it would be an interesting watch,” Bourgeois said.
Holland brought his signature humor to the presentation. “When I first heard that I was going to reboot ‘The Grand Tour’ and replace Clarkson-Hammond and May, I said, ‘Only a fool would take that job.'”
Engelsmann commented on the evolution of the partnership with the Netherlands: “I’ve been working on a car movie with Thomas for almost 10 years. Who knew the only ingredient missing all this time was Francis Bourgeois? Let the car adventure begin.”
Tara Eller, Prime Video’s head of UK and Scandinavian originals, highlighted the risks involved in recasting the streamer’s most-watched unscripted UK original series globally.
“Finding the right successor was not an easy task, but we definitely struck gold,” Eller said. “We are thrilled to hand over the keys to Thomas, James and Francis, three outstanding talents who emerged from our extensive research. Each brings a unique flair and energy that will push the series into exciting new territory, while capturing the spirit of adventure and camaraderie of this beloved series.”
Original executive producer Andy Willman added, “We’re really happy to be passing the baton to Thomas, James and Frances because, quite simply, they’re doing the right thing. Not only do they have passion and knowledge, but more importantly, they’re by no means just three old cutouts. They all have great chemistry that they’ve created for themselves.”
Tim Harcourt, Chief Creative Officer at Studio Lambert, said: “At the heart of ‘The Grand Tour’ is humor and a genuine love of cars. From Angola and Malaysia to California and Didcot Parkway, we’re thrilled to have found and captured this incredible new trio who are spreading these values around the world.”
Holland and Engelsmann gained many fans through their YouTube channel, Throttle House, which boasts millions of subscribers and 75 million viewers annually. Based in Canada, Holland specializes in performance cars and works as an automotive journalist and amateur race car driver. Engelsmann, on the other hand, has an enthusiast’s perspective, including being the owner of a Toyota Century limousine originally built for Japan’s imperial family.
Bourgeois has a social media audience of nearly 6 million people, primarily through his Trainspotting content. However, the British national is also a qualified mechanical engineer with professional experience at Rolls-Royce. His technical expertise extends to identifying the make of a vehicle just by the sound of its engine.
Phil Churchward, Tim Harcourt, Stephen Lambert, Alex Renton and Nia Yemo will serve as executive producers for Studio Lambert, with Hilary Berkshire and Diana Fokke serving as executive producers.
The new series will be available globally on Prime Video later this year in more than 240 countries and territories.
