Jeremy Clarkson’s response to new Grand Tour hosts as they all appear at series premiere

Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond have been replaced as hosts of The Grand Tour

New The Grand Tour presenter Francis Bourgeois has said the support of the show’s former hosts Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond has been “an absolute superpower”.

The 26-year-old will present the new series of the Prime Video motoring show alongside social media stars Thomas Holland and James Englesman.

Former Top Gear hosts Clarkson, Hammond, and May fronted the programme from 2016 to 2024 before they decided to leave. So when the streamer decided to bring it back this September, they replaced the hosts.

Speaking at the London premiere of the forthcoming series, Bourgeois, who is known for his trainspotting videos on social media, told the Press Association about his predecessors’ support: “They’ve been so warm and open. It’s that transition point where they know it’s going into nice, right hands, to have them, and to have their blessing is an absolute superpower.”

But his co-star Holland was quick to point out the new hosting team would avoid taking on similar roles to Clarkson, Hammond and May.

He added: “I mean there’s similarities between any of us and any other people right? Especially in the car world. You’re going to align with somebody on some things and disagree with them on others, that’s just kind of the nature of car enthusiasm right?”

Englesman added: “We’ve been presenting in our own worlds separately for so long, it’s more of a case of how we gel together rather than falling into the grooves of the old guys.”

The motoring journalist, who is from Canada, is best known for co-presenting YouTube channel Throttle House, with fellow Canadian Holland. Bourgeois, whose real name is Luke Nicolson, added that the trio’s relationship had built up a year before filming began, with Englesman calling Bourgeois “the missing ingredient”.

Clarkson, Hammond and May will make guest appearances during the forthcoming season, and the trio were there to support the new hosts at the premiere of the new series on Wednesday (September 2) evening.

The new series of The Grand Tour launches on Prime Video on September 4