The baton has been officially passed. Francis Bourgeois, Thomas Holland and James Engelsman have earned the blessing of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May as they prepare to steer The Grand Tour into a new era.
In exclusive comments to The Update Desk, the incoming hosts revealed the advice — and at times, encouragement — they received from the show’s founding trio ahead of filming the new season, which drops on Prime Video this Friday (4 September).
The Pressure of Filling Iconic Shoes
When Holland first received the call about joining The Grand Tour, fear quickly set in.
“There was a lot of trepidation and fear,” Holland admitted. “Do I do this? Obviously I was going to do it.”
The Canadian-born presenter, who founded the popular Throttle House YouTube channel in 2015, knew the enormity of what he was stepping into. Replacing Clarkson, Hammond and May was never going to be straightforward.
Yet the support from the original hosts proved unexpectedly warm.
“They’ve been very supportive, very warm, very open,” Bourgeois told The Update Desk. “They just said, ‘Go ahead — make it your own,’ even though we’ve been sensitive in honouring what the show is all about, keeping car enthusiasm central.”
May took a more minimalist approach. His entire piece of advice? “Don’t ask me — just do your thing.”
“It was the right thing to hear,” Holland explained. “It was like Yoda.”
Executive producer Andy Willman revealed on TellyCast that Clarkson was particularly satisfied with his assessment of the new presenters — confirming they weren’t “s***” before offering his endorsement. Clarkson even appeared in episode one, telling viewers: “I have been watching what they have been up to and I think you are going to love it.”
From TikTok Virality to Prime Video
Of the three new hosts, Bourgeois — real name Luke Nicolson — brings the most unconventional pedigree to the driver’s seat.
The 24-year-old shot to fame through his infectiously enthusiastic trainspotting videos, which regularly went viral across TikTok and Instagram. His online popularity even attracted celebrity fans including Joe Jonas and the Prince and Princess of Wales.
Five years ago, the notion of hosting a major motoring show would have seemed absurd to him.
“If you’d told me I’d be replacing Clarkson, I’d have considered what kind of mushrooms were on my al funghi pizza,” he joked.
Yet beneath the train obsession lies serious automotive credentials. Bourgeois spent six months working as a mechanical engineer at Rolls-Royce, a fact that reassured his co-hosts early in the casting process.
“We all had the same reaction — ‘but he’s the train guy,'” Engelsman recalled. “But he’s also the car guy.”
The synergy proved crucial. Engelsman, from the UK, joined Throttle House in 2018 after approaching Holland with video ideas. The pair’s first meeting occurred at a Miata car owners’ gathering.
Beyond social media, Bourgeois has branched into modelling, collaborating with luxury brands including Gucci and The North Face. He has authored The Trainspotter’s Notebook and hosted Channel 4’s digital series Trainspotting with Francis Bourgeois, featuring cameos from footballer Jesse Lingard and musicians Sam Ryder and AJ Tracey.
For fans sceptical about this new chapter, Holland offered a simple plea: “Give it a go.”
Why it Matters
The Grand Tour’s succession represents more than a simple presenter change — it marks a pivotal moment in how traditional broadcast formats embrace the creators who have already captured younger audiences on digital platforms. By handpicking social media personalities with devoted followings, Clarkson and company’s blessing signals a rare instance of generational respect in an industry often defined by rivalry. Whether this fusion of YouTube authenticity and television heritage can satisfy both existing fans and newcomers will shape not only the show’s future but potentially how major streaming platforms approach presenter transitions going forward.
