The Grand Tour is trending again in the UK after Prime Video/Amazon confirmed a major change: the long-running motoring-adventure franchise is returning with a new line-up of presenters. For fans who grew up with Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May, any reboot talk is always going to spark a mixture of curiosity, skepticism, and nostalgia — and this week’s official announcement lit the fuse.
Context
On 5 February 2026, Amazon’s UK newsroom announced that The Grand Tour will return to Prime Video later this year with a fresh trio of presenters: Francis Bourgeois, plus James Engelsman and Thomas Holland (the creators behind the popular car-review YouTube channel Throttle House). Amazon describes the new run as a six-part series that keeps the globe-trotting DNA of the show, with trips and challenges spanning multiple countries and terrains.
The announcement also leans into what the franchise has historically done best: using cars as a starting point for bigger “adventure comedy” set pieces. In the same release, Amazon teases the new presenters crossing the Angolan desert in track cars, exploring Malaysia’s car culture, and then heading to California to test performance cars in the US.
For many viewers, the timing matters. Clarkson, Hammond and May’s era became a cultural staple first through Top Gear, then in The Grand Tour, with a tone that mixed genuine automotive enthusiasm with travel, challenges, and a strong “mates on a mission” chemistry. Amazon’s note explicitly frames the new trio not as clones of the old line-up, but as a new team meant to keep the spirit of the format while modernising the energy.
Key sources: Amazon’s official announcement via About Amazon UK; and coverage highlighting the broader industry reaction from outlets including Variety and Deadline.
Reactions
The online conversation has split into a few predictable camps:
- Nostalgia-first fans are treating any new version as a sequel to a very specific era of TV, and their main question is whether the new hosts can recreate the same “three friends” banter that powered the original.
- Format-first fans (people who loved the challenges, cinematography, locations, and production style) are more optimistic — especially because Throttle House has a proven track record of high-quality automotive filmmaking and a large existing audience.
- Curious newcomers see the new trio as an accessible entry point. Francis Bourgeois brings a non-traditional motoring-celebrity profile, while Holland and Engelsman bring credibility from years of car-review storytelling.
Amazon’s own quotes help explain why the topic is blowing up: the company calls The Grand Tour its most-watched unscripted UK Original series globally, which raises the stakes of any reboot. In other words, this isn’t just a niche relaunch — it’s a strategic bet on one of Prime Video’s largest entertainment brands.
There’s also an internet-era dynamic at play. The new hosts are already “native” to social platforms (especially YouTube), meaning every clip, behind-the-scenes moment, and teaser can travel faster than a traditional TV marketing cycle. That alone can amplify trend spikes whenever new details land.
Future Outlook
What happens next will likely depend on three things: (1) the first trailer, (2) the first full episode, and (3) how clearly the series communicates what it is trying to be.
If the reboot tries too hard to mimic Clarkson/Hammond/May, it risks constant comparison. But if it leans into what makes the new trio distinct — different comedic rhythms, different car tastes, and a different relationship to the modern internet — it has a chance to feel like an evolution rather than a replacement.
Expect more trend spikes as Amazon confirms an exact release date and drops footage of the biggest set pieces. The show’s six-part format also suggests each episode could be marketed as a mini-event, which is ideal for the “weekly conversation” cycle that keeps franchises alive online.
Watch points: official Prime Video teasers; any episode-location announcements; and how the reboot balances car reviews versus adventure challenges — because that ratio often determines whether viewers see it as a true Grand Tour successor or a different show wearing the same badge.
Sources
- Amazon UK (official): https://www.aboutamazon.co.uk/the-grand-tour-returns-with-new-hosts
- Variety coverage: https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/the-grand-tour-new-hosts-1236653214/
- Deadline coverage: https://deadline.com/2026/02/the-grand-tour-francis-bourgeois-hosting-amazon-series-1236709805/