Amazon Prime Video
Why ‘The Grand Tour’ Reboot With Younger Hosts Might Be a Total Car Crash
Amazon Prime Video is playing with fire—and potentially burning rubber in the worst way—as it revs up a reboot of The Grand Tour without Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May. The decision to replace the iconic trio with younger, social media-savvy hosts is being met with profound scepticism—and not just from die-hard petrolheads. Stepping into what can only be described as the most intimidating driver’s seat in automotive TV are YouTubers Thomas Holland and James Engelsman, known for their popular channel Throttle House, and Francis Bourgeois, a quirky trainspotting influencer famous for his GoPro enthusiasm and niche charisma.
Sure, on paper, it’s a flashy update. Throttle House boasts over 3 million subscribers, and Francis Bourgeois brings in millions of followers on Instagram and TikTok. But as many fans have already pointed out, social media clout doesn’t automatically translate into television gold, especially when you’re inheriting a legacy as revered as The Grand Tour.
The original trio weren’t just “car guys.” Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May were lightning in a bottle: equal parts chemistry, charisma, and chaos. Their dynamic wasn’t manufactured—it evolved organically over decades, from Top Gear to The Grand Tour, creating the blueprint for how cars and comedy collide. Trying to replicate that with a younger lineup feels less like evolution and more like desperation.
And it’s not just viewers raising eyebrows. Automotive critics and longtime fans are questioning whether the new hosts, while no doubt competent and knowledgeable, can deliver the effortless banter and storytelling that made their predecessors icons. Hosting a YouTube video in a controlled studio is one thing; entertaining millions across multiple continents with big-budget production and sky-high expectations is another.
Even the platform switch is risky. Social media influencers often struggle to migrate their audience across platforms, especially when moving from casual, short-form content to structured long-form television. Will Bourgeois’ trainspotting fans care about high-octane road trips and supercar challenges? Will Throttle House viewers follow their favorite hosts into a more scripted, high-stakes environment?
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It’s a tall order—and Amazon Prime Video seems to be betting big that youth and follower counts will carry the show forward with the Grand Tour reboot.
But for many fans, The Grand Tour ended the moment Jeremy Clarkson said goodbye. This reboot feels less like a pit stop and more like a last-ditch attempt to keep the engine running on fumes. Unless the new team can deliver not just specs and stunts, but soul, the reboot may stall before it even gets out of first gear.
