Prime Video Reboots The Grand Tour With YouTube Stars

The world of motoring television is about to shift gears in a big way. On February 5, 2026, Prime Video officially announced a new era for its blockbuster car show, The Grand Tour, revealing a trio of fresh-faced presenters set to take the wheel: Francis Bourgeois, James Engelsman, and Thomas Holland. The move marks a dramatic generational shift for the franchise, which for years was helmed by the legendary trio of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May.

For fans, the news is both thrilling and bittersweet. After all, Clarkson, Hammond, and May had become synonymous with motoring adventures, first on Top Gear and then on The Grand Tour. Their chemistry, irreverent humor, and genuine passion for cars made the show a global phenomenon. But as Digital Spy reported, the trio wrapped up their run on The Grand Tour in 2024 after eight years, leaving viewers wondering who—if anyone—could fill their sizable shoes.

The answer, it turns out, lies in the world of social media and YouTube. Francis Bourgeois, a viral trainspotting sensation with nearly six million followers, joins forces with James Engelsman and Thomas Holland, the creative duo behind the wildly popular Throttle House YouTube channel. Engelsman and Holland have spent nearly a decade crafting car films together, amassing millions of subscribers and 75 million annual viewers, according to Variety. Their blend of expertise and on-camera camaraderie has resonated with a new generation of car enthusiasts.

Prime Video’s decision to tap younger, digitally native talent reflects a broader trend in the entertainment industry. As Deadline noted, British TV executives are increasingly obsessed with YouTube stars and the massive audiences they command. Tara Erer, Head of UK & Northern Europe Originals at Prime Video, acknowledged the challenge of recasting the streamer’s most-watched unscripted UK Original series globally. “Finding the right successors was no small feat – but we’ve absolutely struck gold. We’re beyond excited to pass the keys to Thomas, James, and Francis, three standout talents who emerged from an extensive search. Each bringing distinctive talents and energy that will propel the series into exciting new territory while capturing the spirit of adventure and camaraderie of this beloved franchise,” she said.

The new season—officially The Grand Tour’s seventh—will span six episodes and take the presenters on a globe-trotting journey. Viewers can expect high-octane challenges in the Angolan desert, deep dives into Malaysia’s vibrant car culture, and test drives of America’s latest performance cars in California. Studio Lambert, the All3Media-backed production house behind hits like The Traitors and Gogglebox, has taken over production duties from Expectation, aiming to preserve the DNA of the franchise while ushering in a new chapter.

Bourgeois, whose rise to fame began with viral trainspotting videos and a Channel 4 series, brings more than just infectious enthusiasm to the table. He is, as Digital Spy highlighted, a qualified mechanical engineer with professional experience at Rolls-Royce. His uncanny ability to identify cars by the sound of their engines is legendary among fans. “The saying ‘big shoes to fill’ spring to mind. Well, in this case it’ll be like Mo Farah running in Size 14 wellies — it’ll be a little awkward at first, perhaps blister inducing but will overall be an interesting watch,” Bourgeois quipped in the official announcement, as quoted by Variety.

Holland and Engelsman, meanwhile, have built Throttle House into one of YouTube’s premier automotive destinations. Holland, a Canadian automotive journalist and amateur race car driver, specializes in high-performance vehicles. Engelsman, an enthusiast with a penchant for unique cars (including a Toyota Century limousine built for Japanese royalty), brings his own brand of wit and insight. Engelsman remarked, “I’ve worked with Thomas for almost a decade making car films. Who knew that all this time, the one ingredient that was missing was a Francis Bourgeois? Let the car adventures commence.” Holland, never one to miss a joke, added, “When I first heard they were rebooting ‘The Grand Tour’ and replacing Clarkson Hammond and May, I said ‘only a moron would take that job.’”

The original trio’s departure was driven in part by the physical demands of the show. Jeremy Clarkson, now in his mid-60s, cited the “immensely physical” nature of The Grand Tour missions as a reason for stepping down, according to Deadline. He has since shifted focus to his other hit Prime Video show, Clarkson’s Farm, while Hammond is busy with his car restoration business, The Smallest Cog, and May runs a YouTube channel dedicated to classic cars.

Amazon’s gamble on digital stars is not without precedent. As Supercar Blondie pointed out, the streaming giant has a history of casting relatively unknown actors, betting that the platform itself can turn them into household names. The success of Alan Ritchson in Reacher is a case in point. With Bourgeois, Holland, and Engelsman, Amazon is hoping to replicate that magic—this time in the high-octane world of motoring entertainment.

Of course, fans have plenty of questions. Will the new presenters capture the same lightning-in-a-bottle chemistry that made Clarkson, Hammond, and May iconic? Will the format change, or will the show stick to its tried-and-true formula of epic road trips, absurd challenges, and plenty of banter? Amazon has promised that the new series will “honour the show’s legacy while driving it into a new era.” Studio Lambert’s chief creative officer, Tim Harcourt, offered reassurance: “The Grand Tour has humor and a pure love of cars at its heart. It’s been a delight to find and film a brilliant new trio who take these values across the world from Angola and Malaysia to California and Didcot Parkway.”

The executive production team for the new series includes Phil Churchward, Tim Harcourt, Stephen Lambert, Alex Renton, and Nia Yemoh, with Hilary Berkshire and Diana Focke as production executives. The show is set to launch globally across more than 240 countries and territories on Prime Video later in 2026, according to Variety.

As the baton is passed, even former executive producer Andy Wilman expressed confidence in the new lineup: “We are properly happy to hand over the baton to Thomas, James and Francis, because quite simply – they are doing it right. Not only do they have passion and knowledge, but more importantly they are in no way cardboard cutouts of the old three. They have a delightful chemistry that’s all of their own making.”

With a blend of youthful energy, technical expertise, and a genuine love for cars, the new presenters of The Grand Tour are poised to steer the franchise into uncharted territory. Whether they’ll become as beloved as their predecessors remains to be seen—but one thing’s for sure: the adventure is about to begin, and car lovers everywhere will be watching closely.