Prime Video Unveils New Grand Tour Hosts For 2026

Prime Video’s hit motoring series, The Grand Tour, is gearing up for a dramatic relaunch later this year, introducing a new generation of presenters after the departure of its iconic trio. On February 5, 2026, Prime Video confirmed that Francis Bourgeois, James Engelsman, and Thomas Holland will take the wheel for the show’s upcoming seventh season, marking a bold departure from the familiar faces of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May, who ended their celebrated run in 2024.

The announcement, which reverberated through automotive and entertainment circles alike, comes after months of speculation over who would inherit the keys to one of television’s most beloved franchises. The new hosts bring a distinctly fresh energy and background to the series: Bourgeois, a viral trainspotting sensation, joins forces with Engelsman and Holland, the duo behind the wildly popular YouTube channel Throttle House. Together, they represent a new breed of automotive storytelling—one shaped by social media and digital-first audiences.

Bourgeois, whose real name is Luke Nicolson, has risen to internet stardom with his infectious enthusiasm for trains, amassing nearly six million followers across TikTok and Instagram. Beyond his online persona, he’s also a qualified mechanical engineer with professional experience at Rolls-Royce, and he’s known for his uncanny ability to identify vehicles by the sound of their engines. His previous television work includes hosting Channel 4’s Trainspotting with Francis Bourgeois, where his passion for all things transport shone alongside celebrity guests.

Engelsman and Holland, meanwhile, have cultivated a massive following through Throttle House, a channel boasting millions of subscribers and 75 million annual viewers. Their content—ranging from car reviews to high-octane track tests—has made them household names among car enthusiasts. Holland, originally from Canada and trained in biology, founded the channel in 2015 before teaming up with Engelsman, a UK native, in 2018. Their partnership began at a Miata car owner gathering and quickly evolved into a full-fledged creative venture.

The new six-episode season promises a globe-trotting adventure, with the trio tackling challenges across Angola, Malaysia, and California. Viewers can expect scenes of the team navigating the Angolan desert in track vehicles, immersing themselves in Malaysia’s vibrant car culture, and putting American performance cars to the test on California’s famed highways. According to Variety, the show’s producers are intent on preserving the DNA of the franchise—big adventure, big horsepower, and big laughs—while injecting a new spirit of camaraderie and youthful exuberance.

Replacing Clarkson, Hammond, and May is no small feat, and the new hosts have not shied away from acknowledging the challenge. “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, as reported by Deadline and The Independent. Holland added with typical humor, “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.’” Engelsman, reflecting on his partnership with Holland and the new dynamic, 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.”

Amazon and Studio Lambert, the production company now helming the series, have expressed confidence in their new stars. Tara Erer, Head of UK & Northern Europe Originals at Prime Video, stated, “The Grand Tour is Prime Video’s most watched unscripted UK Original series globally, so 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.”

Studio Lambert, known for successes like The Traitors and Gogglebox, took over production from Expectation in 2024, signaling a new creative direction for the show. Executive producers Phil Churchward, Tim Harcourt, Stephen Lambert, Alex Renton, and Nia Yemoh, alongside production executives Hilary Berkshire and Diana Focke, are overseeing the transition. The new season will launch globally across more than 240 countries and territories on Prime Video later in 2026, according to Variety.

The outgoing trio—Clarkson, Hammond, and May—left an indelible mark on the franchise. Their final special aired in September 2024, closing an eight-year chapter that began after their departure from Top Gear in 2015. Their production company, W Chump & Sons, was dissolved in July 2024, marking the end of an era. Clarkson, now in his mid-60s, cited the physical demands of The Grand Tour as a reason for stepping back and has since found success with Clarkson’s Farm, another Prime Video hit. Hammond and May continue to pursue various television and radio projects.

Reflecting on the transition, Hammond told Metro in September 2024, “If you’re making any show that at its heart has a subject, whether it’s cooking, dancing or cars, the hosts, the primary makers of it, have to have that passion in their heart. And we always did.” He emphasized that the show’s appeal was never limited to car geeks alone, but the hosts’ genuine enthusiasm was essential to its success.

For the new trio, the path ahead is both daunting and exhilarating. Their backgrounds—rooted in digital media, engineering, and journalism—mirror the changing landscape of entertainment, where content creators wield influence rivaling traditional TV stars. As Deadline noted, British broadcasters are increasingly turning to YouTube personalities to engage younger audiences and revitalize established formats.

With the baton officially passed, fans and critics alike are eager to see how Bourgeois, Engelsman, and Holland will steer The Grand Tour into its next chapter. Will they win over die-hard fans of the original lineup? Or will they chart a course that brings new energy and a broader audience to the franchise? One thing’s for certain: the road ahead promises plenty of surprises, horsepower, and, if the new hosts have anything to say about it, a fair share of laughs.

As The Grand Tour prepares for its global return, the world will be watching to see if this new trio can keep the engine running on one of television’s most enduring motoring adventures.