The Grand Tour co-creator Andy Wilman has confirmed that original hosts Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May will be making cameo appearances in the new season, alongside their replacements. Wilman revealed the plan with 3Bs radio at the Buckingham Literary Festival, via The Independent.
“We’ve got three guys coming soon with a new Grand Tour and we’ve got behind them,” said Wilman. “We’re really supporting them.”
“Our guys are in the shows doing cameos, so we’re wishing them well because we do want to pass that baton on.”
Wilman co-created The Grand Tour with Clarkson, Hammond, and May for Prime Video, and it premiered in late 2016. The show was established after Wilman, Hammond, and May departed the BBC in the wake of Clarkson’s suspension and subsequent sacking from the hugely popular Top Gear. Well over a decade prior, Wilman and Clarkson co-created the revived version of Top Gear that we know today, which debuted in 2002.
The Grand Tour officially revealed its new host line-up back in February, which consists of motoring journalists Thomas Holland and James Engelsman – an existing duo from successful motoring YouTube channel Throttle House – and trainspotting UK social media personality Francis Bourgeois. It was recently confirmed that the new six-episode season will arrive on Prime this September.
While limited to cameos, the involvement of Clarkson, Hammond, and May does position The Grand Tour rather differently to Top Gear, which went through a revolving line-up of hosts after the original trio left – to mixed critic and audience reactions. Top Gear saw eight different hosts from 2016 up until the show was put on ice in 2023.
Luke is a Senior Editor on the IGN reviews team. You can track him down on Bluesky @mrlukereilly to ask him things about stuff.
