The Grand Tour confirms highly anticipated return date with HUGE social media stars taking over from Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May

The Grand Tour has confirmed its highly anticipated return date with social media stars taking over from Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May.

The motoring series, which airs on Amazon’s Prime Video, has seen a shake-up of presenters after its original stars departed from the show as Jeremy, 66, admitted they were running low on ideas and becoming ‘unfit, fat and old’. 

In February, it was revealed that the popular series will be hosted by new faces, YouTubers Thomas Holland and James Engelsman, and TikTok sensation Francis Bourgeois.

And now Prime Video has confirmed that the six-part series will return to the platform on September 4. 

New co-host Francis said: ‘Since completing the filming of the series, I haven’t stopped replaying every moment in my head.

‘It has made me laugh, made my heart race and my stomach turn…remembering the tent I shared with Thomas and James filled with sulphuric farts whilst Angolan jackals snooped around outside.

The motoring series, which airs on Amazon’s Prime Video, has seen a shake-up of presenters after its original stars departed from the show as Jeremy, 66, admitted they were running low on ideas and becoming ‘unfit, fat and old’

Now Prime Video has confirmed that the six-part series will return to the platform on September 4

‘It feels as though it was a dream but knowing we will get to share our adventures soon makes me so incredibly excited.’

Meanwhile, James revealed some of the daring challenges that they took part in.

He shared: ‘We took on the West African Desert. We contended with fighter pilots. We even decided to challenge an entire nation’s legal system by protesting from the mountain tops.

‘In doing so, the three of us learned our true strength: How to accept defeat gracefully.’

YouTuber Thomas insisted that they filmed most of the scenes on their own.

He added: ‘I figured someone would be there to hold our hand the whole time. Nope.

‘We were on our own in some absolutely wild environments in very, VERY questionable cars. What did we learn from this experience?

‘Only that we have very poor decision-making skills. When you watch in September, expect a good laugh. And maybe a few butt clenches…’

The trio will tackle motoring’s most pressing, and delightfully absurd, questions across some of the world’s most challenging terrains.

From crossing the Angolan desert in track cars to exploring Malaysia’s vibrant car culture, before heading to California to test cutting-edge performance cars. 

Petrol heads Thomas and James host their own YouTube show Throttle House, in which they test and review cars, which impressively boasts over 3.2 million subscribers.

While Francis, real name Luke Magnus Nicolson, is best known for his love of trainspotting – with over 6 million followers between his social media accounts. 

He counts the Prince and Princess of Wales and Stormzy as fans. 

Canadian biology graduate Thomas initially launched his YouTube channel in 2015 ‘out of boredom’ – and was joined three years later by fan James. 

Meanwhile, since his first TikTok clip, back in February 2021, Francis has risen to social media superstardom.

After soaring to fame thanks to his eccentric and loveable trainspotting videos, Francis has gone on to interview stars including Louis Theroux, Craig David, Sheridan Smith and Tom Daley.

Previously speaking about his hobby during an interview with This Morning, he said: ‘I was just fixated by these big machines. Ever since, I’ve had a passion for trains, cars, planes.’

In 2023, Francis was joined by his most royal fans, the Prince and Princess of Wales as they brushed shoulders with the internet royalty during a hilarious video. 

Jeremy, Richard and James bowed out of The Grand Tour in September last year [pictured on the show in 2022]

Francis commands a following of millions, with his TikTok account boasting more than 3.3 million fans, while his Instagram has 2.4 million (pictured: Francis at the BRITs in 2023) 

Jeremy, Richard and James bowed out of The Grand Tour in September 2024. 

The original series followed the trio on a worldwide mission to meet different car manufacturers and had been on air since 2016, following their departure from Top Gear two years earlier.

Their exit marked an emotional end of an era for the trio, who first started working together on Top Gear more than two decades ago.

Since then, the trio have featured in Amazon Prime Video’s The Not Very Grand Tour which aired its first episode on April 18 earlier this year.

While Jeremy returned to the world of motoring TV after filming an episode of Car SOS.

Jeremy’s appearance on the motoring show came just months after the final episode of The Grand Tour aired in September.

Meanwhile, Richard and James reminisced on their time on Top Gear as they took a ‘traumatising’ visit to their old studio – ten years on from their final show.

In a video released on James May’s YouTube series, Planet Gin, the duo decided to revisit the office for ‘reasons unknown’.

Petrolheads Thomas (pictured) and James host their own YouTube show Throttle House, in which they test and review cars, which impressively boasts over 3.2 million subscribers

James (pictured) joined Thomas’s YouTube channel after reaching out as a fan 

James began: ‘That is the old Top Gear studio, and that is the old Top Gear green room.’

Walking around the complex they pushed open the door to one of the abandoned trailers and reminisced on their days on set.

Richard said: ‘It smells the same, terrible. It’s weird it seems like only yesterday but also 100 years ago.

‘This is where we assembled, worked on scripts, had arguments. I feel funny. I feel funny as well. I felt really odd being here. Every week we would come here for years and years and years.’

James said: ‘The smell of it is almost traumatising… do you think if I opened this door we’d slip through a portal and be back in 2000 and whatever it was?

‘I sort of want to find something that we left here.’

Richard joked: ‘What like? Hope, ambition, vigour? The last time I was here, I was leaving after the last studio record.

‘I was in the bronze Land Rover. And I sat up and thought, well, that was that.’