Grand Tour returns this Friday with a new presenting trio

The Grand Tour returns to Prime Video this Friday with a new presenting team, replacing the original trio of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May.

The new line-up brings together Francis Bourgeois, the viral train spotter with more than 6 million followers on social media, and James Engelsman and Thomas Holland, the creators of the YouTube car channel Throttle House.

Executive producer and director Phil Churchward said the casting process was extensive, with producers interviewing and filming many candidates in different groups. "The key thing with the new show and replacing the old guard, as we call them, was to try and capture some of that magic and that chemistry that those guys had," he said.

Churchward admitted he was initially doubtful about Bourgeois, whose fame came from railways rather than cars. "I was very sceptical until he came in and started telling me about Mercedes model numbers going back to the 70s," he said. "I suddenly realised he has got the knowledge."

He also explained that the search was for people with genuine passion and varied knowledge, from engineering specialists to casual enthusiasts. The producers wanted presenters whose enthusiasm came across instantly.

Location planning involved finding countries and places the team had not visited before. Angola was chosen because of its significant motorsport scene, and the series finale features a street race. "Street races are always much more dangerous than the normal race circuits," Churchward noted, adding that health and safety is a major consideration.

Production remains a large-scale operation. About 50 crew members travel on shoots, each of the three presenters' cars carries three cameras, nine in total, and a tracking car with a camera team follows the hosts throughout. Drones, including fast FPV models, are used to add pace and cinematic coverage.

Churchward said the gap between traditional TV production and the background of the new presenters is narrowing, as consumer technology now allows creators to achieve high-quality images with relatively modest equipment. He said he is envious of the agility of YouTube creators, whose smaller setups allow them to react quickly, whereas his production operates with a much larger team and more kit.

The Grand Tour is available on Prime Video from this Friday.