James May leaves fans disappointed as ‘rubbish’ feature of new Channel 5 series sparks debate: ‘Hopefully one day!’
James May fans have issued a plea over his new Channel 5 series – James May’s Great Explorers – to be accessed across the pond after the first episode aired last night.
The new series sees the former Top Gear star host profiles of famous explorers, with the first episode beginning with Christopher Columbus.
Columbus may be celebrated as a national hero for “discovering” the USA – but he never set foot there.
May began by travelling to southwest Spain, from where these world-changing voyages began and took the helm of his own sailboat to test the cutting-edge sail technology.
It allowed ships to travel further than ever – and the rudimentary navigation techniques that Columbus had to rely on.
Fans in the UK were thrilled to see May back on their screen in some capacity – despite some noting it wasn’t the same without Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond.
However, May’s fans in the US were left upset they were unable to access the show and made a plea for the star to release the show overseas.
May posted on his X account ahead of the episode and said: ”It’s on at 2100 – Channel 5 on wireful telly and also My5 for wireless streaming. Nothing else on tonight, just rubbish.”
Fans were quick to flock to the comment section to issue their plea, as one asked: “Is it possible to watch this in the US?”
“How to watch in the US?” another penned before a third said: “Hoping for a USA broadcast as well!”
A fourth commented: “Just rubbish for me. I’m a b***** Yank. Hopefully I will get to see it someday. I do enjoy your shows. CHEERS!”
Someone else wrote: “Is it available anywhere to stream here in the US? I know you’re not a fan of us over here, but I do enjoy many of your shows.”
May saw the overwhelming plea from his American fans and replied: “I am a fan of you lot, despite what you do with peanut butter and ‘jelly’.”
The new series comes after The Grand Tour came to an end last year with a whopping 36 episodes being released in total.
Many were left devastated that the show came to an end, with May opening up about the reasons why during an appearance on Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch.
“I just couldn’t stand them!” he joked before continuing: “I’ve said this many times. We always said, between us, that we would end it with some race, hopefully, rather than fly into the White Cliffs of Dover, desperately trying to keep it along and I think we just about managed that.
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It’s on at 2100 – Channel 5 on wireful telly and also My5 for wireless streaming. Nothing else on tonight, just rubbish. pic.twitter.com/if69ESFzcG
— James May (@MrJamesMay) February 13, 2025
“We’d exhausted the subject, we are getting on a bit. I believe it’s time for a new generation to find a new take – I don’t know what it is… You can’t overstay your welcome.
“You’re supposed to leave the audience wanting more. It’s the rule of show business.”