Jeremy Clarkson eyed to be replaced as The Grand Tour host by ‘social media sensation’
The Grand Tour bosses are thought to be eyeing a ‘social media sensation’ to replace Jeremy Clarkson at the head of the programme.
The 64-year-old presenter, along with co-hosts James May and Richard Hammond, concluded their run on the Prime Video series last year.
The trio’s final special, One For The Road, aired in September 2024, marking the end of their time together on the show.
However, it has been confirmed that The Grand Tour will continue with a new iteration and a new host.
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TikTok trainspotting sensation Francis Bourgeois is reportedly the name being pushed as the new helm of the show.
“Francis is a big noise online and Amazon producers are hoping to bring him into the mainstream,” an insider told The Sun.
“He is loved by everyone – from royals to rappers – and is sure to be a hit with Grand Tour viewers.
“Francis is not just a social media sensation but trained as a mechanical engineer so knows his stuff,” they continued.
Bourgeois rose to fame in 2021 when his trainspotting videos filmed using a GoPro camera went viral on TikTok.
The trainspotter from Harlesden, London, studied mechanical engineering at the University of Nottingham and was briefly hired by Rolls-Royce.
His popularity has led to collaborations with celebrities, including Jonas Brothers singer Joe Jonas and appearances in adverts for The North Face and Gucci.
In 2022, he even landed his own Channel 4 series where he takes celebrities on trainspotting adventures, including comedian Aisling Bea and Love Island’s Chloe Burrows.
After the final episode with the original trio, Hammond confirmed to Metro that the show would continue without them.
“It will be carrying on. The Grand Tour continues,” he said.
“We’re stepping away as the hosts, but Prime will be continuing it. So I can’t wait to sit on my own chair and watch somebody else do it. That’s amazing,” Hammond added.
However, Amazon Prime recently revealed it will release four retrospective episodes of The Grand Tour, which will reflect on the series’ best moments.
The first special, The Not Very Grand Tour: The Power And The Glory, will see Hammond and May “celebrate the glory of the internal combustion engine” by looking back at the series.
Clarkson, May and Hammond began presenting The Grand Tour in 2016, the year after they departed the BBC when Clarkson was sacked for punching a Top Gear producer.