Jeremy Clarkson was left surprisingly jealous after seeing what the new Grand Tour presenters had managed to pull off in one particular scene
Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond(Image: Getty Images)
Jeremy Clarkson’s reaction to footage of the next generation of The Grand Tour was reportedly something nobody quite anticipated.
Despite Amazon deliberately keeping the former presenters at a distance from the revamped production, Clarkson was among those granted an early preview of the new-look motoring series. While he was said to be genuinely impressed by the incoming presenting line-up, one particular sequence left him questioning why he and his former co-hosts had never attempted something similar themselves.
Andy Wilman, the producer instrumental in bringing The Grand Tour to life after his long-standing collaboration with Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May on Top Gear, shed light on their involvement during an appearance on TellyCast.
The legendary trio have now stepped aside, with YouTube motoring personalities Thomas Holland and James Engelsman from Throttle House, alongside viral trainspotting sensation Francis Bourgeois, taking the reins for the latest incarnation of the programme.
However, Wilman clarified that Clarkson, Hammond and May were not simply handed completed episodes to sit down and watch at their leisure, reports the Express.
Rather, the former hosts were shown carefully selected material, with the production team curating specific compilations designed to give them a flavour of what their successors had been crafting.
“They didn’t see anything but version two,” Wilman said.
Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond pose for a selfie with the new Grand Tour hosts(Image: PRIME VIDEO)
He revealed that Clarkson insisted on viewing sufficient new material to determine whether he could support the programme, explaining: “Jeremy wanted to see stuff because, and the other guys saw stuff because they weren’t gonna endorse something that they thought was s***.”
It seems the early response was favourable.
Wilman recounted Clarkson’s reaction while watching the footage, with the former presenter responding enthusiastically to the new hosts.
“He was like, ‘Oh, they’re good. They’re good, they’re good,'” he said.
The previous Top Gear presenter also met the newcomers and evidently gave his backing to the programme’s new trajectory.
Nevertheless, one particular moment appears to have provoked a contrasting response from Clarkson.
While reviewing a segment filmed in Malaysia, Wilman noted how the sequence opened in Singapore at a spectacular venue. Clarkson viewed the material and promptly questioned why the original Grand Tour line-up had never undertaken something comparable.
“And he turned to me, he went, ‘Why the f*** didn’t we do this?'” Wilman recalled.
Wilman’s reply was appropriately direct: “And I’m like, ‘Alright, you know, what are you going to do, fire me?'”
Jeremy Clarkson showed his support to the new Grand Tour hosts at the premiere
The producer acknowledged Clarkson appeared “quite jealous” of certain achievements by the new presenters, though there was no indication the sentiment was anything beyond light-hearted appreciation.
“So he was quite jealous of some of the things,” Wilman said.
The endorsement wasn’t limited to just one former host, as both Hammond and May readily accepted invitations to make brief appearances in the programme.
“Richard was happy. James was happy, and then they were happy to do their cameos,” Wilman confirmed.
This backing has clearly resonated with the incoming presenters. The 26-year-old Bourgeois revealed that Clarkson, Hammond and May had shown remarkable hospitality as the programme entered its next chapter.
“They’ve been so warm and open,” he told the Press Association.
Jeremy Clarkson attends an evening with “The Grand Tour”
“It’s that transition point where they know it’s going into nice, right hands, to have them, and to have their blessing is an absolute superpower.”
This latest series represents a significant shift for The Grand Tour, which launched in 2016 following the departure of Clarkson, Hammond and May from Top Gear. May had previously indicated the trio had “exhausted” the subject.
Holland, Engelsman and Bourgeois now helm the programme’s signature adventures, journeying across destinations such as the US, Malaysia and Angola while tackling progressively daring automotive escapades.
The fresh six-episode series debuts on Prime Video on 4 September, with the original presenters still featuring throughout.
