Replacing Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May was always going to be an uphill battle, but Amazon Prime’s newly rebooted The Grand Tour has officially hit screens—handing the keys over to a new generation of digital-native hosts.
The original trio officially bowed out with their emotional One for the Road special, leaving Prime Video faced with the same colossal challenge the BBC once stumbled through with Top Gear: how to keep a massive motoring format alive without its legendary chemistry.
Amazon’s answer? Pull directly from the internet. The new iteration is fronted by Throttle House YouTube stars James Engelsman and Thomas Holland, alongside wholesome TikTok trainspotting icon Francis Bourgeois. Early reviews from television critics reflect a mix of cautious optimism and nostalgic hesitation.
What the Critics Are Saying
Writing for The Guardian, TV critic Stuart Heritage delivered a lukewarm assessment, observing that while the new team brings plenty of enthusiasm, the show struggles under the shadow of its old formula. Heritage noted:
“We have almost certainly seen every variation of all the road trips and dumb stunts and skiddy laps this format will allow at this point. The grooves are now so well worn that you instinctively know every single thing that is going to happen... it’s doing none of them any favours to work over old ground like this.”
Despite those formula fatigue concerns, The Guardian highlighted Bourgeois as a standout addition, praising him as “might just qualify as the most enthusiastic enthusiast currently working on planet Earth”.
The Independent gave a balanced critique, acknowledging that while the big-budget spectacles—like drag-racing fighter jets or cruising through California’s Bombay Beach—remain visually stunning, the central chemistry feels noticeably subdued:
“The dynamic between the new presenters has yet to settle but will develop over time. Top Gear and The Grand Tour are shows that required their hosts to make tightly scripted, carefully planned sequences look spontaneous and effortless. That ease has yet to come; at times the new hosts come across as stilted.”
The Independent added that Amazon chose to “play it as safe as possible – which, for some viewers, might undermine the whole point of a motoring adventure show.”
Over at TechRadar, the verdict was considerably brighter. Praising the reboot for staying faithful to the fun-first ethos of light entertainment, their review noted:
“Our new trio’s knowledge and passion for cars is second to none... The meat of the show, from the global car trips to sheer stupidity, acts as a constant, regardless of who is presenting. Our new boys might not be as hilariously mean to each other as the originals were, but the spirit of just being idiots on the telly hasn’t died out.”
The General Consensus
The overarching sentiment surrounding Prime’s reboot is one of cautious acceptance.
The Sticking Point: Nobody expects Engelsman, Holland, and Bourgeois to instantly replicate twenty years of built-in banter. Critics agree the early episodes can feel a bit overly safe or scripted, lacking the unhinged chaos and biting snark of the original middle-aged trio.
The High Points: Bourgeois is widely viewed as a stroke of casting brilliance—bringing an earnest, James May-esque enthusiasm that grounds the show. Meanwhile, the staggering production budgets and stunning cinematic visuals haven’t shrank an inch.
While it won’t entirely erase nostalgia for the classic era, the general consensus is that Prime has built a solid, well-meaning foundation that has plenty of room to grow once the new hosts find their stride.
Claim a 30 day free trial at Prime Video
Claim your 30 day free trial at Prime Video and stream entertainment like The Grand Tour, Masters of the Universe and brand new Reacher.
Get a 7 day free trial and access all of our content
For just £3.50 a month (approx $4.75 USD), a subscription to theversion.co.uk unlocks total access.
It costs less than a single high-street coffee to upgrade and access every article on the website.
Subscribe today and get a 7 day free trial.
Visit https://theversion.co.uk now for more entertainment, lifestyle, culture & travel.