Richard Hammond Returns for The Grand Tour Cameos Alongside New Presenters

The original hosts of The Grand Tour will make a return appearance in the series launching next month, despite stepping away from the show in 2024. Richard Hammond, Jeremy Clarkson, and James May will appear as cameos in season seven alongside a completely new presenting lineup. The production team has confirmed that the veteran trio will help introduce their successors to audiences, marking an unexpected reunion for the long-running motoring series.

Andy Wilman, co-creator and television producer of The Grand Tour, explained the strategy during an appearance at the Buckingham Literary Festival. He described the challenge of replacing the original presenters: "When those three go away, you can't parachute in three new, good presenters who are funny. That's like describing the show over the phone to an alien – 'You just need three funny blokes and they muck about'. It's not going to work." Wilman noted that the production team is actively supporting the new hosts, with the original presenters offering their backing through brief appearances.

The New Presenting Team

Three presenters will lead The Grand Tour series seven, representing a significant shift in direction. Thomas Holland and James Engelsman previously collaborated on the popular YouTube channel Throttle House, bringing automotive expertise and established online audiences to the role. Francis Bourgeois, known for viral trainspotting videos shot through a GoPro fisheye lens, brings a different perspective; he is also a trained mechanical engineer. In response to his appointment, Bourgeois acknowledged the weight of the challenge, stating that filling the original hosts' roles would be "like Mo Farah running in Size 14 wellies – it'll be a little awkward at first, perhaps blister-inducing, but will overall be an interesting watch."

The new season arrives on Amazon Prime Video on September 4. The decision to include cameos from Clarkson, Hammond, and May represents a deliberate effort to ease the transition between presenting eras. Hammond and May had announced their departure in 2024 after hosting six seasons of the Prime Video series between 2016 and 2024, during which the show became one of the platform's most successful original programs.