I’M going to make a confession straightaway – I’m not that bothered about cars.
For starters, I live in London so don’t own one, but even when I did, I just needed something reliable that could get from A to B and fit all my stuff in the boot on a weekend away.
The Grand Tour’s final episode drops on Prime Video today[/caption] Despite a reflective tone, there’s still a lot of fun to be had for the stars too[/caption] I had a sneak preview and it was a great end to a fantastic era[/caption] Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May have worked together for 22 years[/caption]So I don’t watch The Grand Tour for the cars featured that’s for sure.
No, I watch it for the trio presenting it; Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May.
There was a time when I’d find myself watching back to back episodes of Top Gear on Dave, which they hosted from 2002 – or 2003 in James’ case – to 2015.
So when they made the move to Prime Video – a year after their exit from the BBC – and launched The Grand Tour, I followed.
And this week, I attended a screening of their final ever special, titled One For The Road, and listened to the three stars talk about how their 22 year career working together was coming to an end.
While there were no tears at the Q&A, Jeremy is clearly emotional at one point in the finale and the others are obviously processing the end of an era too.
But despite a reflective tone to the finale, it’s still full of the wit, banter and ridiculousness that fans of the trio have come to know and love.
And that’s certainly why I watch them, as their bumbling antics have given me many laughs over the years.
I remember howling at Richard trying to get on a ski lift in their Norwegian special, and James getting covered in poop in Madagascar.
But the best moments come when the three of them are together, and all those years of working alongside one another shine through.
And that’s the magic of The Grand Tour – their chemistry, their shorthand – not the cars, the locations or anything else, as good as all those things are.
It’s also why I think the show needs to end with this fitting send off to Jeremy, Richard and James.
Prime is planning to carry on The Grand Tour with new hosts – yet to be revealed – but I think it’s the wrong move.
By all means come up with another new car-related adventure show, but don’t brand it The Grand Tour.
How many seasons of The Grand Tour are there and where do they take place?
The Grand Tour launched on Prime Video in 2016 and quickly became one of the streamer’s biggest hits as hosts Jeremy, 63, James, 60, and Richard, 52, felt it was time they move on from Top Gear hit the road.
They have now brought five epic series of motoring adventures to the small screen, each taking place in different locations and even featuring celebrity guests.
Series 1
Series 2
Series 3
Series 4
Series 5
In my eyes, Top Gear never quite regained the heights it reached when Jeremy and Co were on the show once they had left, and I don’t think The Grand Tour will either.
They can’t just try and replicate the dynamic between those three men with another group of guys, but then to change the show too much wouldn’t be The Grand Tour either.
So I think it would be best all round if we just let Jeremy, Richard and James speed off into the sunset one last time, and don’t tamper with perfection.
The trio have called time on the show and their working relationship[/caption] The final episode is the perfect send off for the trio[/caption]The Grand Tour: One For the Road is available on Prime Video from today.