THE new hosts of The Grand Tour are on track to become firm fixtures on the motoring show.
James Engelsman, Thomas Holland, and Francis Bourgeois will make their debut as a trio when their first series launches on Friday.
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And I can reveal bosses are so confident they will be a hit with fans that they’re already gearing up to make more episodes with them.
Plans are under way for their second series, with execs secretly talking about potential locations and stunts.
Exec producer Andy Wilman told me: “Work is ongoing for another series. There has been planning for more locations, although I don’t know what they’re looking for this time.”
The new hosts have a tough job on their hands as they’re replacing three TV legends — Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond.
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For that reason, Andy thinks it’s vital Francis, Thomas and James get plenty of time to win people over.
He said: “A first series is always a scramble. This trio need a good run now at making their second series their own.”
The newcomers are aware it’s going to be tough to match the huge success of their predecessors.
Francis said: “The saying ‘big shoes to fill’ spring to mind. Well, in this case it’ll be like Mo Farah running in size 14 wellies.
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“It’ll be awkward at first, perhaps blister-inducing, but will overall be an interesting watch.”
Thomas added: “When I first heard they were rebooting The Grand Tour and replacing Clarkson, Hammond and May, I said, ‘Only a moron would take that job . . . ’”
Show execs have gone all out to gives Francis, Thomas and James a good chance of success.
They have splashed the cash on their first series by sending them to locations including California, Singapore and Angola.
There’s also a cameo from F1 legend Jenson Button in the opening episode to give the show a boost.
HANGING WITH HAMSTER
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THE new trio completed their meet-ups with the show’s former hosts by dropping in on Richard Hammond.
James, Thomas and Francis will be seen in the new series paying a visit to Hamster as he “hands on the hosting baton.”
It came after similar well-wishing sessions with Jeremy Clarkson and James May, which will also feature in the show.
And just to prove he still had some motoring magic, Richard couldn’t resist getting under a car with the new boys.
Just as well Jezza and May weren’t there to mock him.
TOP GEAR RETURN WILL FUEL RIVALRY
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PETROLHEADS will have the pick of hit motoring shows after the BBC confirmed Top Gear is also returning.
And The Grand Tour hosts Francis, Thomas and James can’t wait to embrace the TV rivalry.
Ahead of their debut series on Prime Video, the trio insisted that car fanatics would benefit from both shows getting air time.
But they were confident they would have the edge over whoever steps up to host the revamped Top Gear.
Thomas said: “The more car content the better. Without these big TV shows, what other car shows are out there with big budgets? It’s great to have more out there.”
James added: “It is tough now. There’s so many great creators across TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, you can’t rest on your laurels.”
And Francis revealed: “As a formula for success, having car enthusiasm as a central pillar to everything we’re doing is something we wanted to maintain.”
The BBC confirmed my story that Top Gear would be coming back after a four-year absence at the Edinburgh TV Festival last week.
The show has been off screen since host Freddie Flintoff’s near-fatal car accident in 2022.
FRANCIS’ TICKING OFF FOR HOGGER
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FRANCIS has revealed what gives him road rage – “motorway inefficiency”.
He is talking about “middlelane hoggers,” specifically, which he admits gives him mild road rage.
And the social media star has a plan to put an end to his frustrations with vehicles that refuse to move out of the way on motorways – but it relies on the drivers being educated in Morse Code.
Francis, who went viral during the pandemic for his trainspotting videos, explains: “We need to abide by proper lane discipline on the motorway.
“There needs to be a campaign that goes on billboards and TV that says hogging the middle lane means everyone is going to be five minutes late for work.
“I’ve been trying to work out how we can mitigate these middle-lane hoggers.
“What I’ve been doing recently is doing an indicator morse code of ‘move over’ to the cars I come back around.
“‘Move’ goes ‘full tick, full tick, full tick, full tick, full tick, half-tick, half-tick, half-tick, full tick, half-tick’.”
“Then ‘over’ is ‘full tick, full tick, full tick, full tick, half-tick, half-tick, half-tick, full tick, half-tick, full tick and then half-tick’.”
I can’t see that one taking off, Francis.
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ALL-STAR CAST IN ACTION
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RAY WINSTONE will be joined by several other big British stars in Prime Video’s action-comedy, Danger Money.
Doctor Who’s Alex Kingston and Games of Thrones star Iain Glen lead the pack, alongside Kara Tointon, Arian Nik, Mimi Keene and Sean Pertwee.
Red Eye’s Oliver Maltman is co-creator, co-writer and will also star in the show, with filming now under way in Malta.
Winstone plays Alan ‘Razor’ Sharp, a former SAS operative who is pulled back into the world he had left behind. Alex, who plays tag-along Roxy, said her character will “keep you guessing”.
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She added: “The scripts balance action, humour and heart, and getting to play opposite such an exceptional cast is really exciting.”