Richard Hammond Confirms Future of The Grand Tour Despite Hosts Stepping Away

Richard Hammond has opened up about the future of The Grand Tour following the conclusion of his TV partnership with Jeremy Clarkson and James May. The former Top Gear trio started hosting the show in 2016, covering five seasons and 46 episodes in total. As the final episode premieres on September 13, fans may have worried about the show’s fate, but Hammond has alleviated those concerns.

In an interview with Metro.co.uk, Hammond confirmed that the show would continue. He said, “The Grand Tour continues. We’re stepping away as the hosts, but Prime will be continuing it.” Jokingly, he added, “So I can’t wait to sit on my own chair and watch somebody else do it. That’s amazing.”

The TV star admitted he didn’t know who the new presenters would be but offered some advice to his successors. “If you’re making any show that at its heart has a subject, whether it’s cooking, dancing, or cars, the hosts, the primary makers of it, have to have that passion in their heart. And we always did,” said the 54-year-old.

Clarkson, Hammond, and May’s 22-year journey of working together, across both Top Gear and The Grand Tour, concludes later this month with an episode titled ‘One For The Road,’ filmed in Zimbabwe and Botswana. The episode is expected to end on Kubu Island, a location the trio visited during a Top Gear special in 2007.

Meanwhile, Jeremy Clarkson, who is currently enjoying considerable success with Clarkson’s Farm, has shared insights into why he decided to end his professional ties with Hammond and May. “After 36 years of talking about cars on television, I’m packing it in because I’m too old and fat to get into the cars that I like and not interested in driving those I don’t,” he said in an interview with The Sunday Times.

“What this means, of course, is that my 22-year partnership with James May and Richard Hammond is now over. You can see our final road trip together on Amazon Prime very soon. It’s emotional.”

Clarkson mentioned that the trio had carefully deliberated on how to end their 22-year partnership. In the end, they chose Zimbabwe as the setting for their final adventure. “There was another reason why we chose Zimbabwe, though,” he added, revealing, “We would drive across it from east to west, as usual, but then we could cross the border and finish up where we began all those years ago: the Makgadikgadi salt pans in Botswana.”

As the final episode nears, viewers will witness the culmination of a remarkable journey, marked by the trio’s unique blend of humor, adventure, and passion for cars. While the original hosts may be stepping down, the legacy of The Grand Tour appears set to continue, offering hope to fans eager for more automotive escapades.

The departure of Clarkson, Hammond, and May marks the end of an era in automotive entertainment, but their influence on car culture and television is indelible. Whether through Top Gear or The Grand Tour, the trio’s impact has been significant, and their final road trip promises to be a fitting capstone to their illustrious collaboration.

As viewers gear up for the premier of ‘One For The Road,’ it is a poignant moment for fans who have followed the hosts through numerous adventures and challenges over the years. The final episode not only serves as a farewell but also as a celebration of their legacy, leaving an indelible mark on the world of car enthusiasts and television viewers alike.

So, while the curtain falls on this chapter of The Grand Tour, the show itself will persist, potentially ushering in a new era with fresh faces, but always retaining the spirited essence that has made it a beloved series. And for Richard Hammond, the excitement and anticipation for its future is palpable as he looks forward to experiencing the show from a viewer’s perspective.

Sources: Metro.co.uk, The Sunday Times.