The Grand Tour's new presenters: 'I hope we prove the critics wrong'

The Grand Tour has unveiled its next presenting line‑up, pairing the established YouTube duo Engelsman and Holland with railway enthusiast Francis Bourgeois in a move the producers hope will vindicate the show against its detractors. Engelsman and Holland, who already co‑host the motoring channel Throttle House—boasting more than three million subscribers—were sought after for their on‑screen rapport. The producers’ primary challenge lay in locating a third presenter whose chemistry with the pair would match the dynamic of the program’s former trio. That search culminated in Bourgeois, a social‑media figure better known for his appearances on railway platforms than behind the wheel of a supercar. Engelsman recalled that the duo had conducted chemistry trials with several candidates, yet Bourgeois “instantly felt different.” Holland offered a more vivid recollection: “As soon arsenic Francis showed up, we were like: 'That guy’.” Bourgeois described their first encounter as taking place “on a leather sofa successful a edifice extracurricular Basingstoke,” where the trio largely discussed the vehicles each owned. By the time filming commenced, Holland noted that no deliberate effort was required to shape their interaction: “it conscionable worked and clicked immediately.” The selection process, however, lacked a definitive moment of announcement. Engelsman explained that there was “no contiguous moment” when they were formally informed of their roles. Instead, the realization emerged gradually. “It was the astur gradual thing,” he said. Initially, Engelsman and Holland believed they were merely participating in a broader audition routine. They later found themselves repeatedly summoned to writers’ rooms, solicited for their opinions on show concepts. For Bourgeois, the lingering uncertainty proved advantageous. He admitted that, had he known earlier of his selection, he would have “just autumn isolated and commencement crying.” The new trio now prepares to translate their off‑camera camaraderie onto the screen, aiming to deliver fresh chemistry that, according to Holland, “just worked and clicked immediately” from the outset.