When you reach a certain age in life it’s rare that you even like change; nevermind accept it.

Of course, you recognise it homing in on your horizon, but it doesn’t, technically exist until it does. Factor in the likelihood that you’re a man of said certain age (typically between the years of age, 40 – everything north of 40) and you WILL robustly refuse to embrace change in any way, shape or form.

Add into this already toxic mix the chances that you’re probably into cars, then yeah.

You don’t need another sentence bolted to the business end of this first paragraph to understand the outcry that the new The Grand Tour presenters line-up DOESN’T include Jeremy Clarkson, James May and/or Richard Hammond.

Or as they’re collectively known; the former members of The Grand Tour.

Who themselves were elsewhere observed as being the former members of The Top Gear.

Or just, Top Gear. Circa 2002 – 2015. 

The internet has been a whirl the last few days with confirmation that the new The Grand Tour presenters line-up consists of three men that many other men haven’t heard of.

Either because they can’t work the internet, or welcome ‘change’ with the same benevolent smile as public transport providers. 

I’ll admit, I’m not aware of two-thirds of the new triumvirate who have landed the biggest motoring show on the planet since the last The Grand Tour ended. I discounted Top Gear post-Clarkson and Co for the simple reason it was shit.

And that’s got absolutely nothing to do with not being accepting of the inevitability of change in life. But more to do with the painful ladettes who were drafted in to front the misguided – and turns out, ill-fated – TG re-boot.

Also, and in the defence of those who followed in the sizeable carbon footprints of Clarkson, May and Hammond, nigh on 14 years of mostly memorable TV is a harder thing to grab the baton and run with than 8 years of relatively regurgitated highs.

And a programme largely based on re-living the glory years we mentioned above, as opposed to changing tack or god forbid; reinventing the wheel. 

Why ‘The Clarkson Effect’ Is An Almost Impossible Act To Follow

Oh, did I mention. I’ve been ill recently.

And because it was man flu I believed the whole world was caving in on me.

Subsequently my patience was non-existent and my attention span, less than a goldfish. Mercifully there’s always Top Gear repeats for times like this. When comfort TV is a necessity.

Scripted, formulaic, predictable, boorish, controversial, misogynistic, xenophobic, out of kilter with societal trends.

And these were just some of the compliments Top Gear would garner under the stewardship of Clarkson and Co. Nobody would disagree that during its heyday, opinion-polarising was something TG did with repeated relish.

Whilst your dad might have considered that heyday the 1980s and 1990s, when and where presenters still enunciated properly, understood the internal workings of a combustion engine and would routinely finish the show on a garage forecourt basically in Nottingham with their foot perched on the wheel of a recently reviewed car, the TV ratings would later tell a very different story.

An uncomfortable, inconvenient truth for the legions of detractors who routinely lined up to take aim and bring down Clarkson era shenanigans. Que sera sera. 

But that was then and this is now.

With Clarkson focusing his televisual life on his Cotswolds farm and May ploughing his very own broadcasting furrow inspired by food, travel and sheds rather than cars, there’s only one of the former enfants terribles who continues to pursue automotive pleasures on our screens.

Someone who is without question, the smallest of cogs. 

Enter Stage Left. Through A Giant Tent Flap. Maybe…

The stage was therefore set for actual new presenters to be blooded.

Those who, with respect, are neither past motoring masters nor household names courtesy of other TV ventures. 

And although not plucked from relative obscurity, are nevertheless unfamiliar to many. 

James Engelsman is 50% of a popular automotive YouTube channel called ‘Throttle House’.

Which boasts in excess of 3 million subscribers. The channel specialises in track tests and in-depth car reviews according to the majority of sources.

If viewers are hoping that the new incumbents will continue where serial Messrs Clarkson, May and Hammond habitually put the ‘light’ into ‘light entertainment’, then Engelsman’s quote to The Independent website perhaps augers well for more of the same.

Telling them; “I’ve worked with Thomas (Holland) for almost a decade making car films. Who knew that all this time, the one ingredient that was missing was a Francis Bourgeois? Let the car adventures commence.”

Yeah, before we get too excited about this prospect many people who walked the corridors of power at the BBC thought that Chris Evans was Top Gear’s missing ingredient, and look how that panned out. Eventually leading to the employ of Max Bygraves’ doorman side-kick and an amiable cricketer who appeared on panel shows before disappearing without trace.

Speaking of partners, Thomas Holland is the other 50% of ‘Throttle House’.

Not to be confused with Spiderman actor, Tom Holland.

He (the former) is a Canadian-born automotive journalist who founded the channel in 2015, and who has also dabbled in amateur motorsport. Respected amongst his peers, Holland famously mused that “only a moron would take that job” when asked who he thought might follow the iconic treble shortly after their Botswana swansong show aired on Amazon Prime.

So again, suggesting nothing if not great comedic timing. 

After watching a few episodes of ‘Throttle House’ I’m yet to be convinced that they are the answer. But what does drivl know.

There’s no doubt their filming is cinematographically up there. But then, Amazon already has those boxes ticked, as anyone who’s watched The Grand Tour previously will acknowledge production values.

So what these guys need to bring to the table is a hitherto unseen presentation perspective.

Something unique.

Something a bit more leftfield.

Something a bit more Francis Bourgeois. 

Francis Who?

Bourgeois is the only one of the new threesome whose previous work I’m aware of.

And that’s largely because his distorted – yet relentlessly cheery – face exists in most of my social media feeds, and goes a long way to underlining why he’s generally considered something of a social media sensation.

His enthusiasm for locomotives being completely infectious.

If not entirely convincing in terms of its sincerity, with many citing Bourgeois as a carefully-curated character and not Francis’ actual real persona. Not helped by the inescapable truth that his birth name is Luke Magnus Nicholson. 

Wikipedia reliably informs us that he changed his name to Francis because he ‘likes France and the way they do trains’. Whilst he opted for Bourgeois after being suitably impressed with the sculpted works of one Louise Bourgeois. Which he observed at an exhibition his dad took him to when he was a kid.

Whatever.

In collaboration with one another, he believes that the moniker ‘Francis Bourgeois’ affords a ‘bit more protection’. As well as ‘having a bit more of a ring to it’. 

Fair dinkum to the lad.

Drivl likes him.

Drivl likes him because he also drives a baby pink Honda Jazz, because his girlfriend Amy, doesn’t. Similar to why I currently drive a Mini coupe, because my girlfriend (as I write), doesn’t. 

And that’s OK.

Why I’ve Avoided Subheadings Such As ‘The Grand Tour Revs Up For New Road Trips’

Right up until THIS paragraph I’ve heroically swerved subheadings such as ‘The Grand Tour Revs Up For New Road Trips’, etc.

Primarily because I try to avoid predictable cliches and non-descript headlines. But also because others thought of this before me.

However, due to requiring a block of content to segue smoothly from the above one to the below one, I just thought I’d park this right here.

So, What Do I Think?

Well, firstly nobody cares for my opinion.

Or at least, they shouldn’t.

Anymore than I care for yours, truth be told.

The truth of the matter is, the jury will be out for some time yet. At least until we see how the new trio gel. 

While I class Clarkson, May and Hammond as something of automotive heroes of mine, particularly their written words as solo artists, that’s not to say that I believe The Grand Tour necessarily begins and ends with them.

Full stop, end of sentence.

Because clearly it doesn’t.

There’s a sequel incoming.

The question is, will the said sequel be the equivalent of 2008’s benchmark ‘The Dark Knight’. Or will it be 1997’s instantly forgettable ‘Speed 2: Cruise Control?’

Let’s let the foreseeable future decide eh, guys.

One final point though. And as far as seals of approval go then they come no bigger than Clarkson himself.

A man who’s not known to hold back. Via both his – and his paymaster, Amazon Prime’s – social media presences, Clarkson has thrown his weight behind their successful candidature by virtue of an amusing appraisal of their CV’s. 

And this is one man who DOES actually know what he’s talking about.

And definitely understands the currency of change.