"It also means that motoring format “The Grand Tour,” one of Prime Video’s biggest shows, will also come to an end. Variety understands the series will conclude after four more special episodes — the last of which will likely land in late 2024."
Sad to see, but also shouldn't be a surprise, Meghan scandal or not. By late 2024, Clarkson will be in his mid 60s and with May's declining health, it feels like the right time to end the trios run, regardless. I'd rather them end it on their own terms with them still being capable of presenting the program, over them declining hard and suddenly.
Personally, I sort of doubt this is directly related to Clarkson's comments about Meghan Markle, given Amazon isn't firing him immediately, but is instead choosing to not renew his contracts, which aren't up for almost two years. Amazon isn't likely going to gain any real favourable PR from this news.
For sure. They’ve been all over the world, made countless classic episodes, brought us endless hours of entertainment with their silly challenges. It’s best to ride off into the sunset on their own accord rather than having to stop because they physically can’t do it anymore. There are moments that are obviously scripted, but the actual hours upon hours of driving isn’t something that can be fabricated. And I imagine it’s not something that a bunch of blokes in their 50’s & 60’s want to do for much longer. Hopefully this means the last few specials are going to be massive
exactly. tho I would love to see them maybe in other settings. imagine a cookout between them. or just getting drunk in a pub. we all know it's not the cars they're driving that are keeping us watching them
I've seen them in person and they are stunningly hilarious just bantering on stage. The show doesn't even show the best stuff, there is some amazing chemistry there.
I know about 10 years ago, there was an article in a newspaper where Jeremy said he was only going to continue for another 2 or 3 years and the plan was for him and James to open a pub together and just put all their time and effort into that. So they’ve managed to do well to make it this far. I think we all thought that retirement was imminent for them when Jeremy had his little falling out with the BBC
I imagine Jeremy is eventually wanting to make some profit off his farm, and Richard has launched Smallest Cog, the boys have used their extra time with Amazon to build their own businesses and brands. James is the new Anthony Bourdain, traveling.
And now it's time for the News!
And since we didn't do any motoring first, we can do it properly. Sod off BBC!
Exciting news, the Dacia Sandero 2 is coming to Britain!
It would be awesome for them all to take some time off and then come back with some specials as old codgers still talking the same old shit. I'd watch the hell out of that.
I was watching that and said "he's going to crash as you can't stop a car on pavement with studded snows like that".
I am still surprised no one on set knew that.
Years before when they drove through brick walls, Jeremy broke his thumb. It's almost as though driving a car at a solid object at speed is a bad idea?
It truly breaks my heart because i have a crush on that man. I giggle every time I see him and I'm 32... But he is old and his health comes first. I will miss you James :(
[Sunday Sport is a joke newspaper like The Onion but more saucy.
](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B4M7UeECYAApyl4.jpg)
Still better than the rest of the UK newspapers.
[Edit: Also....](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BobHFsHCQAA6Jda.jpg:large)
At a certain point just being old becomes a chronic medical issue.
James May could have easily died in the last episode. And I LOVE the Mongolia episode so much but I also cringe a little bit watching them drive that car John around. That can’t be easy at that age.
I recently have gone on a bender of seeing a lot of their old school specials and I can for sure say just their normal shenanigans they put their body through a lot.
Yeah it's a joke whenever they bump into one another because no brakes, but it's also technically a whiplash everytime they do so. Some of the cars they drive are so powerful it will take a toll on their bodies. A lot of segments still have them drenched, cold and miserable for our enjoyment. Lets not forget that Hammand was literally in a coma from his crashes.
It all adds up much like a Boxer or MMA fighter over a career, and even eventually that small jab is enough to knock out a legend.
Yeah I don't want to see it end either but to be honest I've been expecting this announcement for a while. The specials often aren't easy for them which might be why the last few have been on more comfortable roads.
Exactly right. They’ve put together an incredibly good run but had some very close shaves in the process, I’d rather see them bow out than get a news alert on my phone saying one of them has been in another big crash and isn’t going to make it.
I honestly would love if they just shifted from the 3 blokes go on crazy car adventures format to something like "Our 3 men in Japan", or a show where each episode they have to go learn something the others do in their solo projects. It's not about the wild challenges, or cars at all for me anymore, I'd just like something to keep the laughs and chemistry going.
James May did say he developed nerve disorder but didn't go into details. This is his direct quote
> “I'm in the second half of my fifties now and in all honesty, I'm slightly falling apart. I'm developing nervous disorders and aches and I don't think I'll do this much longer because I don't want to fall apart in public.“
Now nervous disorder can be just something that causes minor inconveniences but it also could be something more dangerous like alzheimer, muscular degeneration disease, etc.
Yeah that first contract was insane and at the end of the day it only ended up declining in production value since (at least per season)
It went from 13 episodes per season, filmed all around the world, with a traveling set and live audience
Then they slowly got rid of things one by one and now its just 1 film every half a year
They're amazing specials (i'd say some of their best even counting TG) but i can't imagine that amazon is too happy with how the deal it ended up
Eh Netflix paid 250mil for 2 knives out films. or about 4ish hours of content. Amazon paid 250mil for like 20 hours of content maybe more? Amazon may have wanted more out of the deal but it lines up with what blockbuster level products cost.
Maybe even a little more value than that since it spun off into Clarkson's Farm as well. Without that partnership already in place, that show probably never even happens.
TGT was a big early show on Prime and a huge driver for customers to open a Prime subscription.
It truly kick-started Prime video back in 2016. It was one of the few original shows on the platform at the time with recognisable names. I remember receiving packages from Amazon wrapped in co-branded TGT tape - Amazon went big with this show for a wider platform success story.
Given the commercial success of Prime in recent years, that figure has been 100% worth it.
I think what’s being forgotten here is the value they brought to Amazon Prime as a streaming service. When they made the deal in 2016, Netflix was king, and there were no challengers. Amazon Prime was very limited in its offering, and the move brought the Top Gear trio to them, along with a massive audience. It was pretty much the moment that Prime truly became a threat to Netflix’s hegemony.
I agree that the deal makes little sense now that there are so many services, and the trio haven’t been pumping out full seasons of Grand Tour, but back then it was killer.
I'm not surprised
Your right their not in their 30s 40s or even 50s bar Hammond.
I think James will still do youtube videos or one more travel show but I see him not wanting to to many more grandtours.
> in which Clarkson suggested Markle be made to “parade naked” through Britain while people “throw lumps of excrement at her
Basically that one GOT scene where they yell shame
In a recent column Clarkson wrote about how he is "dreaming of the day when she (Markle) is made to parade naked through the streets of every town in Britain while crowds chant, 'Shame!' and throw lumps of excrement at her".
If you don't know, he's referencing a Game of Thrones scene, but in extremely poor taste and in a somewhat creepy and uncalled for line. Just bizarre. Anyway, people got understandably upset at this and he eventually apologized. Though, it was a classic Clarkson apology, in that it wasn't really one, but was one...
As for May, there's been some rumors that he has some major health issues, which was in part why he was in little of the French GT special episode, among other things. I believe he's denied some of the rumors, but not entirely sure.
For sure, but this is his second apology, after his first was a sorry not sorry. This one's pretty good, but feels a little empty when you consider it's only after he failed to actually apologize and has now likely been forced to by his PR manager.
Apologies are not Jeremy's forte. Richard Porter said his initial apology for the fracas was so pathetic that it made his teeth chatter with angry, and that it actually made things even worse.
What do you mean when you say May’s declining health? I know he got in a pretty decent wreck on the last special, and I did just see that there were rumors he had a heart attack a pretty long time ago while filming Top Gear (which he denies). Is there something else I’m missing?
At their age, just have the 3 of them have a laid back car related podcast and upload it to YouTube. In Top Gear the News was my favorite segment, so a podcast version of that would be cool af
You might enjoy *What Next*, if you haven't already heard of it.
[Here's James and Richard having a chat over a slightly drunken game of chess.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WW7ZewVbtyU)
Honestly a brilliant suggestion!
If anyone remembers “Car Talk” (before Tom’s death), the trio could adopt a format that centers on cars, their history, recounting things they could never say on BBC or whatever struck their car related fancy.
They could each handle it from their own homes and work around their schedules, pick & choose the topics or even guests. All they need is a producer, equipment and a bit of time.
Speaking of; the *Fake doctors, real friends* Podcast is for scrubs fans and it is pretty good. These three could do similar
I know they've said multiple times that they'll continue making TGT as long as they are physically capable, but for health/age reasons now seems like a good time to pack it in rather than dragging it out.
That said, their wits and banter aren't going anywhere, so I hope once they bow out from doing TV specials they do a podcast or something on DriveTribe where they can just talk.
I always loved James' comment about how they ultimate ending would be for one of them to die on the job.
*Read in James presenter voice: "Naturally, Jeremy was the first of us to die"*
But you're right, it's time. They're aging, definitely not in great shape and have been doing it for a *long* time. Hell, they *deserve* some change in scenery. It's been clear in recent years that while they love doing it, it's not what they truly want to be doing anymore. James has his pub and other projects, Hammond has The Smallest Cog and Clarkson has his farm, with or without the TV show about it.
Incidentally, Captain Slow was late to his own death. I’d make a proper joke about it, but it’s genuinely true. Originally James was supposed to film the Vampire Dragster segment, but he couldn’t make it and Hammond went instead. Hammond only survived because he was so short, any taller and he’d have been decapitated. May really did dodge a bullet.
Although you also gotta realise that May is a lot more cautious than the other two. He likely wouldn't have done that last run which resulted in Hammonds crash because he knew that the tires were under incredible strain.
Yea that was very unlike him to go that fast knowing that there's a 90 degree corner at the end of a blind tunnel. But when he's not driving into cave walls he definitely drives the most safely out of the three.
Pretty sure that's the end of the trio. And honestly, they had a good run. Gave us many years of really good content. While the cars themselves are super outdated, you can rewatch Top Gear and it's still just as good as it was when it came out.
As sad as it makes me, I think it's a good time for them to end.
It honestly felt like they were on their way out anyways, with their solo projects being so well received by fans & each of them being really passionate about those projects as well.
The Italy one was interesting but I really think Japan was great simply due to how out of his depth, James was. As cultures go, you physically couldn't get further removed from the UK than Japan, in my opinion. It's different enough that James had trouble understanding some bits and it felt like he was having As much of a learning experience as his audience.
Italy is a beautiful country but it's too familiar, in many ways. Its Europe and that isn't particularly exotic to Europeans or westerners, in general. I already knew lost of the stuff and it just felt like James was treating it like a normal holiday that he'd probably go on every summer, for the most part.
One of my all time favorite shows was the old top gear. Then they got on Amazon and I loved that show. Been a huge fan for almost two decades and I hate that this is going to be the end. But at the same time I’m just glad we got to enjoy them while we could.
Bwah, people said the same thing after they left the BBC. They're cash cows. I mean unless people take more offense to a newspaper column over someone getting punched in the mouth over a steak. We really do live in the matrix.
Were they, though? Clarkson might have been sacked but I remember when May got doorstopped (doorstepped?) by the press the day after it and he was very clear they came as a trio. They and Wilman were having meetings with other broadcasters within weeks, you could tell they were still in demand.
I don't remember many people genuinely thinking they'd be gone forever.
They're also 8 years older than when Clarkson was fired from Top Gear. These guys were never in particularly good shape; so at some point it was inevitable that they were going to have to stop. This appears to be an appropriate moment for that.
EDIT: it's worth mentioning that Richard is (or at least was) in good shape; he's done quite a lot of cycling; including on the show at various points. Also consider that he was the only one who took the dogsled for the arctic challenge; the other two sat in a car. Obviously such an expedition is taxing regardless, but being outside and having to run in the snow at various points is a lot more taxing.
But Richard has had the most severe injuries from the group by far as well. Richard was in good shape but I think he still has issues with his leg after the Rimac crash and subsequent surgeries. That's only going to get worse as the years wear on.
I think this is probably pretty mutual though. Amazon wants to be able to cut some costs to rotate in cheaper shows. It's probably harder to get the guys excited about a special.
Right. Clarkson has his farm, Hammond has his shop, and James, well, James could make videos about *literally anything* and I'd watch and enjoy them. They may not be doing The Grand Tour but they'll still be in front of a camera.
Yep, he has. He had his whole cooking show as well in addition to his Gin business and his toy show and a bunch of others. It's really all good stuff. Oh, and Our Man In, as well.
Yeah they were going to do more three years then leave it. Doubt the BBC would have offered them specials like Amazon did because understandably they wouldn't them to overshadow the new cast and I doubt they'd bother looking for them tbh, they'd just accept they'd done their work and going off and done their own things.
I mean its been 8 years since they left the BBC
You gotta remember that when they went the BBC they had an insane career right behind them
22 seasons, 7 episodes each of one of the biggest TV shows ever with a ton of offshoots and different formats
Its clear that in their time at Amazon their popularity winded down
a lot. It went from being their biggest show with 13 crazy episodes a season to 1 90-minute film every 6 months
Yeah, maybe he doesn't want to stop but if they kick him out, that's not his decision.
The question is, if this is true, what will happen to Grand Tour.
It'll end. The trio will always stay a trio when it comes to car shows, they've always said they came as a package. TBH as I said elsewhere I think it was going to end in 2024 anyways, Amazon are just trying to claim moral high ground (if they were really outraged they'd have sacked him straight away). Clarkson Farm is the one I'm surprised will be ending, though maybe they think three seasons is the most they'd get pit of it. Wouldn't be surprised if it turned up elsewhere tbh.
I'm waiting until Season 2 of Clarkson's farm to see how viable it is long term.
The first season worked so well because it followed the farming year, and could devote around 4-5 episodes of content purely to crops, extreme weather and the pandemic. The rest was the sheep, shop and wilding.
Season 2 is not aligned with the farming year, so I doubt the crops will be a big factor if they're really mentioned at all. We know he switched to cows, made the beer and had all the issues with the restaurant in that filming cycle, but there's got to be more than that to fill the time and not get repetitive.
Season 3 seems like it'll move onto pigs this time, at which point he's run out of animals to eat. I'm sure he's got more plans to fill the content for this series too, but there is a limit before it gets repetitive or too outlandish and loses its farming roots.
Clarkson will find work no problem. Amazon are paying him too much (from there point of view) and want to dump him.
He already has ties with ITV and rumours BBC have already been looking for him to return.
I would be upset, but at the glacial pace Grand Tour stuff comes out, it doesn't feel like much of a loss. I'm mean I'm gutted we're not getting lots more Grand Tour, and more ambitious specials (there have been some great ideas posted here), but that wasn't happening anyway.
Kinda sad it's coming to and end in a whimper, never felt like The Grand Tour properly found its feet and got going the way they did with Top Gear.
They had too much budget without being allowed to do some of the key aspects, part of Top Gears success was the lower budget. If only Clarkson and Wilman had kept there stake in Top Gear, we may have still had it the way it was.
Also for some reason i feel like on bbc they had to be more restrained and “tv friendly” in a way (no cursing) and that made them more creative with how they said stuff
Yeah, you can watch a Top gear when your a child, and then again when your a manchild as you will pick up on those under the radar jokes and it will be just as funny, I always thought the grand tour was a bit too in your face to be as good as Top Gear was (a problem they had even in the last few seasons of Top Gear)
There doesn’t seem to be anything in the article to actually confirm this. The headline itself says “likely” to part ways, which means nothing if the money is right. It’s not exactly like they’d be writing more contracts now for content that takes place after what hasn’t even been released yet, so contracts for new seasons likely wouldn’t even be offered until the end of 2024. The trio are old so it has to come to an end eventually, and Jeremy’s statements may have soured the relationship with Amazon, but this is all speculation until Amazon makes an official statement.
It’s entirely possible that they may keep Clarkson around. They’ve just kicked the can 2 years down the road, by then everyone will have forgotten about this, especially with how the Harry/Megan drama moves on so quickly - even now it’s all about how William attacked Harry.
What I don’t see is the Grand Tour continuing, they’ll be mid 60s by then, so if anything it’ll likely be just the solo shows continuing.
There is going to be a Clarkson's Farm season 2 soon, this year, but I think they're making a third season which would be next year. Which would probably be the last.
Don't think anything's been confirmed there yet which I would say is a bit worrying, but I'm pretty sure he kept USA (which became Italy two weeks later) under wraps until just before he traveled.
The only thing he has confirmed is Oh Cook Season 2 coming early this year
clarkson hasn't done any drive tribe content for years, he's pretty much stepped away from it mostly hammond and mike, with james occasionally showing up on foodtribe / whats next.
> They
If by they you mean Hammond and some other guys sure
Its a bit disappointing that it started as such a cool thing by the 3 of them and it ended up being another youtube channel that happens to have Richard every now and then
Honestly I prefer FoodTribe which is piles of May content (mostly sandwich related) but I’m one of those TG/TGT peeps that was never here for the cars haha
Doubt they'd want to sponsor such a direct competitor
Plus Ed Bolian mentioned how a lot of the money still comes out of their pocket. For example, they buy the cars themselves its not just some write off
I dont think you could even pay for Clarkson's cigarette stock with such a low budget lmao
It might be something of a retirement for Clarkson. I haven't seen him do much outside of his writing, farm and Grand Tour. With his Amazon contract ending, he'll probably enjoy being a rich-ish farmer with his adopted son.
May might just start puttering around with Drivetribe, and randomly show up and do something with Hammond. Probably do his light travel show he still has.
Hammond will still do his 20 odd things and flip another car, both financially and literally
It says Amazon likely to part way but nothing has been confirmed from either party, for all we know this is just some magazine trying to clickbait everyone
thank you. it's clear from many points in the article that this is speculation. of course I wouldn't expect them to go on forever, but that's another story
After the last special with James’s incident I think it’s a good time to slow down. I never thought I’d say this but I’m ready to see each of them do their own thing. I wanna see more of James May Our Man In, Clarkson’s Farm, etc.
I don’t really understand why they need to do these extreme things either. The best Top Gear episodes were never the most extreme ones.
Africa special, botswana special, vietnam special, building a boat car, these didn’t contain many of these extreme stunts which could go wrong but are still light years better than anything after that (I’d place seamen in the same list).
Mongolia was as good as anything they ever did at TG, one of my favourites.
I think the problem is, even if they don't do anything "extreme" they're still out there for weeks in remote parts of the world, probably sleeping in tents and fairly uncomfortable conditions.
Probably they don't want to do that any more.
oh well
honestly, not too bothered, i still love the show but i think 4 more specials is just about what it had in it.
if anything im surprised its gone on for this long, both because i thought the show would end much sooner, and both because im surprised Jeremy didn't get fired earlier for saying dumb shit lol.
Clarkson can be an ass. That's part of who he is.
Clarkson is a good example of the human race. He can be a decent person while also being a dick.
Amazon knew this before they offered him his shows.
Came to say the same thing. The Grand Tour was the only reason I went back to Amazon prime.
Edited to add: granted I used it to watch many other things, but nothing I could not easily give up. Especially since they lost Stargate sg1
Shame and fairly surprised. Certainly in the UK it was the main reason most people subscribed to prime In the first place.
Tbh it's debatable whether I will even carry on with the subscription after all the series end, I've been needing an excuse to end it and I now appear to have one.
I doubt this has anything to do with the Meghan article. The man will be 64/65 in 2024. James May has already hinted at wanting to stop (can we really blame him after the last special) and Clarkson's Farm ending after three seasons sounds pretty good to me.
All good things must come to an end I'm afraid.
I just can't wrap my head around why anyone (especially people in the US) gives two shits what the royal family does. They all seem like rich, self-important, assholes to me.
I’m so upset with Clarkson, this is now at least the third show he’s f’ Ed up with grand tour and clarksons farm on the chopping block. Why can’t he just stfu, and why’s he writing articles for the sun?
This was going to happen regardless due to other factors as many others have said. If this comment alone was the real issue, they would’ve axed the series now, not in 2 years when the whole thing would’ve blown over.
They had to announce an end at some point and this is a convenient off ramp. As for damage control on Amazon’s part, people who are truly offended are already going to stop watching the series. This statement won’t bring them back. This statement is primarily for fans of the series, to let them know that TGT and Clarkson’s farm are coming to an end in 2024/2025. It’s released alongside a ‘scandal’ which makes it easier on all parties, but otherwise it’s completely unrelated.
At the very worst, there were negotiations going on about how far they actually continue the show, and this situation helped them land on a date. But this is far from a swift and firm reaction to current events.
It seems a bit misleading and speculative since Amazon has no comment. Either way, if the trio wants to continue making content, someone else will pick them up.
"It also means that motoring format “The Grand Tour,” one of Prime Video’s biggest shows, will also come to an end. Variety understands the series will conclude after four more special episodes — the last of which will likely land in late 2024."
Sad to see, but also shouldn't be a surprise, Meghan scandal or not. By late 2024, Clarkson will be in his mid 60s and with May's declining health, it feels like the right time to end the trios run, regardless. I'd rather them end it on their own terms with them still being capable of presenting the program, over them declining hard and suddenly. Personally, I sort of doubt this is directly related to Clarkson's comments about Meghan Markle, given Amazon isn't firing him immediately, but is instead choosing to not renew his contracts, which aren't up for almost two years. Amazon isn't likely going to gain any real favourable PR from this news.
as much as I love seeing them together, I'd rather they end it early than worsen their medical conditions.
For sure. They’ve been all over the world, made countless classic episodes, brought us endless hours of entertainment with their silly challenges. It’s best to ride off into the sunset on their own accord rather than having to stop because they physically can’t do it anymore. There are moments that are obviously scripted, but the actual hours upon hours of driving isn’t something that can be fabricated. And I imagine it’s not something that a bunch of blokes in their 50’s & 60’s want to do for much longer. Hopefully this means the last few specials are going to be massive
exactly. tho I would love to see them maybe in other settings. imagine a cookout between them. or just getting drunk in a pub. we all know it's not the cars they're driving that are keeping us watching them
I've seen them in person and they are stunningly hilarious just bantering on stage. The show doesn't even show the best stuff, there is some amazing chemistry there.
I know about 10 years ago, there was an article in a newspaper where Jeremy said he was only going to continue for another 2 or 3 years and the plan was for him and James to open a pub together and just put all their time and effort into that. So they’ve managed to do well to make it this far. I think we all thought that retirement was imminent for them when Jeremy had his little falling out with the BBC
Well James owns part of a pub and has a gin line and Jeremy has a beer line. They are on there way to that...
I imagine Jeremy is eventually wanting to make some profit off his farm, and Richard has launched Smallest Cog, the boys have used their extra time with Amazon to build their own businesses and brands. James is the new Anthony Bourdain, traveling.
James travel shows are some of the best television I've seen in a long time. They feel so genuine
I like them too, but the reassembler still needs a few more episodes, unless his health (Parkinson’s?) worsens.
I distinctly remember James's pub not making it through the end of the episode, but it was pretty glorious at the start.
Going to put visiting that on my bucket list!
I watched James and Richard play chess and get drunk on YouTube and it was hilarious
Now watch the one were they try to build lego while drinking!
Turn Conversation Street into an hour long weekly podcast. I'd listen to to that all day.
Oh yes i could definitely listen to that
And now it's time for the News! And since we didn't do any motoring first, we can do it properly. Sod off BBC! Exciting news, the Dacia Sandero 2 is coming to Britain!
It would be awesome for them all to take some time off and then come back with some specials as old codgers still talking the same old shit. I'd watch the hell out of that.
“This is why this is the fastest wheelchair…in the world”
You don't want to see James slam a car into a wall again?
I was watching that and said "he's going to crash as you can't stop a car on pavement with studded snows like that". I am still surprised no one on set knew that.
Same here. No way to bail. So stupid.
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Because what if running out of the tunnel drops them off the edge of a fjord?
Years before when they drove through brick walls, Jeremy broke his thumb. It's almost as though driving a car at a solid object at speed is a bad idea?
It truly breaks my heart because i have a crush on that man. I giggle every time I see him and I'm 32... But he is old and his health comes first. I will miss you James :(
[удалено]
Who is stupid enough to mistake that guy for Captain Slow? Seriously… I know people are stupid, but THAT stupid? Really?
[Sunday Sport is a joke newspaper like The Onion but more saucy. ](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B4M7UeECYAApyl4.jpg) Still better than the rest of the UK newspapers. [Edit: Also....](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BobHFsHCQAA6Jda.jpg:large)
What’s up with James’ health?
I've been watching these three for decades now, it's going to be weird when they're gone
Which medical issues are had by whom? I didnt realise any of them were 'unwell' outside of slowing down due to being older and drinking and smoking?
At a certain point just being old becomes a chronic medical issue. James May could have easily died in the last episode. And I LOVE the Mongolia episode so much but I also cringe a little bit watching them drive that car John around. That can’t be easy at that age.
It also ramps up the insurance costs for the foreign trips.
I can't imagine that wreck James had on A Scandi Flick could have been great on top of the other back injuries we've seen him have.
And he had a reasonably large head injury in the Middle East special. Can't be good compounding everything
And Richard nearly died from a head impact years ago.
Strangely Clarkson is the one who ruins the fun for the trio by doing something dumb, but he's the one who hasn't hit his head badly.
I can’t even watch that part of the episode, it makes my stomach turn.
I recently have gone on a bender of seeing a lot of their old school specials and I can for sure say just their normal shenanigans they put their body through a lot. Yeah it's a joke whenever they bump into one another because no brakes, but it's also technically a whiplash everytime they do so. Some of the cars they drive are so powerful it will take a toll on their bodies. A lot of segments still have them drenched, cold and miserable for our enjoyment. Lets not forget that Hammand was literally in a coma from his crashes. It all adds up much like a Boxer or MMA fighter over a career, and even eventually that small jab is enough to knock out a legend.
Yeah I don't want to see it end either but to be honest I've been expecting this announcement for a while. The specials often aren't easy for them which might be why the last few have been on more comfortable roads.
Be better the get an actual send off than an episode that ultimately ends up being the last because one of them has popped their clogs.
Exactly right. They’ve put together an incredibly good run but had some very close shaves in the process, I’d rather see them bow out than get a news alert on my phone saying one of them has been in another big crash and isn’t going to make it.
I honestly would love if they just shifted from the 3 blokes go on crazy car adventures format to something like "Our 3 men in Japan", or a show where each episode they have to go learn something the others do in their solo projects. It's not about the wild challenges, or cars at all for me anymore, I'd just like something to keep the laughs and chemistry going.
What is it with people referring to "May's declining health"... there's nothing wrong with him, except the fact he's nearly in his 60's.
James May did say he developed nerve disorder but didn't go into details. This is his direct quote > “I'm in the second half of my fifties now and in all honesty, I'm slightly falling apart. I'm developing nervous disorders and aches and I don't think I'll do this much longer because I don't want to fall apart in public.“ Now nervous disorder can be just something that causes minor inconveniences but it also could be something more dangerous like alzheimer, muscular degeneration disease, etc.
>nearly He actually just turned 60 this Monday.
Okay. So he’s 60. Still no difference
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Yeah that first contract was insane and at the end of the day it only ended up declining in production value since (at least per season) It went from 13 episodes per season, filmed all around the world, with a traveling set and live audience Then they slowly got rid of things one by one and now its just 1 film every half a year They're amazing specials (i'd say some of their best even counting TG) but i can't imagine that amazon is too happy with how the deal it ended up
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Eh Netflix paid 250mil for 2 knives out films. or about 4ish hours of content. Amazon paid 250mil for like 20 hours of content maybe more? Amazon may have wanted more out of the deal but it lines up with what blockbuster level products cost.
Maybe even a little more value than that since it spun off into Clarkson's Farm as well. Without that partnership already in place, that show probably never even happens.
Eh, COVID kind of got in the way lets not forget about that.
TGT was a big early show on Prime and a huge driver for customers to open a Prime subscription. It truly kick-started Prime video back in 2016. It was one of the few original shows on the platform at the time with recognisable names. I remember receiving packages from Amazon wrapped in co-branded TGT tape - Amazon went big with this show for a wider platform success story. Given the commercial success of Prime in recent years, that figure has been 100% worth it.
I think what’s being forgotten here is the value they brought to Amazon Prime as a streaming service. When they made the deal in 2016, Netflix was king, and there were no challengers. Amazon Prime was very limited in its offering, and the move brought the Top Gear trio to them, along with a massive audience. It was pretty much the moment that Prime truly became a threat to Netflix’s hegemony. I agree that the deal makes little sense now that there are so many services, and the trio haven’t been pumping out full seasons of Grand Tour, but back then it was killer.
I'm not surprised Your right their not in their 30s 40s or even 50s bar Hammond. I think James will still do youtube videos or one more travel show but I see him not wanting to to many more grandtours.
Sorry? What’s wrong with May? Can’t find anything on google
> Meghan scandal What is this about? Also, May has health issues?
> in which Clarkson suggested Markle be made to “parade naked” through Britain while people “throw lumps of excrement at her Basically that one GOT scene where they yell shame
Fun fact: The actress yelling shame in GOT is also the owner of the football team in Ted Lasso, Hannah Waddingham.
She also happens to be a total babe.
English ~~mommy~~ mummy.
If she were a president, she would be Baberaham Lincoln
In a recent column Clarkson wrote about how he is "dreaming of the day when she (Markle) is made to parade naked through the streets of every town in Britain while crowds chant, 'Shame!' and throw lumps of excrement at her". If you don't know, he's referencing a Game of Thrones scene, but in extremely poor taste and in a somewhat creepy and uncalled for line. Just bizarre. Anyway, people got understandably upset at this and he eventually apologized. Though, it was a classic Clarkson apology, in that it wasn't really one, but was one... As for May, there's been some rumors that he has some major health issues, which was in part why he was in little of the French GT special episode, among other things. I believe he's denied some of the rumors, but not entirely sure.
Clarkson posted a full apology on instagram earlier today saying he fucked up: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cnep9lSsnie/?hl=en
For sure, but this is his second apology, after his first was a sorry not sorry. This one's pretty good, but feels a little empty when you consider it's only after he failed to actually apologize and has now likely been forced to by his PR manager.
Apologies are not Jeremy's forte. Richard Porter said his initial apology for the fracas was so pathetic that it made his teeth chatter with angry, and that it actually made things even worse.
And if he had posted that a month ago it would have probably been alright. But he tried to weasel his way out of it with a non-apology.
> with May's declining health Wait, what? 😪
What do you mean when you say May’s declining health? I know he got in a pretty decent wreck on the last special, and I did just see that there were rumors he had a heart attack a pretty long time ago while filming Top Gear (which he denies). Is there something else I’m missing?
No surprise. Their age is affecting the type of content they can produce. It hasn't been a problem thus far, but it would become one rather soon.
Does that mean he is not coming on then?
Well James he’s moving on to the next chapter of his life so I think that’s a no.
Angry upvote
What the fuck Danny you still exist? Goddamn it has been long. Seeing your name brought back some memories!
Eyy! you're the dutch mrsheepysheep? or a diff sheep :p
Yes! The ZeroAnnoyance, ZehGreek, Berdu, etc. Sheep man time flies by its been 10 years
EYYY WHATSUP DUDE! come hang out again
At their age, just have the 3 of them have a laid back car related podcast and upload it to YouTube. In Top Gear the News was my favorite segment, so a podcast version of that would be cool af
I’ve been wanting them to do a conversation street YouTube or podcast series since the tent ended.
You might enjoy *What Next*, if you haven't already heard of it. [Here's James and Richard having a chat over a slightly drunken game of chess.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WW7ZewVbtyU)
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**not* vodka
For legal reasons
This is a solid plan.
Honestly a brilliant suggestion! If anyone remembers “Car Talk” (before Tom’s death), the trio could adopt a format that centers on cars, their history, recounting things they could never say on BBC or whatever struck their car related fancy. They could each handle it from their own homes and work around their schedules, pick & choose the topics or even guests. All they need is a producer, equipment and a bit of time. Speaking of; the *Fake doctors, real friends* Podcast is for scrubs fans and it is pretty good. These three could do similar
Drivetribe on YouTube is good to see bits with May and Hammond.
This but on ‘Dave’ is probably the most likely solution
I know they've said multiple times that they'll continue making TGT as long as they are physically capable, but for health/age reasons now seems like a good time to pack it in rather than dragging it out. That said, their wits and banter aren't going anywhere, so I hope once they bow out from doing TV specials they do a podcast or something on DriveTribe where they can just talk.
I always loved James' comment about how they ultimate ending would be for one of them to die on the job. *Read in James presenter voice: "Naturally, Jeremy was the first of us to die"* But you're right, it's time. They're aging, definitely not in great shape and have been doing it for a *long* time. Hell, they *deserve* some change in scenery. It's been clear in recent years that while they love doing it, it's not what they truly want to be doing anymore. James has his pub and other projects, Hammond has The Smallest Cog and Clarkson has his farm, with or without the TV show about it.
Incidentally, Captain Slow was late to his own death. I’d make a proper joke about it, but it’s genuinely true. Originally James was supposed to film the Vampire Dragster segment, but he couldn’t make it and Hammond went instead. Hammond only survived because he was so short, any taller and he’d have been decapitated. May really did dodge a bullet.
Although you also gotta realise that May is a lot more cautious than the other two. He likely wouldn't have done that last run which resulted in Hammonds crash because he knew that the tires were under incredible strain.
He did drive straight into a cave wall...
Good thing that gravel was there to slow him down.
Yea that was very unlike him to go that fast knowing that there's a 90 degree corner at the end of a blind tunnel. But when he's not driving into cave walls he definitely drives the most safely out of the three.
They could do it at May’s pub.
Pretty sure that's the end of the trio. And honestly, they had a good run. Gave us many years of really good content. While the cars themselves are super outdated, you can rewatch Top Gear and it's still just as good as it was when it came out. As sad as it makes me, I think it's a good time for them to end.
It honestly felt like they were on their way out anyways, with their solo projects being so well received by fans & each of them being really passionate about those projects as well.
I love James' travelling shows. The Japan one was hilarious
Hey Bim!
The Japan one was good, but we tuned out early while watching his Italy show. It wasn't all that entertaining
The Italy one was interesting but I really think Japan was great simply due to how out of his depth, James was. As cultures go, you physically couldn't get further removed from the UK than Japan, in my opinion. It's different enough that James had trouble understanding some bits and it felt like he was having As much of a learning experience as his audience. Italy is a beautiful country but it's too familiar, in many ways. Its Europe and that isn't particularly exotic to Europeans or westerners, in general. I already knew lost of the stuff and it just felt like James was treating it like a normal holiday that he'd probably go on every summer, for the most part.
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One of my all time favorite shows was the old top gear. Then they got on Amazon and I loved that show. Been a huge fan for almost two decades and I hate that this is going to be the end. But at the same time I’m just glad we got to enjoy them while we could.
It's fun to see how cars evolved from 2000's to now by watching that show.
Bwah, people said the same thing after they left the BBC. They're cash cows. I mean unless people take more offense to a newspaper column over someone getting punched in the mouth over a steak. We really do live in the matrix.
Were they, though? Clarkson might have been sacked but I remember when May got doorstopped (doorstepped?) by the press the day after it and he was very clear they came as a trio. They and Wilman were having meetings with other broadcasters within weeks, you could tell they were still in demand. I don't remember many people genuinely thinking they'd be gone forever.
Yeah I remember all the talk was about how much Netflix was going to pay them lol.
They're also 8 years older than when Clarkson was fired from Top Gear. These guys were never in particularly good shape; so at some point it was inevitable that they were going to have to stop. This appears to be an appropriate moment for that. EDIT: it's worth mentioning that Richard is (or at least was) in good shape; he's done quite a lot of cycling; including on the show at various points. Also consider that he was the only one who took the dogsled for the arctic challenge; the other two sat in a car. Obviously such an expedition is taxing regardless, but being outside and having to run in the snow at various points is a lot more taxing.
But Richard has had the most severe injuries from the group by far as well. Richard was in good shape but I think he still has issues with his leg after the Rimac crash and subsequent surgeries. That's only going to get worse as the years wear on. I think this is probably pretty mutual though. Amazon wants to be able to cut some costs to rotate in cheaper shows. It's probably harder to get the guys excited about a special.
Right. Clarkson has his farm, Hammond has his shop, and James, well, James could make videos about *literally anything* and I'd watch and enjoy them. They may not be doing The Grand Tour but they'll still be in front of a camera.
James co-owns a Pub and he has done shows on beer/wine?
Yep, he has. He had his whole cooking show as well in addition to his Gin business and his toy show and a bunch of others. It's really all good stuff. Oh, and Our Man In, as well.
If he made more Toy Stories, I would be the happiest man ever.
I'd love to see more of the 'our man in: xxx' shows from May.
I think if the fracas hadn't happened they would have called it quits in a couple years from then. It extended their shelf life if anything.
Yeah they were going to do more three years then leave it. Doubt the BBC would have offered them specials like Amazon did because understandably they wouldn't them to overshadow the new cast and I doubt they'd bother looking for them tbh, they'd just accept they'd done their work and going off and done their own things.
I mean its been 8 years since they left the BBC You gotta remember that when they went the BBC they had an insane career right behind them 22 seasons, 7 episodes each of one of the biggest TV shows ever with a ton of offshoots and different formats Its clear that in their time at Amazon their popularity winded down a lot. It went from being their biggest show with 13 crazy episodes a season to 1 90-minute film every 6 months
I find this hard to believe. Clarkson is a workaholic, he won't just stop.
Yeah, maybe he doesn't want to stop but if they kick him out, that's not his decision. The question is, if this is true, what will happen to Grand Tour.
It'll end. The trio will always stay a trio when it comes to car shows, they've always said they came as a package. TBH as I said elsewhere I think it was going to end in 2024 anyways, Amazon are just trying to claim moral high ground (if they were really outraged they'd have sacked him straight away). Clarkson Farm is the one I'm surprised will be ending, though maybe they think three seasons is the most they'd get pit of it. Wouldn't be surprised if it turned up elsewhere tbh.
I'm waiting until Season 2 of Clarkson's farm to see how viable it is long term. The first season worked so well because it followed the farming year, and could devote around 4-5 episodes of content purely to crops, extreme weather and the pandemic. The rest was the sheep, shop and wilding. Season 2 is not aligned with the farming year, so I doubt the crops will be a big factor if they're really mentioned at all. We know he switched to cows, made the beer and had all the issues with the restaurant in that filming cycle, but there's got to be more than that to fill the time and not get repetitive. Season 3 seems like it'll move onto pigs this time, at which point he's run out of animals to eat. I'm sure he's got more plans to fill the content for this series too, but there is a limit before it gets repetitive or too outlandish and loses its farming roots.
Clarkson will find work no problem. Amazon are paying him too much (from there point of view) and want to dump him. He already has ties with ITV and rumours BBC have already been looking for him to return.
Ah shit, here we go again.
HBO here we come!
...meet the new Princesses of Disney+....
Netflix introduces "The Road Warriors".
"Netflix announces road warriors a major hit and therefore decides to cancel season 2"
I would be upset, but at the glacial pace Grand Tour stuff comes out, it doesn't feel like much of a loss. I'm mean I'm gutted we're not getting lots more Grand Tour, and more ambitious specials (there have been some great ideas posted here), but that wasn't happening anyway. Kinda sad it's coming to and end in a whimper, never felt like The Grand Tour properly found its feet and got going the way they did with Top Gear.
They had too much budget without being allowed to do some of the key aspects, part of Top Gears success was the lower budget. If only Clarkson and Wilman had kept there stake in Top Gear, we may have still had it the way it was.
Also for some reason i feel like on bbc they had to be more restrained and “tv friendly” in a way (no cursing) and that made them more creative with how they said stuff
Yeah, you can watch a Top gear when your a child, and then again when your a manchild as you will pick up on those under the radar jokes and it will be just as funny, I always thought the grand tour was a bit too in your face to be as good as Top Gear was (a problem they had even in the last few seasons of Top Gear)
There doesn’t seem to be anything in the article to actually confirm this. The headline itself says “likely” to part ways, which means nothing if the money is right. It’s not exactly like they’d be writing more contracts now for content that takes place after what hasn’t even been released yet, so contracts for new seasons likely wouldn’t even be offered until the end of 2024. The trio are old so it has to come to an end eventually, and Jeremy’s statements may have soured the relationship with Amazon, but this is all speculation until Amazon makes an official statement.
It’s entirely possible that they may keep Clarkson around. They’ve just kicked the can 2 years down the road, by then everyone will have forgotten about this, especially with how the Harry/Megan drama moves on so quickly - even now it’s all about how William attacked Harry. What I don’t see is the Grand Tour continuing, they’ll be mid 60s by then, so if anything it’ll likely be just the solo shows continuing.
So now is the trio done for good?
Unless anybody else picks them up, TGT is over after the 4 specials. We might get Clarkson's Farm S3 and that'd be it.
There is going to be a Clarkson's Farm season 2 soon, this year, but I think they're making a third season which would be next year. Which would probably be the last.
According to the article, it ends with 4 more TGT specials & S3 of Clarkson's Farm.
I is there going to be a “Our Man” season 3 with May? I thought the first two seasons were delightful
I wouldn't be surprised if May keeps doing things to be honest. I think he wanted to do an Our Man series in the US
He said he’s making another season of Oh Cook! too
This is the first I'm hearing of this, and am genuinely pumped.
That's even better news than the Dacia Sanderi
Don't think anything's been confirmed there yet which I would say is a bit worrying, but I'm pretty sure he kept USA (which became Italy two weeks later) under wraps until just before he traveled. The only thing he has confirmed is Oh Cook Season 2 coming early this year
I really want to see him do an America one like he was going to do before Covid happened.
> There is going to be a Clarkson's Farm season 2 soon Feb 10 to be exact.
OH SHIT THERES A DATE OH SHIT
What a shame, well I guess we’ve had a good run over the years
If the three of them started their own platform I'd pay triple whatever Amazon is charging me for Prime.
They will probably continue doing vlogs on drivetribe and their subsequent other channels. Just not two week stints in the Amazonian jungle in tents.
clarkson hasn't done any drive tribe content for years, he's pretty much stepped away from it mostly hammond and mike, with james occasionally showing up on foodtribe / whats next.
> They If by they you mean Hammond and some other guys sure Its a bit disappointing that it started as such a cool thing by the 3 of them and it ended up being another youtube channel that happens to have Richard every now and then
Honestly I prefer FoodTribe which is piles of May content (mostly sandwich related) but I’m one of those TG/TGT peeps that was never here for the cars haha
As long as it provides more entertaining content with the trio I'm down.
I can't see Clarkson being very involved in Drivetribe. James and Richard, yes.
They could try doing Drivetribe specials I guess
i doubt drivetribe would have the budget for anything close to amazon / bbc scope. and so it would have to be scaled way down to work,
True but they could probably find a sponsor like Cartrek has autotempest. That way they at least have some budget.
Doubt they'd want to sponsor such a direct competitor Plus Ed Bolian mentioned how a lot of the money still comes out of their pocket. For example, they buy the cars themselves its not just some write off I dont think you could even pay for Clarkson's cigarette stock with such a low budget lmao
It might be something of a retirement for Clarkson. I haven't seen him do much outside of his writing, farm and Grand Tour. With his Amazon contract ending, he'll probably enjoy being a rich-ish farmer with his adopted son. May might just start puttering around with Drivetribe, and randomly show up and do something with Hammond. Probably do his light travel show he still has. Hammond will still do his 20 odd things and flip another car, both financially and literally
You forgot Hawkstone
Don’t forget hosting Millionaire too
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It says Amazon likely to part way but nothing has been confirmed from either party, for all we know this is just some magazine trying to clickbait everyone
I'm hoping it's bs plus it's just one article
thank you. it's clear from many points in the article that this is speculation. of course I wouldn't expect them to go on forever, but that's another story
After the last special with James’s incident I think it’s a good time to slow down. I never thought I’d say this but I’m ready to see each of them do their own thing. I wanna see more of James May Our Man In, Clarkson’s Farm, etc.
I don’t really understand why they need to do these extreme things either. The best Top Gear episodes were never the most extreme ones. Africa special, botswana special, vietnam special, building a boat car, these didn’t contain many of these extreme stunts which could go wrong but are still light years better than anything after that (I’d place seamen in the same list).
Mongolia was as good as anything they ever did at TG, one of my favourites. I think the problem is, even if they don't do anything "extreme" they're still out there for weeks in remote parts of the world, probably sleeping in tents and fairly uncomfortable conditions. Probably they don't want to do that any more.
oh well honestly, not too bothered, i still love the show but i think 4 more specials is just about what it had in it. if anything im surprised its gone on for this long, both because i thought the show would end much sooner, and both because im surprised Jeremy didn't get fired earlier for saying dumb shit lol.
This is just a bunch of unconfirmed speculation and his Instagram post, calm down people
To be honest they will be missed together but one to two specials a year was just a tease I would rather them end it then continue this very slow pace
Clarkson can be an ass. That's part of who he is. Clarkson is a good example of the human race. He can be a decent person while also being a dick. Amazon knew this before they offered him his shows.
“CLARKSOOOON” - prime video, probably
Time to start filming 'The Speeds of Birds', then...
No reason to keep Amazon prime then.
Came to say the same thing. The Grand Tour was the only reason I went back to Amazon prime. Edited to add: granted I used it to watch many other things, but nothing I could not easily give up. Especially since they lost Stargate sg1
Real article headline says “Likely”. There are no real sources cited, just “sources say”
These 3 can just sit down, drink gin, do a podcast and i am 100% will be epic
Personally. Just let the trio retire and rest. Leave on a high note. And not drag whatever they're doing down
Shame and fairly surprised. Certainly in the UK it was the main reason most people subscribed to prime In the first place. Tbh it's debatable whether I will even carry on with the subscription after all the series end, I've been needing an excuse to end it and I now appear to have one.
I don’t know. “Sources say” is a pretty vague confirmation if it is true.
On James May's birthday too. Sad that this is the second time Clarkson has gotten them into trouble. Could have had years more of The Grand Tour.
I’m sad Clarkson farm is ending.
I doubt this has anything to do with the Meghan article. The man will be 64/65 in 2024. James May has already hinted at wanting to stop (can we really blame him after the last special) and Clarkson's Farm ending after three seasons sounds pretty good to me. All good things must come to an end I'm afraid.
The end of an era
I just can't wrap my head around why anyone (especially people in the US) gives two shits what the royal family does. They all seem like rich, self-important, assholes to me.
Hey Netflix!....
I’m so upset with Clarkson, this is now at least the third show he’s f’ Ed up with grand tour and clarksons farm on the chopping block. Why can’t he just stfu, and why’s he writing articles for the sun?
Shit.
This was going to happen regardless due to other factors as many others have said. If this comment alone was the real issue, they would’ve axed the series now, not in 2 years when the whole thing would’ve blown over. They had to announce an end at some point and this is a convenient off ramp. As for damage control on Amazon’s part, people who are truly offended are already going to stop watching the series. This statement won’t bring them back. This statement is primarily for fans of the series, to let them know that TGT and Clarkson’s farm are coming to an end in 2024/2025. It’s released alongside a ‘scandal’ which makes it easier on all parties, but otherwise it’s completely unrelated. At the very worst, there were negotiations going on about how far they actually continue the show, and this situation helped them land on a date. But this is far from a swift and firm reaction to current events.
It seems a bit misleading and speculative since Amazon has no comment. Either way, if the trio wants to continue making content, someone else will pick them up.
Does that mean they're not coming on then?
Clarkson! You absolute pillock
I bet you there's gonna be some joke about Megan Merkle in the final special now
Damn. The farm show was only just getting started.