- James Engelsman, Thomas Holland and Francis Bourgeois are developing their own chemistry as the new Grand Tour presenters.
- The trio have ruled out making their own version of Clarkson’s Farm because copying that formula would not have the same appeal.
- Francis Bourgeois suggested turning unused space at Queenstown Road Station into a cafe with an outdoor railway viewing area.
- The cafe idea is currently more of a fun business concept than an announced Prime Video spinoff, but it shows the trio have plenty of ideas.
The Grand Tour spinoff could take the new presenting trio in a direction nobody was expecting. While James Engelsman, Thomas Holland and Francis Bourgeois have already proved they can bring their own personality to the latest chapter of the motoring series, they are not particularly interested in simply copying Jeremy Clarkson’s successful farming formula.
With all six episodes of the latest series now available on Prime Video, the arrival of the new presenters has inevitably raised a bigger question. Could this new trio eventually get a show of their own?
It is an easy idea to imagine. Engelsman, Holland and Bourgeois have quickly developed an entertaining chemistry, and their appearances together outside the main programme suggest there is plenty more potential between them.
A Clarkson style farming show, however, does not appear to be on their wish list.
Farming is probably off the table
Clarkson’s Farm has become one of Prime Video’s biggest British hits, turning Jeremy Clarkson’s attempts to run Diddly Squat Farm into a surprisingly compelling mixture of agriculture, comedy and chaos.
It might therefore seem logical for Amazon to give the new presenters their own version of that formula. But Engelsman has a fairly simple reason why that would not work.
Speaking about the possibility, he joked that even Clarkson struggles to make Clarkson’s Farm work.
The point is important. Much of the appeal of Clarkson’s Farm comes from watching Clarkson attempt something that is completely outside his comfort zone. The mistakes, arguments and unexpected problems are part of what makes the programme so enjoyable.
Trying to recreate that with another group of presenters could easily feel forced.
The new trio also have their own strengths. Their enthusiasm for cars and motorsport is obvious, but Bourgeois in particular brings an unusual perspective thanks to his background as a social media personality and his well known fascination with trains.
And that is where things get considerably more interesting.
Francis Bourgeois has a rather brilliant idea
Rather than buying a farm, Bourgeois already has another business venture in mind.
His idea involves Queenstown Road Station in London.
The presenter suggested turning an unused area of the station into a cafe. There is apparently an old ticket selling window that could be repurposed to serve coffee, while a disused platform could potentially become an outdoor seating area overlooking the railway.
It sounds wonderfully specific, which is probably why the idea is so easy to picture.
A railway station cafe run by the new Grand Tour presenters would also fit Bourgeois particularly well. His fascination with trains has become one of the most recognisable parts of his public persona, so combining coffee, railways and his enthusiasm for the subject feels much more natural than putting him on a farm.
Holland clearly liked the idea too, joking that it could become their retirement plan and perhaps even a joint business venture.
For a conversation that started with the possibility of a television spinoff, it quickly turned into something that sounds almost like an actual business proposal.
The chemistry is the real opportunity
Whether Amazon would ever turn the cafe idea into a television series is another question entirely.
There is certainly something appealing about the concept. It would give the three presenters a chance to spend time together away from the traditional car show format, while still allowing their individual personalities to drive the programme.
It could even combine cars, trains, travel and food without feeling like a conventional motoring programme.
That said, the more obvious opportunity may simply be to give the presenters more time together on screen.
The transition to a new presenting team was always going to attract attention. Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May established a chemistry that became one of the defining features of their television careers. Recreating that dynamic was never going to be straightforward.
The encouraging part is that Engelsman, Holland and Bourgeois do not appear to be trying to become the old trio.
Instead, they are gradually developing something of their own.
Their appearances together feel less polished and more spontaneous, which gives the programme a different energy. There is also enough personality between the three of them to suggest that the format could evolve beyond simply replacing familiar faces.
For now, though, fans may have to be patient. There is no indication that Amazon is preparing a cafe based spinoff, and the presenters’ comments appear to be more playful brainstorming than an official proposal.
Still, the idea is difficult to dismiss completely.
A railway platform cafe, three presenters, plenty of coffee and an endless stream of trains passing by could make for a surprisingly entertaining show.
And if that never happens, there is still one thing worth hoping for. The new presenters should get another chance to prove what they can do together before Amazon starts looking for the next big idea.
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