All good things come to an end. That includes James May's time in front of the camera with Richard Hammond and Jeremy Clarkson.
James May sees no future for Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond on TV anymore. The Top Gear and The Grand Tour host believes it's time for the trio to quit.
James May is now publicly saying that he can't see himself doing more and more car shows with Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond.
This seems to be the end for the famous trio from Top Gear and The Grand Tour. The three have worked together for more than twenty years.
Their collaboration began with the BBC program Top Gear in 2003. There they quickly became known for their internal dynamics and way of reviewing cars. That collaboration ended abruptly in 2015.
Jeremy Clarkson was fired from Top Gear after assaulting a producer. James May and Richard Hammond left the show at around the same time as Clarkson. Shortly after, they signed a deal with the streaming service Amazon Prime.
The new series was called The Grand Tour. The short one for several seasons on the streaming service. But now James May is signaling that further collaboration is unlikely.
This is reported by the newspaper Mirror .
The 62-year-old May says that there is nothing wrong with a comeback. It will just be without him. Because the time is right.
– So, there's nothing wrong with the comeback, but there comes a point where you have to draw a line under it.
The end of a TV era
– And as we used to say, we should land it safely instead of smashing it. We have exhausted our approach to the subject, it says.
According to May, age also plays a decisive role.
– It's probably time for a more modern approach, and we're already quite old.
– So if we made a comeback in 20 years, it would be in some deck chairs. And I think that would be pretty sad.
– I really don't think that will happen.
Although May sounds dismissive, there is more content coming from The Grand Tour and the program's original host Tiro.
However, these are specials that look back at previous seasons. They are not new adventures.
The new episodes will start with the program The Not Very Grand Tour: The Power and the Glory on April 18. However, there will also be programs in 2026.
The program is described as a 'best of' collection. It is a look back at the trio's time together.
The future of car TV
In an interview with Al Arabiya News, May explains that times have changed. The interest in cars among young people may be different today. Future car programs should reflect that.
– I mean, I'm trying, I've written a few things about the future of cars and electric cars and so on.
However, he believes that new forces are needed.
– But it really requires, I think, some people in their 20s or early 30s with a very modern mindset. They can and should tap into the interest in cars among young people today.
– It will be a different angle than the one we had, but I'm sure it must be there somewhere. I don't believe that cars on television are over.
The Grand Tour ended last year. Clarkson, May and Hammond had an emotional end, returning to a place that was significant to their careers.
They planned to end the series after an adventure in Zimbabwe. In the end, they cut to Kubu Island in Botswana instead. That's where their first Top Gear special began in 2007.
Although the trio is ending their joint programs, they will continue individually. For example, read more about Jeremy Clarkson's popular farming series, Clarkson's Farm , here on Boosted.dk. We will also keep you updated on when the final The Grand Tour specials will be released.
