--- title: "Clarkson, Hammond, and May’s Grand Tour Tenure Is Coming to an End" description: "The Grand Tour's final special will air next year, marking an end to the trio of Clarkson, Hammond, and May." date: "2023-11-30" modified: "2023-11-30" authors: - name: "Nico DeMattia" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/nico-demattia" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/clarkson-hammond-and-mays-grand-tour-tenure-is-coming-to-an-end" categories: - "Culture" - "News" - "People" --- # Clarkson, Hammond, and May’s Grand Tour Tenure Is Coming to an End ![]() *Getty* The old *Top Gear* trio of [Jeremy Clarkson](), Richard Hammond, and James May will be hitting your screen as the hosts of *The Grand Tour* for the final time in 2024. The two final episodes have now been filmed, taking place in Mauritania and Zimbabwe, where the trio we've grown to love will close a chapter that's been three decades in the making. “We’re done. I have reviewed cars on TV since 1989. That’s 34 years. And after next year, I won’t be doing that any more," Clarkson told *[The Times]()*. Since *The Grand Tour* launched in 2016, after Clarkson was fired from *Top Gear* for punching a producer, it's gone through several changes. First, it was essentially a *Top Gear* recreation, with celebrity interviews and an in-studio live show. Then they tightened it up by ditching the celebrity stuff. Eventually, they ditched the live show altogether and just made feature-length specials. And while none of *The Grand Tour's* iterations managed to capture the magic of [*Top Gear* at its best](), it was still one of the most watched shows on *Amazon Prime*. Millions of people tuned in to watch the automotive equivalent of the Three Stooges (and I mean that as a grand compliment). ![]() **Getty** All three hosts have their own projects to pursue outside of *The Grand Tour* anyway. Clarkson has his [farm show]() and May has a travel show, both of which are also on *Amazon Prime*, while Hammond still does a lot of work for *DriveTribe*, while also presenting other TV programs. So they'll still be around, even though *The Grand Tour* won't be. This news also comes just a couple of weeks after the *BBC* decided to[ indefinitely shut down *Top Gear*](). After host Freddie Flintoff's accident during filming and the subsequent settlement, the *BBC* decided against renewing the show. Clarkson doesn't blame the most recent trio of *Top Gear* hosts for not wanting to return, either, specifically Flintoff. "Richard Hammond was always keen to get back to work \[following a crash\], whereas Freddie isn’t," Clarkson told *[The Sun]()*. "I don’t blame him. I know what happened on that awful day and it was horrific." ![]() **Getty** Clarkson even said that anyone who wants to take over in Flintoff's spot would come across as "heartless." In a matter of weeks, the world learned that the two most entertaining car shows on TV are shutting down. We all knew this day was coming soon, as the original *Top Gear* gang are all either in their sixties or getting quite close, but it's still a little sad to see them go. Sure, their most recent work pales in comparison to the shows from their prime but, like most millennial car nerds, Clarkson, Hammond, and May made an indelible impression on me and the way I look at cars, and I'm sure I'm not alone on that one. Thanks for the memories, chaps. *Got tips? Send 'em to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Nico is a writer and reviewer from New Jersey who probably thinks he’s a lot funnier than he actually is. His love of cars began when he was just a kid playing Gran Turismo 3, grinding out enough race wins with a Mazda Miata to save up for an in-game RUF 911. That passion for small, lightweight sports cars drove his desire to learn more about the industry, get his hands on as many cars as he could, and bring those experiences to life on the page. He cut his teeth writing about BMWs, Volkswagens, and Audis, mostly, and has owned far too many of each. He’s on his fourth 3 Series sedan, but all of his old, cheap German cars have forced him to learn more about car maintenance than his mechanical capability can handle. Too many late nights have been spent scrambling to get a car running by morning so he could get to work. For some reason, he never seems to learn that old Bimmers probably aren’t the best daily drivers. But he loves more than just old German cars. He’ll gladly drive and discuss anything with four (or even three) wheels. Cars aren’t his only passions, though. Nico is also a big nerd and loves movies, video games, comic books, and cares far too much about the New York Giants. So don’t be surprised if you see football references or dumb, obscure movie quotes in any of his car reviews. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()