Recently, the host of the renowned automotive show, The Grand Tour, Jeremy Clarkson (affectionately referred to as "Big Ape" by car enthusiasts and viewers), announced on social media that The Grand Tour will cease broadcasting in 2024. Prior to this, various British media outlets, including the BBC, had reported rumors about The Grand Tour ending, but this announcement by the show's host marks the first official confirmation.
Jeremy Clarkson posted on social media, stating, "Today has been a busy day. There will be no more Grand Tour after next year, but there will be more Clarkson's Farm shows. The view tonight looks very nice." According to BBC reports, there may be future automotive shows similar to The Grand Tour, but it has not been clarified whether the trio, known as "The Grand Tour Three," will return.
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According to media reports, Richard Hammond, Jeremy Clarkson, and James May will no longer host The Grand Tour after filming the final episode in Zimbabwe, scheduled to air in 2024. As early as July of the current year, overseas media leaked information that Jeremy Clarkson would not renew his contract with The Grand Tour's distributor, Amazon Prime, due to controversial remarks made about Meghan Markle, the wife of Prince Harry, in his column for the UK's "The Sun" newspaper.
James May, Richard Hammond, and Jeremy Clarkson were previously hosts of the popular British automotive show Top Gear under the BBC. In March 2015, Jeremy Clarkson had a physical altercation with the show's producer over a catering issue, resulting in his dismissal from the BBC. James May and Richard Hammond also resigned in solidarity. After leaving the BBC, the trio signed with Amazon Prime, launching a new automotive show: The Grand Tour.
The Grand Tour lived up to expectations, surpassing Top Gear in excitement and topicality. Memorable segments such as the showdown between the McLaren P1, Porsche 918, and Ferrari LaFerrari captivated car enthusiasts. However, the show's success relied heavily on substantial funding, with an average production budget of £4.5 million (approximately ¥40.5 million RMB) per episode, far exceeding the average budget of Top Gear.
Just a few days ago, the BBC officially announced on social media that the automotive show Top Gear would be discontinued, citing the main reason as a severe accident involving the current host, Andrew Flintoff, during filming. The departure of "The Grand Tour Three" was also mentioned as one of the contributing factors. After their departure, Top Gear lost a significant number of loyal fans, and the show's visibility, influence, and profitability declined, with the host's injury possibly being the final straw that led to the BBC discontinuing the automotive program.
