Jeremy Clarkson sparks major The Grand Tour fan row as he unveils new Amazon show hosts: 'Impossible to continue!'

Over a year on, and Mr Clarkson has helped Amazon unveil who the trio's successors will be in a new social media announcement.

Viral trainspotting sensation Francis Bourgeois is joining forces with YouTube motoring duo James Engelsman and Thomas Holland for the coveted roles.

Mr Bourgeois, Mr Engelsman, and Mr Holland emerged from what Prime Video described as an extensive search process to find successors for the show.

Studio Lambert, the production company behind The Traitors and Gogglebox, has taken over production duties from Expectation, which previously made the series.

The forthcoming six-part series will transport viewers across three continents, with the presenters tackling diverse automotive challenges in Angola, Malaysia, and California.

Audiences can expect to see the trio navigating the Angolan desert in track vehicles, immersing themselves in Malaysia's distinctive car culture, and putting America's finest performance machines through their paces on Californian roads.

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Prime Video stated that the new season "honours the show's legacy while driving it into a new era."

The programme promises a blend of adventure, horsepower and comedy, maintaining the spirit that made the original format a global success.

Mr Clarkson was roped in to announce his and his co-stars' replacement in a typically humorous video shared across social media.

However, the reaction has been far from unanimous, with viewers' responses representing a blend of apprehension, excitement, and even fury.

Responding to Mr Clarkson's announcement video, one Instagram user wrote: "There's no way it will be the same as before but if the trio is still working behind the scenes then maybe it's worth a shot."

A second was similarly cautious: "I will give them the benefit of the doubt since mister Wilman and Jeremy are behind it but one episode where this trio doesn't work and we're done here."

"I thought they realised that the only reason we watch grand tour is because of the trio," a third hit out, while a fourth warned: "Some things can't be replicated."

"Impossible to continue. The Magic is in that Trio. The end," a fifth brutally surmised, while a sixth weighed in: "Well, not looking forward to whatever this might be at all. Nonetheless, it deserves a shot, even if just to honour The Trio's legacy." (sic)

However, some fans were more optimistic. "I know the chemistry of each presenter takes time, but as long they are not forced to be like the original trio like BBC did with TG, i think they'll be fine," one fan argued.

"The ThrottleHouse guys are awesome! Perfect mix of humour and professionalism," a second praised.

Elsewhere, a third one slammed the negative reaction directly: "All the sweaty ones on here moaning, get a grip this new line up looks good and be a new dynamic you can’t just sit and live in the old top gear days."

And a fourth supporter echoed: "Do you know, I'm glad this video has been made and I'm willing to give this new trio a chance." (sic)

Studio Lambert's chief creative officer, Tim Harcourt, is nothing but enthusiastic for the project and noted the series would take the presenters "from Angola and Malaysia to California and Didcot Parkway."

When it comes to the new hosts, Mr Bourgeois has built a social media following approaching six million through his enthusiastic trainspotting content, but his credentials extend beyond railway platforms.

The presenter holds qualifications as a mechanical engineer and previously worked at Rolls-Royce, with technical expertise that reportedly allows him to identify vehicle makes by engine sound alone. He also fronted Trainspotting with Francis Bourgeois for Channel 4.

His co-presenters bring nearly a decade of automotive content creation experience through Throttle House, their YouTube channel, which attracts more than 3.35 million subscribers and approximately 75 million viewers annually.

Canada-based Mr Holland works as an automotive journalist and amateur racing driver, specialising in high-performance vehicles.

Mr Engelsman brings an enthusiast's perspective, evidenced by his ownership of a Toyota Century limousine originally manufactured for Japanese royalty.

Mr Bourgeois acknowledged the weight of expectation, saying: "The saying 'big shoes to fill' spring to mind. Well, in this case it'll be like Mo Farah running in Size 14 wellies — it'll be a little awkward at first, perhaps blister-inducing but will overall be an interesting watch."

Mr Holland brought characteristic wit to proceedings: "When I first heard they were rebooting The Grand Tour and replacing Clarkson Hammond and May, I said 'only a moron would take that job.'"

Mr Engelsman reflected on his partnership evolving: "I've worked with Thomas for almost a decade making car films. Who knew that all this time, the one ingredient that was missing was a Francis Bourgeois? Let the car adventures commence."

Tara Erer, head of UK and Northern Europe originals at Prime Video, described the programme as the streamer's most-watched unscripted British original worldwide, adding: "Finding the right successors was no small feat – but we've absolutely struck gold."