After Jeremy Clarkson was fired for punching a BBC producer in the face over something as trivial as a steak, fans were stressed out about the future of the show. Quite simply, no car show hosts in the world can boast the viewing figures that Jeremy, Richard, and James achieve. The chemistry of the trio is undeniable and it wasn’t long before The Grand Tour came out to the delight of the fans. These three on TV together is exactly what the petrolheads need.
The show found its home on Amazon, and the boys got an even bigger budget to shoot everything properly. Their signature stunts got bigger, the cars got faster, and the jokes got even wilder. It’s safe to say that fans are still clamoring for more. While a lot of people watch the show, many people are in the dark about several things. Here are 15 secrets about The Grand Tour we just found out.
15 The Iconic Intro
When the first episode of the show came out, fans were eager to see how the boys would reinvent the format. However, the intro scene of the show was quite a spectacle. There were all kinds of cars, jets, and a whole crowd of people. It ended up costing the show an incredible $3.4 million to produce!
14 Legal Troubles
Filming the show right after the split from Top Gear was a legal minefield according to producer Andy Wilman. There were so many issues that they had to work through because Jeremy, Richard, And May wanted to use several sayings and bits from Top Gear they felt were signature to their style. The BBC didn’t seem to agree.
13 Different Episode Times
Back in the day, due to the Top Gear belonging to the BBC they would follow the TV airing format. Every single episode is the exact same length, that most certainly isn’t going to be the case with The Grand Tour. Due to its home on Amazon, they aren’t caught in the same restrictions.
12 James Lost A Signature
Throughout the series you’ll notice that James May is not using one of his signature phrases. Whenever something used to go wrong James would always say “oh cock” which is a classic British saying. However, ever since switching to The Grand Tour James has had to stop saying the phrase to avoid legal issues!
11 Amazon Were Pretty Strict
While the show displays a very casual relationship between the producers and the lads because of Andy Wilman being in charge, the higher ups at Amazon were very strict. They always put out deadlines for completing episodes that had to be met. If anything were to be late, Wilman joked that the higher ups at Amazon would have a hitman at his door.
10 Christmas Disaster
The moving tent gave the lads a very different studio from the traditional Top Gear one. Every new location meant a new backdrop. However, for one of the Christmas episodes, things were about to go wrong. The boys were in Lapland, and there was no snow in the background. It only started snowing two days before shooting began!
9 Game Of Thrones Set
While it might not be a secret, many of you might not have noticed while watching the episode. Jeremy, Hammond, and May got the opportunity to drive through the Meeren set. The shooting took place in Ouarzazate, Morocco and it was definitely a wonderful scene. Clarkson especially is a big fan of the show.
8 Crusoe The Collie
Many people thought Richard Hammond was some sort of dog whisperer due to his great chemistry with the dog on the show. However, the adorable Border Collie is his pet. Which is why he’s so obedient and gets along so well with Hammond. It really was a memorable scene from the first season!
7 Just A Piece
One of the funniest scenes of the show was when James May was trying to jump on the boat to England, and failing. His car sinks to the bottom in the stunt and goes completely to waste. However, one of the seats now sits in The Grand Tour offices.
6 Whole Day Of Filming
Whenever the lads would take the car around the Eboladrome for testing, it would be a short but spectacular segment. Little did we know that it would take an entire day of filming to get all the shots. While it might be one of the best jobs in the world, it’s a lot of hard work.
5 James Kept The Buggy
One of the most spectacular episodes was the lads taking on rugged off-road terrains in their beach buggy’s. It was quite an adventure, and the cars were more than up to the challenge. They found a place in everyone’s heart and May found a special attachment. He took his vehicle home with him.
4 Largest Civilian Jet Display
Going back to one of the most amazing introductions in modern TV history. One of the most brilliant showpieces was the jet display. It’s actually the largest civilian jet display in history and you can tell. The Breitling Jet Team were responsible for performing the stunt, and they were using the Aero L-39C Albatross.
3 Jeremy Stole An Idea
Among the funniest segments in the show was Richard Hammond hiding behind the bumper of the Audi TT. It was Jeremy’s idea, and it really did seem completely original. There’s no chance anyone’s catching you hiding in a car like that, but the idea actually came from a migrant man who smuggled into a country using the technique.
2 Driving Each Other Crazy
The show displays many instances when the trio display their incredible bond and strong friendship. Behind all the banter there are moments of genuine love and respect. However, the three of them also drive each other up the wall. Clarkson in particular is responsible for stirring up the pot quite a bit!
1 Clarkson Hated Filming
Some of the best episodes in the series are when the trio goes on some incredible adventure. However, Clarkson doesn’t like filming these tough and strenuous episodes. The Mongolia Special, in particular, was one that Jeremy openly admitted to not enjoying. He took to twitter to give several snippets into how dire things got!