Advertisement

James May has ALREADY put a time limit on The Grand Tour

Has James May just announced an end date for The Grand Tour already?

James May/Rex Photos
James May/Rex Photos

That’s what some fans of the show were wondering after reading an interview in which he hints that he probably isn’t up to carrying on for more than another five years.

“Within the next five years I don’t want to be fart-arsing around,” he admitted to the Radio Times. “We have to accept that fairly soon we will be too old for it. Richard Hammond is a reasonably fit bloke who looks after himself, me and Jeremy aren’t.

“Jeremy is particularly decrepit, and I find growing within me – I try to fight it for some reason, but I’m giving into it – a much stronger, nesty sort of instinct.

The Grand Tour/Amazon
The Grand Tour/Amazon

“I’m not beholden to anyone,” the 53-year-old presenter continued. “I’m not waiting for a pension or a carriage clock. But you have to know when to step back, and to be honest I thought it would have happened by now.

“Eventually I want some other people to do it.”

Hmmm… how about Chris Evans?

It’s particularly bad news for the ex-Top Gear gang’s legions of fans who have voted the Amazon Prime series a resounding hit – but at least Richard Hammond should be able to hold out for a few more years if Clarkson and May do decide to grow old gracefully.

The Grand Tour is now three episodes in, and its popularity shows no signs of waning – which is pretty good news considering it’s one of the most expensive shows ever produced.

Jeremy Clarkson/Rex Photos
Jeremy Clarkson/Rex Photos

Netflix boss Ted Sarandos claimed last week that Amazon Prime splashed out an eye-watering $250million on the series – while also admitting that the channel tried to sign up the presenting trio.

Clarkson has since rubbished the figure, claiming the real amount is “nowhere near as expensive as people have been saying.”