It seems to have been in the works forever – but now Jeremy Clarkson’s new Top Gear rival show on Amazon is getting closer to reality as it now finally has a name.
Earlier today, the controversial broadcaster tweeted this message following a meeting with his co-presenters James May and Richard Hammond (playing on the idea of the conclave that gathers to elect a new Pope; white smoke is flown from the Vatican when a name is victorious).
Start the smoke. We have a name.
— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) May 11, 2016
Tease that he is, Clarkson waited a few more minutes to build the suspense before unveiling the winner:
So, the Grand Tour (GT for short) will come from a tent, which we will put up in a different location every week. Your town?
— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) May 11, 2016
According to a report in The Telegraph, the presenters’ decision-making went like this.
“Thing is,” said Clarkson, “We’ll be travelling the world hosting each episode in a different country, from a giant tent. It’s a sort of ‘grand tour’, if you like. So we’ve decided to call it The Grand Tour.”
Some fans will be disappointed that they didn’t go for this option in the end:
I see that many people think our new show is called Gear Knobs. Well you heard it here first. It isn't.
— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) October 9, 2015
The conspiracy theorists are already out:
@JeremyClarkson @thegrandtour Also, Top Gear = TG, Grand Tour = GT? I see…
— Alan (John) Wilkinson 🇬🇧 (@Cassius335) May 11, 2016
While other Twitter users piped in with location suggestions:
@JeremyClarkson I imagine a suspicious number of episodes will be broadcast from penistone
— A (@lxthrdg) May 11, 2016
@JeremyClarkson not to mention cockermouth, shitterton and twatt
— A (@lxthrdg) May 11, 2016
Amazon is reportedly paying £160m for three series of the show, which is being made by a production company set up by the three former Top Gear hosts.
