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The grand tour.

S3.E1 ∙ Motown Funk

S3.E2 ∙ The Colombia Special Part 1

S3.E3 ∙ The Colombia Special Part 2

S3.E4 ∙ Pick Up, Put Downs

S3.E5 ∙ An Itchy Urus

S3.E6 ∙ Chinese Food for Thought

S3.E7 ∙ Well Aged Scotch

S3.E8 ∙ International Buffoons Vacation

S3.E9 ∙ Aston, Astronauts and Angelina's Children

S3.E10 ∙ The Youth Vote

S3.E11 ∙ Sea to Unsalty Sea

S3.E12 ∙ Legends and Luggage

S3.E13 ∙ The Mongolia Special-Survival of the Fattest

S3.E14 ∙ Funeral for a Ford

S4.E1 ∙ The Grand Tour Presents: Seamen

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Scandinavian Special (TGT)

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The episode saw the presenters travel from Norway to Finland, travelling through Sweden in three AWD Rally Inspired Sports Saloons.

• 3 Production

Synopsis [ ]

The episode sees the presenters travel from Through Norway, Sweden and Finland in three AWD Sports Saloons that have Rally Pedigree.

Production [ ]

The episode was filmed in March 2022 beginning in Norway, then travelling through Sweden and Finalnd.

• It is the third European Special that the trio have taken part in.
• It's also the first special in two years where the trio will be making a long trek across several countries in three individual cars rather than a whole range of cars across a shorter distance.
• It's also the first purely Winter Special since the Polar Special .
• During filming May crashed his Mitsubishi Evo VIII FQ260 into a wall at 75mph. He subsequently was hospitalised with a bloodied’ head after the impact from the crash, pain in his back and neck and ‘at least one broken rib’. Clarkson and Hammond had to continue filming without him and May was only able to rejoion a day or so later. His Evo, however suffered complete breakdown as the snow coated on the engine, as the result being stuck at the thick snow.
• The special was meant to take part in Russia but due to the Russian-Ukraine war, it had to be changed to Scandinavia. Clarkson admitted purchasing the Audi RS4 used in a Sunday Times article.
• This was the first Grand Tour special and the first since the Patagonia Special to reintroduce a "backup/forefeit" car - a Volvo 345.

Trailer [ ]

The Grand Tour Presents- A Scandi Flick - Official Trailer

• 2 Hammond's Rimac Crash (TGT)
• 3 Cheap Car Challenges

What was the Grand Tour?

Find out about the travel phenomenon that became popular amongst the young nobility of England

Art, antiquity and architecture: the Grand Tour provided an opportunity to discover the cultural wonders of Europe and beyond.  

Popular throughout the 18th century, this extended journey was seen as a rite of passage for mainly young, aristocratic English men. 

As well as marvelling at artistic masterpieces, Grand Tourists brought back souvenirs to commemorate and display their journeys at home. 

One exceptional example forms the subject of a new exhibition at the National Maritime Museum. Canaletto’s Venice Revisited brings together 24 of Canaletto’s Venetian views, commissioned in 1731 by Lord John Russell following his visit to Venice. 

Find out more about this travel phenomenon – and uncover its rich cultural legacy. 

Canaletto's Venice Revisited

The origins of the Grand Tour

The development of the Grand Tour dates back to the 16th century. 

One of the earliest Grand Tourists was the architect Inigo Jones , who embarked on a tour of Italy in 1613-14 with his patron Thomas Howard, 14th Earl of Arundel. 

Jones visited cities such as Parma, Venice and Rome. However, it was Naples that proved the high point of his travels.  

Jones was particularly fascinated by the San Paolo Maggiore, describing the church as “one of the best things that I have ever seen.” 

Jones’s time in Italy shaped his architectural style. In 1616, Jones was commissioned to design the Queen’s House in Greenwich for Queen Anne of Denmark , the wife of King James I. Completed in around 1636, the house was the first classical building in England. 

The expression ‘Grand Tour’ itself comes from 17th century travel writer and Roman Catholic priest Richard Lassels, who used it in his guidebook The Voyage of Italy, published in 1670. 

By the 18th century, the Grand Tour had reached its zenith. Despite Anglo-French wars in 1689-97 and 1702-13, this was a time of relative stability in Europe, which made travelling across the continent easier. 

The Grand Tour route

For young English aristocrats, embarking on the Grand Tour was seen as an important rite of passage. 

Accompanied by a tutor, a Grand Tourist’s route typically involved taking a ship across the English Channel before travelling in a carriage through France, stopping at Paris and other major cities. 

Italy was also a popular destination thanks to the art and architecture of places such as Venice, Florence, Rome, Milan and Naples. More adventurous travellers ventured to Sicily or even sailed across to Greece. The average Grand Tour lasted for at least a year. 

As Katherine Gazzard, Curator of Art at Royal Museums Greenwich explains, this extended journey marked the culmination of a Grand Tourist’s education.  

“The Grand Tourists would have received an education that was grounded in the Classics,” she says. “During their travels to the continent, they would have seen classical ruins and read Latin and Greek texts. The Grand Tour was also an opportunity to take in more recent culture, such as Renaissance paintings, and see contemporary artists at work.” 

As well as educational opportunities, the Grand Tour was linked with independence. Places such as Venice were popular with pleasure seekers, boasting gambling houses and occasions for drinking and partying.  

“On the Grand Tour, there’s a sense that travellers are gaining some of their independence and having a lesson in the ways of the world,” Gazzard explains. “For visitors to Venice, there were opportunities to behave beyond the social norms, with the masquerade and the carnival.” 

Art and the Grand Tour 

Bound up with the idea of independence was the need to collect souvenirs, which the Grand Tourists could display in their homes.  

“The ownership of property was tied to status, so creating a material legacy was really important for the Grand Tourists in order to solidify their social standing amongst their peers,” says Gazzard. “They were looking to spend money and buy mementos to prove they went on the trip.” 

The works of artists such as those of the 18th century view painter Giovanni Antonio Canal (known as Canaletto ) were especially popular with Grand Tourists. Prized for their detail, Canaletto’s artworks captured the landmarks and scenes of everyday Venetian life, from festive scenes to bustling traffic on the Grand Canal . 

In 1731, Lord John Russell, the future 4th Duke of Bedford, commissioned Canaletto to create 24 Venetian views following his visit to the city. 

Lord John Russell is known to have paid at least £188 for the set – over five times the annual earnings of a skilled tradesperson at the time.  

“Canaletto’s work was portable and collectible,” says Gazzard. “He adopted a smaller size for his canvases so they could be rolled up and shipped easily.” 

These detailed works, now part of the world famous collection at Woburn Abbey, form the centrepiece of Canaletto’s Venice Revisited at the National Maritime Museum . 

Who was Canaletto?

The legacy of the Grand Tour 

The start of the French Revolution in 1789 marked the end of the Grand Tour. However, its legacy is still keenly felt. 

The desire to explore and learn about different places and cultures through travel continues to endure. The legacy of the Grand Tour can also be seen in the artworks and objects that adorn the walls of stately homes and museums, and the many cultural influences that travellers brought back to Britain. 

Canaletto's Venice Revisited

Main image:  The Piazza San Marco looking towards the Basilica San Marco and the Campanile by Canaletto . From the Woburn Abbey Collection . Canaletto painting in body copy:  Regatta on Grand Canal  by Canaletto  From the Woburn Abbey Collection

The Grand Tour: This Is What Happened To The Carnage A Trois Trebuchet

The Grand Tour’s second pandemic special saw Jeremy Clarkson , Richard Hammond , and James May driving a number of french cars from Wales to the South Coast of England, and while they were restricted to the UK due to the pandemic, it was one of their best episodes yet.

But many questioned what happened to the amazing trebuchet they used to fling a car over the Channel to France. Well, in a recent video by DriveTribe that explores the company that makes The Grand Tour’s crazy contraptions, presenter Mike Fernie finds out how it came to its sticky end.

The trebuchet was built by the company HMS Engineering. These guys create all of the whacky and wonderful things you’ve seen used on Top Gear and The Grand Tour , and a number of other TV shows. But they also create work for other businesses such as an off-road track that winds itself through a Boeing for Land Rover.

They also created The Grand Tour’s trebuchet, which company boss Hadrian Spooner describes as “a piece of art” before admitting that it’s no longer with them.

“It’s gone, melted down, cut up,” he said to a saddened Mike Fernie. Spooner explains that something like the trebuchet would be a liability for the production company if anyone was to get hurt by it while being in storage, or if anyone was to use it wrongly or as a weapon. The easiest thing to do with builds like this is to destroy them.

“I used to think it was a crying shame, but when you’ve done so much of it, you just realise it’s what has to happen.”

He goes on to explain how the ask from The Grand Tour was “significantly past the world record”, and what he built was “one of the biggest in the world”.

HMS Engineering is currently building something for an upcoming episode of The Grand Tour, and while it’s currently being hidden from view, we’re very excited to see it being used when the time comes.

Steven Douglas

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The Grand Tour: Where You Can Stream Every Episode Online

• Top Gear trio, Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May, returned with The Grand Tour on Amazon Prime after leaving the original show.
• The Grand Tour evolved over 5 seasons, ditching the Top Gear format for adventure-based episodes filmed around the world.
• The Grand Tour will conclude in Zimbabwe after over 20 years of automotive adventures, as the trio pursue new projects individually.

If you were around, conscious and a self-proclaimed automotive enthusiast in the early 2000s, then you should distinctly know three names: Jeremy Clarkson , Richard Hammond and James May. These three British car enthusiasts hosted one of (if not) the most prolific automotive review shows, that started in 2002, named " Top Gear ." Top Gear was a no-holds bar, British automotive enthusiasts' show that had glitz, glamour and the Stig.

They had several different segments that covered automotive news, hot laps with new cars, celebrity guests and eventually turned it into a touring series where they would globe trot, partaking in all kinds of adventures with different automobiles. Unfortunately, the beloved TV series did not come without its fair share of controversies. As a result, Jeremey Clarkson was fired from the series. James May and Richard Hammond subsequently resigned in 2014.

Fast-forward to 2015 and rumors starting swirling around the internet that the three automotive musketeers were going to make a comeback in a "Grand" style. By the time 2016 rolled around, there was an official announcement that they were coming back to host their own TV series called, " The Grand Tour ." The Grand Tour is a carbon copy of Top Gear that has the guy's own twist on the series. We're going to go over the synopses of the series, tell you where you can stream it and cover the fact that it may be on its last tour.

HotCars has sourced information from IMDb and Amazon Prime, in order to bring you everything you need to know about streaming The Grand Tour .

Here's What Top Gear's "The Stig" Now Does As A Day Job

Here's where you can stream every episode of the grand tour.

The Grand Tour consists of five seasons. Each episode is between one hour and 90 minutes in length. The first couple of seasons have a similar format to the original Top Gear. Instead of a dedicated location, they would film in a massive tent in different locations around the world. Finally, they ended up staying put in The Cotswolds, England.

When the third season premiered, they had completely trashed the idea of carbon copying Top Gear. Instead, they focused on making it a show of their own and really leaning into the "Grand Tour" aspect of the show. They sacked the studio audience, the tent and the hot laps for going on season-long adventures around the world .

When it comes to streaming these three famous gear heads, you have two options. It originally (and still does) air on Amazon Prime here in the US. Prime TV is included with your Amazon Prime membership, but if you do not want to buy a Prime membership for $140 a year, you can buy episodes in a pay-per-view format. You can also watch it for free (with advertisements) on FreeVee.

Where To Watch

• Amazon Prime: $14.99 per month.
• FreeVee - Free with created profile.

This Is The Best Road Trip Ever From A Top Gear Special

The grand tour seasons 1-3 synopsis.

Season one premiered November 18th, 2016 and is currently sitting at an 8.6 out of 10 rating on IMDB, titled: The Holy Trinity. The set-up of the first couple of seasons mimicked the format of Top Gear . The difference is that they re-titled the different segments to not only not be sued by the BBC, but also to give them their own style and flair. The first season had 13 episodes, and they went all over from Nambia to Stuttgart in Germany, engaging in their usual wacky antics.

They even poked fun at their last series. Whenever they have a "celebrity" on, they would have them perish in some horrendous accident behind the tent that was all a stunt to make fun of the "stars in a reasonably priced car" segment from Top Gear. There were hot laps, a news segment called "conversation street" and a Stig-like stand-in, who would actually show their face while driving the car of the week. Instead of the Stig, they employed "the American." Mike Skinner is his name, and he is a NASCAR driver that they would poke fun at while he was driving whatever car they threw at him.

The Contraversial Segment Top Gear Couldn't Air, According To The Stig

The grand tour seasons 4-5 synopsis.

Releasing in December 2019, the producers scrapped the knock-off Top Gear format and instead stuck to their name and actually took the guys on a "Grand Tour." No longer was the studio audience, the segments, or the Stig with a face. In its place, they traveled to Cambodia and Vietnam, and even to Scotland. The year 2020 saw the inevitable COVID-19 pandemic which halted production.

Naturally, the pandemic caused complications for filming, but the trio persevered. In order to abide by UK laws at the time, which instructed individuals to restrict who they mix with, they each purchased a caravan in which they could travel in whilst filming, which was also the basis for the camera crew. By following these guidelines, the GT team were still able to deliver a new episode.

The Grand Tour Turned To "Special" Feature-Length Episodes

With the unfortunate rise of the pandemic, production of The Grand Tour turned season 4 into shorter specials that highlighted different adventures . Each episode was titled along the lines of: "The Grand Tour Presents: *Insert Special Title Here*" This is where the true nature of grand touring came into play. They took a detour from their typical four-wheeled vehicles and traded them in for speed boats to travel around Vietnam in "The Grand Tour Presents: Seamen."

The "Lochdown" episode is a cheeky title based on the fact that the guys take three of their favorite vintage American cars on a trip around Scotland. The final special consisted of the guys absolutely destroying different French cars by any means necessary and even driving some strange plane-type car.

Jeremy Clarkson Isn't The Only Top Gear Alumni That Now Has A Farm

The end of the grand tour has been announced.

In November 2023, it was announced that the series would be coming to an end. In an interview with Variety magazine , Jeremy Clarkson actually stated that, "I’m unfit and fat and old." Unlike the end of Top Gear , the guys are going to be ending it on their own terms because, in all honesty, they've been doing it for over 20 years at this point. When announcing the end of The Grand Tour in the final 'normal' episode, Jeremy was understandably emotional.

They have climbed the highest peaks, crossed the hottest deserts , driven the nicest cars possible and are basically throwing in the towel. Maybe Jeremy just wants to tend to his farm. The final episodes are currently streaming on Prime and Freevee. The last episode will take place in Zimbabwe, but there has not been an official announcement on the release date. The three gearheads now enjoy unique projects of their own, such as Jeremy's new show, Clarkson's Farm , which is also available to stream on Amazon Prime. James May also enjoys a number of his own shows, in addition to having recently set up a gin company. Hammond runs his own classic car workshop, with a show on Discovery+, dubbed Richard Hammond's Workshop .

Sources: IMDB , Amazon Prime, Variety

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Similarly to in Top Gear , there are special episodes. These usually follow Clarkson , Hammond and May buying and showing off a vehicle before driving on an epic adventure in a foreign and usually remote location, trying to achieve a goal set by the producers or Andy Wilman .