The story
Freshly departed from the BBC's Top Gear, Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May take their mix of car reviews, bickering and outlandish challenges to a new home. Early series combine films with studio chat in a giant tent that first travels the globe; later series swap the studio for feature-length road trips across continents, before a new trio of presenters takes the wheel in 2026.
Why it matters
Amazon's three-series, 36-episode deal lured the former Top Gear team to streaming, and the show became one of Prime Video's most-viewed originals, setting viewing records while ranking among its most expensive productions. It signalled that streamers were willing to pay heavily for proven British presenting talent.
Notable facts
- Amazon's original deal covered 36 episodes across three series for Prime members from 2016. (source)
- To avoid legal clashes with Top Gear, segments such as the Stig, the Cool Wall and the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car could not be used. (source)
- After series three the studio format was dropped in favour of feature-length road-trip specials. (source)
- The final episode with Clarkson, Hammond and May, released on 13 September 2024, ended the trio's 22-year partnership. (source)