The Grand Tour

James May Returns To BBC For One-Off Show Without Jeremy Clarkson Or Richard Hammond

James May will be joining Mary Beard on her BBC show Inside Culture, which for this episode will explore the idea of what we lose from art when we can’t travel.

The Grand Tour presenter posted to Twitter to announce the return of the show and his own involvement:

“I think the ladder represents my chance to ascend to spiritual fulfilment,” May jokes. “But I’m held back by Mary’s dazzling shoes, which are our earthly ambitions: condemned to dwell in the dust of the earth, whence they, and we, came.”

James May hasn’t been involved with the BBC since Jeremy Clarkson’s Top Gear ended in 2015 after the famous ‘fracas’. He, Jeremy Clarkson, and Richard Hammond announced their departure after it was confirmed that Clarkson’s contract wasn’t going to be renewed, and since then started the Amazon Prime Video driving show, The Grand Tour.

The trio returned to Top Gear briefly after the passing of Sabine Schmitz in a short documentary to give their respects, but there has been no other work with the BBC, with each presenter going to other channels or streaming services.

During Inside Culture, which begins Friday 14 May BBC2 7:30pm, May will discuss the original Grand Tour in the 18th century and how it led to the rediscovery of Ancient Greece and Rome. As well as this, they’ll discuss where James will be travelling in the near future post-Covid, and the pressures of climate change.

May knows plenty about this subject, with him investing himself in two modern cars: a Tesla Model S, which he still owns, and a Toyota Mirai, which he has since sold.

Fans of the ex-Top Gear presenter will certainly welcome James May back to the BBC channels, and we’re very excited for May to be back on the screen while we wait until the next episode of The Grand Tour, which is set in Scotland.

Alex Harrington

Alex started racing at a young age so certainly knows his way around a car and a track. He can just about put a sentence together too, which helps. He has a great interest in the latest models, but would throw all of his money at a rusty old French classic and a 300ZX. Contact: [email protected]

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One Comment

  1. I’m sure James did that 2 part Hornsby Train documentary for the BBC back in 2018.

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