The fourth series of the Amazon motoring show The Grand Tour, featuring ex-Top Gear presenters Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May, premiered on the 13th of December, 2019 and concluded on the 17th of December, 2021. Unlike previous seasons, the fourth season of the show will air over several months and feature only special episodes.
Four specials were filmed, one in South East Asia which aired in 2019 and another in Madagascar which aired in 2020. Due to Covid-19 the third and fourth special were filmed around the UK, a Scotland Mini Special and a UK one aired in 2021.
The season will be followed by a fifth series.
Episodes[]
| Episode | Synopsis |
|---|---|
| Seamen | (South East Asia Special) The presenters are challenged to traverse the Mekong River, from Cambodia's Tonle Sap Lake to Vung Tau, Vietnam, in a selection of boats. |
| A Massive Hunt | (Madagascar Special) The presenters travel to the Reunion Island in three high performance cars before modifying them for a treasure hunt across Madagascar. |
| Lochdown | (Scotland Special) The presenters travel through Scotland in three large American Luxury Cars all the while testing other American Cars. |
| Carnage A Trois | (UK Special) The presenters travel from Wales to the English Coast to experience the weird and wonderful Cars from France. |
History[]
In December 2018, it was announced that The Grand Tour had been renewed beyond its original three-season order. At the time, it was announced that the show would return for a fourth and fifth season. The renewal is the first, and so far only, extension of the show beyond its original announcement.
Production[]
Filming began in June 2019, with the trio being sighted in Vietnam and Cambodia before heading to Reunion Island and Madagascar. Due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus, the show had to put production on halt and then film two separate specials one in Scotland and the other across the UK.
Changes from Season 3[]
The fourth series sees the departure of the show's studio links, also ending Conversation Street segments, Eboladrome laps, and celebrity-related segments. Instead, the trio are focusing on large-scale road trips, more commonly known as specials.
The series represents the most significant overhaul of the show's format since its inception and since the revival of Top Gear, which had followed similar themes, in 2002.
Another significant change from the last series, involves the airing schedule. Normally on Top Gear and The Grand Tour's Series 1, 2, 3, the episodes would air weekly during each series. However for Series 4, there would be huge gaps in between specials, as Amazon had "freed up their schedule" meaning the trio could focus on some of their own shows.
Known Items[]
- A special in Cambodia and Vietnam where the presenters travel along the Mekong River in a trio of boats. (1)
- The trio were spotted filming in Madagascar and Reunion Island in three modified cars, Clarkson using a Bentley Continental GT V8, Hammond using a Ford Focus RS and May driving a Caterham 7. (2)
- The team were spotted filming in Scotland in Three American Cars. Clarkson driving a Lincoln Continental MK V, May selecting a Cadillac Coupe De Ville and Hammond choosng a Buick Riviera Boattail. (3)
- The team were spotted in Wales and England driving a whole range of French cars. Clarkson was seen in a Citroen CX Safari, May in a Renault Avantime and Hammond in a Matra Muriel. Alongside that Hammond was spotted crashing a Renault Scenic into a Citroen Saxo, he and Clarkson were spotted driving a Citroen SM and a Citroen Pluriel was spotted to be propelled. (4)
Trivia[]
- Clarkson announced that a special was initially meant to be filmed in the Middle East, however due to fears of terrorism, it was cancelled.