Richard Hammond’s History Of Crashes Has Severely Affected The Grand Tour
The Grand Tour Season 4 was met with mixed reviews after its reveal over the Christmas period. Not only was the episode not focussed on cars (an issue for many), but it lacked story and, while it was funny, fell short. Read what we had to say about it here. But why has it changed? And why is there only two episodes per season? Read on…
Executive producer Andy Wilman was recently on The Media Show podcast where he revealed the reason for the change in the show. The podcast’s host, Amol Rajan, aimed some hard hitting questions at the man who was behind both Top Gear and The Grand Tour.
He asks: “What sort of risk assessment do you have to undertake before letting three multimillionaires set sail on tropical waters?”
Andy replies: “It’s got bigger because Richard Hammond keeps crashing and bumping into things so the risk assessment gets bigger, the premium goes up all the time.”
Amol pushes further digging for more information: “Have you got huge insurance policies? Give us a sense of how big.”
“It’s mental. I could make a special that we used to make on Top Gear for what we now pay on insurance.”
Teasing the amount of money he was talking about, Andy added: “Five noughts, it’s in that area with the premiums now.”
Amol then questioned the necessity of the insurance, asking if the hosts were ever truly in danger.
“Yeah it is genuinely dangerous,” Andy replied. “Because they do their things, we don’t get a stuntman in.”
This vast increase in expenses per episode could very well be the reason as to why there are only two episodes per season from now on. Surely, the money didn’t add up for The Grand Tour boys.
This is all guesswork, but it certainly rings some logic and, alongside their ages, may have worked out as the best option for the three (four including Wilman). We’ll have to see what the future holds.
The guys are so fabulous and fun to watch . I have enjoyed tuning in every episode since the early 2000s . So as long as the trio stick together , I believe the Universe is on my side.
Love these guys
Perhaps that’s why Jeremy’s closing words on episode 1 were “Top Gear”?
I love gt i loved top gear. I haye they are only doing 2 episodes per season but i understand the reasons. Clarkson hammond and may a truely some awesome guys and i hooe they know alot of people love their shenanigans. I liked seaman alot it doesnt always have to be about cars.
I loved Seamen, I would much rather that they carry on with new and fresh ideas as they do, Rather than re hashing old ideas as Top Gear seem to do now.
I loved the Seamen episode and I am waiting patiently on new episodes. I like the cars, but the adventures are awesome. The risks, the dangers are what make these episodes exciting! The guys are funny and all the Grand Tour shows are entertaining. I wish for more than two per season though!
Absolute rubbish. Top Gear is way ahead, time to hang up the blazers guys.
Lol what? Its not way ahead, Grand Tour is evolving into something bigger. Something that TG cant do. TG is good and so is Grand Tour but they cant be judged against eachother anymore imho.
Don’t know if money will be the issue
They all made quite a lot when their company, made for the show, was dissolved. Personally I’d put this down more to age then anything else. Both James and Jeremy are going on for 60 now and most of us see 5 year after that as retirement.