Jeremy Clarkson's advice to new Grand Tour host Francis Bourgeois

Where were you when you found out you had got the role? Well, we were filming episode one and we asked the executive producer, can you just tell us we've got the job? It's unfathomable to think that, you know, I've followed on from, you know, the three greats that were there before. He's left a little message for you if you want to hear it. Yes, Jeremy Clarkson. Frances Bourgeois is on the show this morning. Oh my goodness, this must be like a dream. I'm just waiting for my alarm to wake me up any minute. It is absolutely extraordinary. Now, people will probably know you famously from TikTok and social media because you are probably one of the best and most well-known train spotters in the world, essentially. Thank you. Before that, I think you worked at Rolls-Royce doing all the interiors, so you have an absolute passion for engines and vehicles and all of those sorts of things, but do you ever in your wildest dreams think that you would be doing Grand Tour? No, not at all. I've loved the show in its previous forms and it's really compounded my car enthusiasm, especially when I was younger. Sunday nights, it was like Christmas waiting to watch the next episode. It's unfathomable to think that, you know, I followed on from, you know, the three greats that were there before. One of whom is a friend of mine. He's left a little message for you, if you want to hear it. Yeah, he's Jeremy Clarkson. Hi Francis, Jeremy here. The show's fantastic and you're great and you're all great, so good luck with it. That's nice. That was really good. That took a number of attempts because he's not very good with technology. I had to say to Lisa, no, the first two didn't come out. Can you just chase him around the farm? You can find him. I love that Lisa's got a sword to it. Poor Lisa, she's a busy woman herself. He is super proud and the other guys are very supportive of you, are all on the red carpet. How does it feel to be stepping into those muddy shoes of theirs? There's a huge sense of responsibility. You said that with such gravity. I mean, it's a huge weight on our shoulders, but it's so exciting. But the fact that they're so warm, so open and have handed over the baton. Before joining the Grand Tour, you were famous for being a TikTok train spotter. You've got videos, they've been viewed millions and millions of times. But this morning we want to see how well you know them yourself. We are going to play you reacting to a train, but this morning we want to know if you can name the train that you are reacting to. Okay. Are you okay? Are you up for the first one? Let's do it. Okay. He already seems confident. Here's number one. That was either a class 165 or a 166. It's a 166. 166 turbo. All right. Are you ready for clip number two? What train is this, Francis? Here she comes. Okay, there you go. That was Mayflower. B1. A very distinct high-pitched whistle. Okay, that's two out of two. Here's number three. Oh my word, he's already here. It's a good horn, that one. It's good. Sounds like one of my trumps. That surprised you that she said that, didn't it, Francis? Yes, yeah. 56081. Yes! Amazing. Wow! The final one, all right? This is for four out of four. Here we go. Oh, it's it! It's it! Oh, quick, I've got to get around. I've got to get around to see it. 73962, Dick Mabuch. Yes! I mean, honestly, you should go on Mastermind as this is your specialised subject, the Christmas special or something. You're a blinking genius. Quick question. Where were you when you found out you had got the role, you'd got the job? Where were you? Do you remember it? Well, we were filming episode one. It was such a, there was never really a, you've got the job. Right. It was just a steady sense of realisation that, hang on, we're getting closer and closer. We're talking about actually booking flights now. It was, there was never a, you've got the job. We were on the shoot and we asked the executive producer, can you just tell us we've got the job? You've got the job. You did chat with your agent that you'd signed your contract before you filmed it. I had no idea how many people I was up against. And I think the only real kind of proper wow moment was when they confirmed it was just myself, Thomas and James. What can we expect from this series? Do you, is there a point of difference from the previous series? Crucially, we've kept car enthusiasm as a central pillar. And, you know, as car enthusiasts, the three of us, we're just having an absolute blast wherever we go. So varying terrains, varying climates, varying horsepowers as well. From 12 brake horsepower to 2031. And that's the opening show. The opening show, you get to see Frances in this car, which is a massive American internal combustion engine car. It's phenomenal. Oh my gosh, I have to say, I was in Abu Dhabi recently and I went around the racetrack in a car and then I got to drive one. I went nuts. I am a speed freak. The thing kept warning me. I didn't actually look down because it's the first time I've actually used paddle gears. And I was still sort of trying to do that. And the guy next to me was going, slow down! I was going, hang on, which one is the slow down? Oh, sorry, no, that's fifth. I'll go back down. But anyway, it's, I completely get it. It's incredible. Where are we going to on this series, this new series? And what was the most funniest thing that happened? Oh goodness. Well, we travelled to Malaysia, Singapore, Angola. Wow. Colorado, Wyoming, Didcot. Didcot. Didcot was actually quite an exciting location. Especially for me. And you'll have to see why. And what was the most outrageous thing that happened to you? Goodness. It all happened at Didcot. Did it? I feel like Didcot's the one to watch. I'm going to ask you, what do you drive in real life? Well, I have a pink Honda Jazz, which I bought. Legendary. Which again, is in the first episode. I bought it as it's my girlfriend's dream car and she can't drive. So I wanted to live her dream and she's kind of the passenger princess. But the Jazz doesn't quite satisfy my kind of driving dynamic kind of desires. So I've spent a bit of money on it. Well, you're working for Amazon now. You've got the budget. You've pinned it, haven't you? Massively. It has triple the power and the underpinnings of one of Honda's greatest hot hatches. So yeah, it goes like a rocket. Oh my gosh. It's brilliant. It's been wonderful having you on the show. We love you to bits. Thank you, Amanda. Congratulations on all the old success. And we'll see you for the next series.