The Grand Tour Revival: Meet Francis Bourgeois, the Social Media Star Joining the Show
The popular motoring program, The Grand Tour, is set to be revived with a new lineup of presenters, according to reports. The show, which ended its run with the former Top Gear trio in September 2024, will now feature three younger presenters who are well-known on social media and YouTube. The Sun reports that social media star and train enthusiast Francis Bourgeois, along with YouTubers Thomas Holland and James Engelsman, will serve as the faces of the redesigned Grand Tour.
The source, citing a insider, notes that "Thomas and James are as knowledgeable about motors as Jeremy, Richard and James – the only difference is they’re younger, cooler and a lot more social media savvy. Francis became famous for his love of trainspotting and will be bringing his humour to the show." This comes as no surprise, given that Holland and Engelsman are the creators of the Throttle House brand, which has over three million YouTube subscribers.
Francis Bourgeois, whose real name is Luke Nicolson, is a 24-year-old social media sensation who has gained fame for his catchy trainspotting videos that frequently go viral on Instagram and TikTok. The young star has even caught the attention of high-profile celebrities, including the Prince and Princess of Wales and musician Joe Jonas, who have made appearances in his videos. Bourgeois has also written a book called The Trainspotter’s Notebook and has dabbled in modelling, working with companies like Gucci and The North Face.
In addition to his social media success, Bourgeois has also hosted the digital series Trainspotting with Francis Bourgeois on Channel 4, which has featured appearances by musicians Sam Ryder and AJ Tracey, as well as football player Jesse Lingard. According to The Sun, he was reportedly being considered for the Grand Tour earlier this year, with a source noting that "Francis is a big noise online and Amazon producers are hoping to bring him into the mainstream. […] Francis is not just a social media sensation but trained as a mechanical engineer so knows his stuff."
As reported by The Sun, Bourgeois is in a relationship with his girlfriend, Amy Linkin, and the pair share a flat together. Linkin occasionally appears on his YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram videos, and the pair have made several public appearances, including walking down the red carpet at the NME Awards in 2022 at London’s O2 Academy Brixton.
While Bourgeois’ net worth is not publicly disclosed, his TikTok success and prior job suggest that he likely has a comfortable financial situation. As The Sun notes, Bourgeois prefers to keep his life private, which is why he chooses to use a pseudonym for anonymity. With his new role on The Grand Tour, it’s likely that Bourgeois’ profile will continue to rise in the coming months.
The news of Bourgeois joining The Grand Tour, along with Holland and Engelsman, comes as a exciting development for fans of the show. As reported by The Sun, the new lineup is set to bring a fresh perspective to the program, with a focus on social media and online content. With Bourgeois’ humour and trainspotting expertise, along with Holland and Engelsman’s knowledge of motors and YouTube savvy, the revamped Grand Tour is sure to be a hit with audiences.
The show’s new format is yet to be confirmed, but with the new presenters on board, fans can expect a new and exciting take on the classic motoring program. According to The Sun, the new lineup is set to bring a younger and more social media-savvy approach to the show, which is sure to appeal to a new generation of viewers.
This story was originally reported by The Sun, and can be found here: https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/tvfilm/who-francis-bourgeois-relationship-net-worth-grand-tour-b1230420.html.
