Jeremy Clarkson Reflects on the Making of The Grand Tour and the Tent That Almost Sank It All
The journey behind The Grand Tour, Jeremy Clarkson’s hit Amazon show, is as wild and unpredictable as the fast cars and global locations the series is known for. In a recent interview, Clarkson opened up about one of the most significant and surprising decisions made during the show’s development: the iconic touring tent. While the idea seemed simple and fitting for a global road trip show, its true cost and complexity were far more than Clarkson and his team initially anticipated.
When Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May first signed their deal with Amazon to create The Grand Tour, they knew they had the chance to make something special, but they also had some big hurdles to overcome. The show was supposed to maintain the spirit of Top Gear—fast cars, international locations, and plenty of banter between the hosts—but without crossing into the territory that would result in a lawsuit from their former employer, the BBC. As Clarkson recalled, they needed a studio to film in every week, but the location had to be different from Top Gear‘s infamous hangar. The solution came in the form of a tent.
“Jeremy said, ‘I think I’ve cracked it. We need a tent,'” said May, recalling the moment Clarkson introduced the idea. Inspired by a scene from True Detective, Clarkson imagined taking a tent, similar to a religious meeting setup, and making it the show’s studio, setting it up in different locations across the world each week. The team loved the idea, but not the potential cost implications. “It sounded great in theory, but no one had thought about how much it would cost,” Clarkson admitted. However, after a few discussions, they went ahead, and the result was one of the most expensive elements of the show.
At first, Amazon executives were on board. The idea of building a traveling studio was an exciting, unconventional move. However, it quickly became clear that turning this idea into reality would be much more expensive than expected. Clarkson and his team found themselves scrambling to figure out how to build the massive structure, which needed to be durable, mobile, and able to accommodate the high-tech production equipment that would film the series. “At first, we were told the tent would cost around two million pounds,” Clarkson said, “but it quickly ballooned to five million.” Despite the initial sticker shock, the tent became an essential part of the show’s identity, providing a quirky yet fitting backdrop to the chaos of The Grand Tour.
Despite its undeniable success, Clarkson revealed that the tent’s high cost was a major concern for the team during the show’s production. “We didn’t think it would be that expensive. But when we added up the costs for transport, equipment, and maintenance, it was a huge budget strain,” he said. The team soon realized that the tent was not just a simple set piece but a key logistical challenge that would shape the direction of the entire series. As Clarkson described, the logistical and financial strain was so great that at one point, they even considered leaving the tent in Oxfordshire and not taking it to some of the international locations. However, they pushed forward, knowing that the tent was essential to maintaining the unique atmosphere and spontaneity of the show.
The story of the Grand Tour tent serves as a reminder of the enormous, often unseen challenges that come with producing a show of this scale. With the luxury of hindsight, Clarkson laughs at the chaos it caused, but also acknowledges that the decision to go with the tent was one of the defining moments of the show. “It could have completely sunk us,” Clarkson admitted. “But in the end, it became something the audience loved. It was quirky, it was fun, and it allowed us to do something no one had seen before. It became part of the show’s personality.”
Reflecting on the journey of The Grand Tour and the tent that almost derailed it, Clarkson is quick to credit the show’s success to its commitment to creativity and out-of-the-box thinking. “We were told by many that it couldn’t be done. But we believed in it, and we pushed through,” he said. With the Grand Tour now in full swing and continuing to attract millions of viewers worldwide, it’s clear that the bold choices made in the early days of production were well worth the risk.
The tale of the tent isn’t just about cost overruns and logistical nightmares—it’s a testament to the unpredictable nature of television production and the risks involved in creating something fresh and unique. Clarkson, Hammond, and May are no strangers to risk, and their willingness to push boundaries, even in the face of potential failure, has become one of the key reasons The Grand Tour continues to thrive. What began as a simple idea—an international tour with a portable studio—has turned into one of the most successful automotive shows of all time. But, as Clarkson’s candid recollection shows, it wasn’t without its challenges along the way.
As the Grand Tour continues to expand its audience and produce ever more ambitious episodes, Clarkson’s reflections on the tent provide a humorous yet insightful look at how a small decision can snowball into a larger-than-life moment in television history. The tent may have started as a simple, somewhat naive idea, but in the end, it became a symbol of the show’s spirit: bold, adventurous, and unapologetically different. Clarkson’s ability to turn even the most chaotic moments into a winning formula is a big part of why the show remains a favorite with fans around the world.
