Grand Tour star lands new TV series – and it’s a world way from hit car show
James will follow in the footsteps of explorers James Cook, Christopher Columbus and Sir Walter Raleigh
JAMES MAY is swapping one Grand Tour for another as he heads off to explore the world.
The presenter waved goodbye to Prime Video series The Grand Tour alongside Richard Hammond and Jeremy Clarkson after it officially wrapped earlier this year.
And it has made time for the motoring fanatic to sign up for his very own series on Channel 5.
James will follow in the footsteps of explorers James Cook, Christopher Columbus and Sir Walter Raleigh, telling of their life stories and great endeavours.
The Great Explorers With James May will also look at the dark side of these life-changing journeys, from spreading disease to the use of slavery.
An insider said: “James is no stranger to being part of a great adventure, thanks to his travelogue series that’s taken him from Italy to India on Prime Video.
“But this show is all about James looking back over the journeys of the world’s most notable explorers across three 90-minute episodes dedicated to each name.
“Not only will he examine the success of their stories, from engineering innovation to culinary invention, but also the treasures brought back to dark, damp Europe.
“This series will also reveal the less impressive or palatable aspects of these men.
“For many, their discoveries may not be quite what they expected.”
James said: “TV shows are often described as ‘journeys’ and ‘explorations’.
“This one really is about journeys and exploration.
“We all think we know the basic pub facts about these three great men, but the reality may come as a bit of a surprise.
“It certainly was to me.”
James confirmed that The Grand Tour had come to an end earlier this year when he told fans he had recorded his last ever voice-over for the series, with the final instalment expected to drop this autumn.
It followed the TV presenter having to put the lid on his own cooking show, Oh Cook!, after he reached a standard deemed too good for it to continue as an “amateur chef” series.
WYNNE’S STRICTLY LIFT-OFF
TRAINING season for Strictly Come Dancing is already under way after producers revealed the stars hoping to lift the Glitterball trophy.
But the hard work to prepare for the BBC One show started much earlier for Wynne Evans, who is best known as the opera singer in the Go Compare adverts.
According to his close pal, actress Joanna Page, the tenor has been working out to make sure his fitness level is up to the job.
Joanna told Natalie Cassidy on their Off The Telly podcast: “He’s a good mover, and he told me he’s been lifting big kettlebells and walking round.
“He’s building up his arms to start lifting the women.
“I’m so excited. I hope he can get to teach me something – I think he’s to have a whale of a time.”
GENTLY DOES IT FOR THEO
THEO JAMES will be back as hunky aristocrat Eddie as Netflix confirms hit series The Gentleman will return.
As I exclusively revealed in April, the Guy Ritchie-directed show will be back for a second instalment after its launch success in March.
The drama was watched 44million times in the first month, prompting Netflix bosses to get into talks with Guy and leading cast Theo, Kaya Scodelario and Daniel Ings.
Now, it’s been revealed that another eight episodes are in the works, picking up where things left off for Eddie Halstead, his brother Freddy and drugs boss Susie Glass.
The sequel was announced with a giant billboard and a huge spliff burning above a London street, reflecting the drugs theme of the show.
The series is a spin-off of the 2019 film of the same name, also created by Guy, which starred Matthew McConaughey.
IT’S SHER THING ON CRIME HIT
IT was the smash-hit crime drama that had audiences gripped in 2022.
Now, the wait is finally over for more, with Sherwood returning to BBC One later this month.
Teasing what’s to come, bosses revealed it will follow the same themes as the first run, but with two new families introduced.
Set in the present day, the new clans will find themselves entangled with the Sparrows, entering a complex web of local gangs.
The first-look trailer shows stars include David Morrissey, Lesley Manville,Aisling Loftus, Sharlene Whyte, Ria Zmitrowicz and Philip Jackson.
The series begins with a double bill over the Bank Holiday Weekend on August 25 and 26.
Bizbit
THIS Morning has celebrated one billion views online this year.
Hosts Rylan Clark and Josie Gibon broke the news that the ITV show’s social media content had clocked up the huge number live on air, with Rylan adding: “Someone interacts with our content once every single second!”
NAUTI TO NICE FOR SUB SCI-FI
BEING left grounded by Disney+ won’t stop submarine sci-fi show Nautilus from hitting screens.
The US streamer dropped the series – based on Jules Verne’s novel Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea – after filming was completed, but it’s now been revealed that Prime Video will air the series later this year.
The story follows Captain Nemo, an Indian prince robbed of his birthright, as he steals a submarine and escapes into the ocean with a ragtag crew ready to enact revenge.
The prince, played by Shazad Latif, will clash with the ruthless East India Company in tense scenes across ten episodes that air from October 25.