The Grand Tour

At last - Clarkson, Hammond and May are back on our screens, and they're better than ever. Considering Amazon's budget dwarfs that of the BBC, you can imagine just how impressive their new show is.

If the first episode is anything to go by, they have successfully managed to retain everything that was good about the old Top Gear in 'The Grand Tour', especially the humour and the chemistry between the three which made the old show the success it was. My biggest fear was that the new show would lose this and become too 'Americanised', but fortunately this hasn't happened.

The camera work is phenomenal and the opening sequence was like something out of a movie. I also think the idea to take the show on the road is a nice touch. An incredible start - I already can't wait for next week's episode.

After a steady start with Seasons 1 & 2, the 3rd has really excelled in my opinion.

The features and specials are great, the humour is more natural and most of all it's great fun to watch!! The chemistry and banter between the 3 of them is much more evident in this latest instalment too.

It's worth noting that I did very much enjoy the first 2 seasons but I felt the show was still finding it's feet in terms of the format and what felt like over scripting at times.

Overall I love the show. I watched Top Gear with the 3 of them religiously and I love that The Grand Tour is here to fill the void!

Yeah, first season left me a bit dissapointed. The first episode in general was really good and there where signs of hope along the tour of season 1 but in the end it just felt too scripted. And it seems they heard it, just look at the episode unscripted, it seems they really took the criticsm to heart.

Second season is full of all the stuff that i loved in Top Gear. Its fun, fast, slightly ridiculous, some times scary but really really just great entertainement. Love it, keep it up!

So there was nothing to worry about after all! After the kerfuffle surrounding the end of the three presenting TG at the Beeb, I honestly thought that wherever they went nothing would be the same again in the motor show universe.

Well I am happy to report here that I was wrong, sorry let me write that again properly. I was WRONG! Yep it needed the capitals.

Amazon threw a lot of money at GT, probably 10 times the budget that TG enjoyed and today there must be some very happy execs in that organisation. The show is at once familiar and different, Richard Hammond's boyish charm (my wife is happy), James May's nerdy appeal and Jezza's sardonic take on everything - all is as it was, but there is also an excitement to GT that TG lacked, a production value that exceeds anything that has gone before as far as a magazine show is concerned.

I'm not going to go into any details, no spoilers here, but the whole show is spectacular, great cars, great music, great scenery and most importantly of all - great presenters. If you liked TG you are going to love GT!

Imagine what would happen if the famous three were told by Amazon to do what they want and spend as much as you like - because clearly that's what happened here and the end result is AWESOME!

Everything is Hollywood in scale and execution. From the writing to the action set pieces, it almost has a slight Michael Bay feel to it.

All three presenters are on top form but Clarkson is clearly still the star.

'So is it basically just like Top Gear?'I hear you say. And the answer is 'yes', but imagine Top Gear better than it's ever been. The only negative is no Stig. There is Stig-like replacement but it's just not the same.

Otherwise, this show is off to an AMAZING start. Highly recommended.