London - The season premiere of Jeremy Clarkson's new Amazon Prime show, the Grand Tour, will be filmed in South Africa in July, the streaming service announced on Thursday.
Clarkson, who was dropped from hit BBC motoring show "Top Gear" in 2015 for punching a producer, is reuniting with his co-stars to make a new series about cars for Amazon Prime.
The show, called The Grand Tour, will follow Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond as they travel around the world.
"So there we are. First stop on our Grand Tour is Johannesburg. Mid July," Clarkson posted Thursday to his Twitter account.
It's official. First stop: Johannesburg. pic.twitter.com/mqquQRtxEC
— The Grand Tour (@thegrandtour) June 2, 2016
The show is scheduled for 17 July and the pre-recorded studio section will be recorded in a giant tent. Amazon is also offering fans the chance to win tickets to the recording (as well as travel and accomodation for those abroad) by posting a picture or video (on Twitter) of the strangest place they've pitched a tent. The competition closes on 8 June, more details HERE .
Win a trip to Joburg, show us the most unusual place you've put a tent! #TheGrandTourJoburg https://t.co/8pnyGXst7e pic.twitter.com/6dLfhthHPU
— The Grand Tour (@thegrandtour) June 2, 2016
According to photos published on social media pages, show segments (some of which will no doubt be shown at the first studio... err... tent... recording, have already been filmed in Portugal, Barbados, and North Africa.
We are flat out in North Africa this week. pic.twitter.com/jMGaVfwsm7
— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) March 14, 2016
I did a thing pic.twitter.com/7ih4YYXC8v
— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) February 27, 2016
Quick, it's flowering.
And it's hideous. pic.twitter.com/LoullCTGsS
— Richard Hammond (@RichardHammond) May 10, 2016
We have a stylist on our new show. #Fired pic.twitter.com/UauOiDwG24
— James May (@MrJamesMay) April 1, 2016
Top Gear goes on
Clarkson was booted off "Top Gear" for shouting at and hitting producer Oisin Tymon in the face, allegedly because the presenter was annoyed that a hot steak wasn't available after a day's filming.
The BBC announced it would not renew his contract after 12 years on the show and May and Hammond also left the broadcaster. This after more than a million people signed a petition calling for him to be reinstated.
The BBC decided to continue with "Top Gear" with another BBC star, Chris Evans, taking the lead presenter role alongside Matt Le Blanc. But Evans' debut on Sunday received lukewarm reviews.
AFP