It's the show that Top Gear fans around the world have been waiting for with bated breath ever since former host Jeremy Clarkson, fired for his fight with a producer, teamed up with former partners in crime Richard Hammond and James May and announced that they'd be starting their own show.
That show, it was later announced, would see them touring the world “with a tent” and it just so happens that South Africa was the first stop, with the first episode having been recorded in front of a relatively small audience this past weekend just outside Johannesburg.
The Grand Tour is set to be aired by Amazon around October, and until then the team is remaining tight-lipped about the specifics of the show - even audience members appear to have been largely sworn to secrecy, although the sentiments are certainly positive so far.
One attendee, who was also involved in one of the shoots, praised the crew in a Facebook post: “All I can tell you is if you liked the other show which we don't mention, then you will love The Grand Tour. The guys had us laughing until we cried. Was everything you would expect and some more, but that's all I can say.”
Another South African involved in the shoot said: “The boys are back and they are better than ever. Clarkson, Hammond and May is a formula which cannot be replicated. I laughed hard, like I would have at home, and they are a real hoot during a shoot.”
However, the weekend's events weren't completely shrouded in secrecy as the crew did at least find it in their hearts to post a few pictures and comments on Facebook and Twitter:
Inside the tent. #TheGrandTourJoburg pic.twitter.com/JiQnklQjRs
— The Grand Tour (@thegrandtour) July 17, 2016
I'm sorry, I forgot to wave. #GrandTour #Josie pic.twitter.com/XLrwof27fu
— James May (@MrJamesMay) July 17, 2016
So, today we opened our new office. In South Africa this week. Next week ... ? pic.twitter.com/xmlsK8tTfg
— Richard Hammond (@RichardHammond) July 17, 2016
People of South Africa. What is this nonsense? pic.twitter.com/cojAH1d9Gs
— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) July 15, 2016
Josie? Jozi? It's still Jo'burg, and that's well cool, so sod off.
— James May (@MrJamesMay) July 17, 2016