James May details reason work with Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond ended: 'Needs a fresh take'

The trio recently appeared in their final show together, a Grand Tour special titled One for the Road on Amazon Prime Video.

The programme served as a swansong for one of British television's longest-running presenting partnerships, which began on BBC's Top Gear before moving to Amazon's streaming platform.

Speaking this week, May stated he isn't "in mourning" over the end of the partnership.

"I think Jeremy, Richard and I gave the format a really good thrashing and now it's time to let a younger generation have a go," he explained.

May revealed he has his own plans following the split from his long-time colleagues.

"There is still so much I'm interested in — things I've neglected while rolling my eyes at Jeremy in exotic locations," he told The Times.

The final Grand Tour special was set in Zimbabwe, a location chosen as they "went to the end of the alphabet" for their last adventure together.

Clarkson noted that the trio had carefully considered how to conclude their long-standing partnership.

He expressed satisfaction that their working relationship didn't end "in a blizzard of outrage and tabloid headlines" but was instead "landed safely and gently".

The moment was particularly poignant for the team, with Clarkson admitting: "Was it sad when the director called, 'That's a wrap,' for the very last time? Yes, it was."

May acknowledged that their approach to motoring television was anchored in the past.

"I do my best to be a contemporary human being and embrace new ideas, but we were very much rooted in an Eighties and Nineties view of what motoring is about," he told the publication.

He emphasised that the subject matter needs fresh perspectives.

"It needs a fresh take because the subject has never been more interesting," May explained.

The presenter likened their departure to a careful landing, saying: "The idea was to land the car show format safely and not fly it into a cliff. We only cleared the cliff by a few feet but I think it will survive."

Speaking in September, Clarkson highlighted the crucial role of the production crew in their success over the years.

"People think of Top Gear and The Grand Tour as being James, Richard and me. But it isn't. We've had the same crews for years. We've all grown up together," he told The Sunday Times.

He paid tribute to the behind-the-scenes team members who had been integral to their shows.

"We've camped together. S*** our lungs out together, laughed our a***s off together," Clarkson reflected.

He particularly praised the crew's dedication: "These are the guys who really made those shows. They're the ones who kept the cameras and the microphones going even when it was cold or dangerous."

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Earlier this year, it was reported that the three presenters had taken steps to formally conclude their business relationship.

The trio dissolved their production company, declaring solvency in the process.

They appointed a liquidator to "wind up" their business operations.

This formal dissolution of their business ties came alongside Clarkson's announcement that this would be his last time discussing cars on television.

He cited being "too old and fat to get into the cars that I like and not interested in driving those I don't" as personal reasons for stepping away.