One for the road: A heartfelt farewell to the trio

I just finished watching the Grand Tour finale, One for the Road, and it utterly broke me. I had been looking forward to it, but I also hesitated because I knew it marked the end of an era—an era that’s been with me for nearly two-thirds of my life. I can’t even remember a time when Jeremy, Richard, and James weren’t on my TV, making me laugh and getting me through tough times.

The challenge sees them crossing Zimbabwe in a Lancia Montecarlo, a Ford Capri, and a Triumph Stag. On the surface, it starts like the usual specials we’re used to, filled with chaos and humor. But as it unfolds, you notice the weight of nostalgia creeping in. The moments where they reminisce about their 22-year journey together—those moments hit like a punch to the gut, and that knot in your throat just keeps growing.

The final act was the one that truly undid me. After completing their challenges, the trio returned to the Makgadikgadi salt pans, just like in the Botswana special from 17 years ago. The scene is as emotional as it gets. With Dire Straits’ Brothers in Arms playing, the trio crossed the salt pans to Kubu Island. It was a shot-by-shot recreation of that first special. Watching this, I couldn’t stop crying. The weight of time, how much they aged, how much we’ve aged, how the world changed around us, and the reality that nothing is the same anymore hit like a tidal wave.

That song, Brothers in Arms, also brought me back to my own memories. My dad had that album on vinyl and would play it over and over when I was a kid. It’s funny how music can transport you. As I watched the final moments of this show, hearing those familiar chords, I was suddenly in our living room again, my dad’s record spinning. It was another layer of nostalgia that just made the goodbye harder.

Writing this now, I’m welling up again. I remember being in Galway, buying their DVDs from HMV, and rushing home to binge them. Every single Christmas for 22 years watching their Christmas Specials and binging the older specials over and over… Those were simpler times. God, I miss those days.

Today, I raise a glass to these three incredible presenters who changed motoring TV forever and left an indelible mark on entertainment history. Thank you for being part of my life, and for giving us all so much to remember.