Jeremy Clarkson and his The Grand Tour co-stars Richard Hammond and James May went days without peeing while filming their penultimate series in the extreme heat of the Sahara.
Presenters Jeremy, 63, Richard, 54, and James, 61, traveled to the wild and remote country for The Grand Tour: Sand Job, due to be released on Amazon Prime Video on Friday, February 16 Mauritania in West Africa.
Their challenge was to follow in the footsteps of the most dangerous race in the world, the legendary Paris-Dakar. But instead of competing in custom-made, hand-built Dakar race cars, the trio attempted to complete their journey in used sports cars that they modified themselves.
While they all encountered problems with their engines, the extreme conditions in which they filmed made the project particularly difficult.
Even though Jeremy had drank endless amounts of water during the trip, he suddenly realized that his dehydration meant he hadn't needed to go to the bathroom in days.
Jeremy Clarkson and his The Grand Tour co-stars Richard Hammond and James May went days without peeing while filming in the extreme heat of the Sahara Desert (left to right: James, Jeremy and Richard)
The presenters Jeremy (63), Richard (54) and James (61) traveled to the wild and remote country of Mauritania in West Africa for “The Grand Tour: Sand Job” (Richard in the picture).
Their challenge was to follow in the footsteps of the most dangerous race in the world, the legendary Paris-Dakar, and complete their journey in used sports cars
He explained: “You know, the funny thing is that you don't get dirty in the desert.” It's a very strange thing, but sand is incredibly clean.
“We have experienced this in the Atacama region, in the Gobi and in the Nomad Mountains and in all the places we have traveled over the years.” You don't get dirty. But it was damn hard.
“We drank gallons of water and didn’t pee. I mean, I don't know where it went.
“Hammond said after three or four days, 'I'm going to pee,' and suddenly I thought, 'I haven't peed in all that time.'”
He added: “When people see the Northern Lights, for example, they boast that it was minus 30 degrees and you think, 'No, it wasn't, it was minus six', or they say it was 50 Been somewhere hot and you say, “No, it was maybe 38 degrees in the midday sun.”
“Well, it really was 50 degrees in the shade.”
“You never see the locals during the day, ever.” We hardly saw anyone, but if we were to occasionally come across a small village, it might have six or seven huts where everyone would stay all day. “They don’t venture out until the sun goes down because it’s so hot.”
“Actually, we all like being in the desert.” We like the dust and the sand and the heat. It's tiring, but it's all the things TE Lawrence talked about. He said, “The desert cleanses you and it is pure,” and I think that’s true. It embarrasses us all a little and makes us feel like we’re really heroic and manly.”
While they all encountered problems with their engines along the way, the extreme conditions in which they filmed made the project particularly difficult (Jeremy pictured).
Despite drinking endless water during the trip, Jeremy (left) admitted he suddenly realized he didn't have to go to the toilet for days because he was so dehydrated (pictured with Richard, right)
He explained: “You know, the funny thing is that you don't get dirty in the desert.” It's a very strange thing, but sand is incredibly clean.
“We have experienced this in the Atacama region, in the Gobi and in the Nomad Mountains and in all the places we have traveled over the years.” You don't get dirty. But it was bloody hard,” he said (James pictured)
James also had issues with hydration and admitted that he too noticed he didn't need to use the toilet despite drinking plenty.
He said, “We've gone a few days without properly urinating, and I'm someone who likes to urinate freely.” I mean, not in my pants, but I don't like keeping it in there.
“When we peed, it somehow came out as dust.”
For the special event, Jeremy chose a Jaguar F Type V6, Richard also went British with an Aston Martin Volante V12, while James dared to attack Italy with a Maserati.
The trio reported to the northern part of Mauritania, within the Foreign Office's dangerous Red Zone, where their cars were delivered on the world's longest iron ore train, a 1.9-kilometer-long behemoth that runs on Mauritania's only railway line.
From there, Jeremy, James and Richard headed into the Sahara, south to Senegal and to the famous finish line at Dakar Beach.
Jeremy was so lucky with his car that he decided to buy one when he returned to the UK.
He said: “The Jaguar F-Type V6 Supercharged VS. To put it this way: It was so impressive that I came home and immediately bought one. And I don't think Hammond bought an Aston Martin after that.
“We drank gallons of water and didn’t pee. I mean, I don't know where it went. “Hammond said after three or four days, 'I'm going to pee,' and I suddenly thought, 'I haven't peed in all that time.'” (Jeremy, left, and Richard, right)
For the special, Jeremy chose a Jaguar F Type V6, Richard also went the British route with an Aston Martin Volante V12, while James attacked Italy with a Maserati (from left: Jeremy, James and Richard).
Jeremy leans over water bottles
The trio reported to the Foreign Office's dangerous Red Zone in the northern part of Mauritania, where their cars were delivered on the world's longest iron ore train (left to right: Jeremy and Richard in the picture)
From there, Jeremy, James and Richard (pictured) made their way into the Sahara, south to Senegal and to the famous finish line at Dakar Beach
Jeremy was so lucky with his car that he decided to buy one when he returned to the UK
Jeremy looked windswept and covered in dust in the special
Viewers will see how they manage the dangerous river crossing
They are ready to face their biggest challenge on the show yet
“The other two, as usual, made unwise decisions.” The Jaguar was so sturdy and so unbreakable. I discovered something interesting: Jaguar has a reputation for making weak cars, cars that fall apart, it has a reputation for being unreliable, so I couldn't understand why my car was so powerful.
“I did some research and it turns out that at the time this car was made, Jaguar Land Rover – a company – had passed a test that a car had to pass before it could go on sale, which is exclusively related to the assembly.” Curbs at high speeds, driving over potholes and colliding with objects. And the test was designed for the Range Rover, but the Jaguar had to pass the same test. So they are extraordinarily strong.
“I can’t praise this car enough.” “I also brought the car I drove in Mauritania, I have it on the farm.”
It comes after Jeremy broke his silence after leaving Prime Video series The Grand Tour after five series.
The star signed a major deal with the streaming service in 2015 to continue his car adventures with former Top Gear co-hosts Richard and James.
But now the trio's 20-year partnership is coming to an end after Jeremy revealed there was nothing else for them to do.
He told the Times: “I drove the car higher than anyone else and further north than anyone. “We did everything you can do with a car. “When we had meetings about what to do next, people just threw their arms in the air.”
He also branded himself “unfit, fat and old” as another reason why it was time for the “immensely physical” show to end after previous series saw the hosts camping on beaches and racing speedboats.
In the show, they face a series of challenges, including a river crossing
Jeremy has finally broken his silence after leaving Prime Video's The Grand Tour after five series
Jeremy (C) signed a big money deal with the streaming service in 2015 to continue his car adventures with former Top Gear co-hosts Richard Hammond (R) and James May (L).
Jeremy dismissed any suggestion of a feud with his co-hosts, saying: “We've spent more time together than our families over the last 25 years.”
“So I don't think it would have lasted as long if we hated each other as much as James likes to think.”
An insider told The Sun last year that the “surprising” decision “marks the end of an era for the three presenters”, who have worked together since 2003.
They added that although the show is one of the streaming platform's most-watched shows, “the boys have made no secret of the fact that they are all getting on in years and have many other projects to pursue.”
The source told the publication that the networks “felt the time was right and that they wanted to go full speed ahead if the show continued to be popular.”
Jeremy, Richard and James rose to superstardom after taking over the BBC's Top Gear, transforming it from a niche motoring show into one of the corporation's hottest shows and selling spin-offs around the world.
Her time on the show was not without controversy.
But now the trio's 20-year partnership is coming to an end after Jeremy revealed there was nothing else for them to do
Saying, “I drove the car higher than everyone else and further north than everyone else.” We did everything you can do with a car. “When we had meetings about what to do next, people just threw their arms in the air.”
He also branded himself “unfit, fat and old” as another reason why it was time for the “immensely physical” show to end after previous series saw the hosts camping on beaches and racing speedboats
Richard almost died when he was involved in a 320mph accident while filming a stunt for the show. The impact left him in a coma for two weeks, and “Hamster” himself admitted that he feared he would develop early dementia as a result.
The trio also found themselves at the center of several racism disputes. Mexico's ambassador complained when his people were branded “lazy”, “weak” and “flatulent” on the show, prompting an apology from the BBC.
They were also driven out of Argentina by an angry mob after a dispute broke out over a license plate used during filming of the series.
Officials claimed that H982 FKL on a Porche – registered in May 1991 – was a reference to the 1982 Falklands War.
In the same year, Ofcom ruled that there had been a breach of broadcasting regulations because an offensive racist term had been used in the program Burma Special.
They left the program in dramatic fashion in 2015 after Clarkson was sacked by the network following a dispute with producers, before returning to The Grand Tour in 2016.
Jeremy, Richard and James rose to superstardom after taking over the BBC's Top Gear, transforming it from a niche motoring show into one of the group's hottest shows and selling spin-offs around the world (pictured).
Since then, they have hosted 44 episodes of the series, taking them around the world with special broadcasts, to Cambodia and Vietnam, Réunion and Madagascar, Scandinavia and Eastern Europe.
Late last year, their former bosses at the BBC announced that Top Gear, which made the trio superstars, had been canceled following a horrific crash involving presenter Andrew Flintoff.
Production on the show has been halted since presenter Flintoff, 46, was rushed to hospital in December 2022 after being seriously injured in an accident on the Top Gear test track at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey.
Following the crash, the BBC announced it would pause production of the show, co-hosted by Take Me Out presenter Paddy McGuinness and automotive journalist Chris Harris, as it felt it was “inappropriate”, adding that it was a health concern – and health risk would give security clearance.
Jeremy was banned from Top Gear in 2015 for what the BBC described as an “unprovoked physical and verbal attack” on producer Oisin Tymon (with whom he is pictured).
Paddy later thanked fans “for the love” in a farewell message.
And following the BBC's announcement that the show would be on hiatus for the foreseeable future, Paddy posted a gallery of images on Instagram, starting with a picture of the trio in white Top Gear outfits.
He wrote the caption: “We always wanted to be assholes, but we were your assholes.”
“Thank you so much for all the love over the years, it has been greatly appreciated.”
Late last year, their former bosses at the BBC announced that Top Gear, which made the trio superstars, was following a horrific accident with presenter Andrew Flintoff (right) pictured with co-hosts Paddy McGuinness (centre) and Chris Harris has been set (L)