Jeremy Clarkson's 'The Grand Tour' slammed for 'crass and insensitive' car crash stunt

It has been one of the most anticipated new shows of the year, but Jeremy Clarkson’s Top Gear replacement, The Grand Tour, has come under fire for using car crashes as promotional stunts.

Hmm, that probably isn’t the best of ideas…

Ahead of its big premiere on Friday, the series has staged a selection of car accidents around the world, with passerbys being left stunned by the wrecked vehicles in London, Berlin and Hollywood.

Road safety charities wasted no time in speaking out against the promotional decision, with campaigns director for charity ‘Brake’, Gary Rae, dubbing it “insensitive and desperate”.

Speaking to The Guardian, he seethed: “This is a crass, insensitive and desperate stunt. Though I’m not surprised, as this team has a track record of glorifying speed, and ignoring the devastating consequences of dangerous driving.

“Programmes like Top Gear and its new rival, Grand Tour, need to recognise that car worship is dated and misplaced.”

All of the cars involved in the stunts are Toyota Prius’ – a make that is regularly mocked by Clarkson and his co-hosts, Richard Hammond and James May.

AA president, Edmund King, added: “The picture clearly illustrates that crashing cars can be incredibly dangerous.

“However, looking on the brighter side we note that the 2016 Toyota Prius scores the top-rated five stars in EuroNCAP crash tests. We wonder whether The Grand Tour will rate five stars with the viewers.”

None of the hosts have responded to the backlash that the car crash stunt has attracted.