francis bourgeois
The Trainspotting Star Taking Over Fashion, TV, and Even Space
Have you ever loved something so much that other people thought it was strange? That is the story of Francis Bourgeois, a young man from England who turned his passion for trains into an amazing career. Today, Francis Bourgeois is a famous name all over the world. He has millions of followers on social media. He has modeled for Gucci. He has his own TV shows. And now he is even hosting a famous car program called The Grand Tour. But the best part? He stayed true to himself the whole time.
He did not change who he was just to fit in. Instead, he showed everyone that being different is actually a superpower. This is the incredible story of how a train lover became one of the most unique celebrities in the world .
The journey of Francis Bourgeois started in a simple way. He was just a kid who loved watching trains go by. But somewhere along the way, he learned to hide that love because other kids made fun of him. Like many young people, he wanted to be accepted. So he put away his train sets and tried to be someone else. But deep down, that passion never went away. When the pandemic hit in 2020, something changed. He picked up his camera and started sharing his love for trains with the world. People loved it. They loved his genuine excitement. They loved his unique style. And before he knew it, Francis Bourgeois became a sensation .
Who Is Francis Bourgeois Really
Many people do not know that Francis Bourgeois is actually a made-up name. His real name is Luke Magnus Nicolson. He was born on July 9, 2000, in Harlesden, which is a part of North West London . So right now, he is 25 years old. He chose the name Francis because he really likes France and the way they do trains over there . The last name Bourgeois came from a famous French artist named Louise Bourgeois. He went to an art show with his dad and saw her work. The name just stuck with him .
When Francis Bourgeois started making videos, he did not want to use his real name. He was still studying engineering at the University of Nottingham. He also had a job at Rolls-Royce, the famous car and engine company . He worried that if future employers searched for his name online, they might find silly videos of him talking about trains. So he made up a name to protect his professional life. Little did he know that Francis Bourgeois would become way more famous than Luke Nicolson ever could have been .
Francis Bourgeois Net Worth Explained
People always get curious about how much money social media stars make. For Francis Bourgeois net worth, the numbers have grown a lot as his career took off. Early reports suggested his net worth was around $20,000 to $23,000 back in 2022 . That might sound low, but remember he was still a student when he started. He was not in it for the money. He was in it for the love of trains .
But things changed fast. Francis Bourgeois net worth got a huge boost when big brands started calling. Gucci and The North Face picked him to be in their fashion campaigns . That meant real money from modeling contracts. Then came book deals. He wrote a book called The Trainspotter’s Notebook, which sold really well . And of course, there is money from social media. TikTok and Instagram pay creators when their videos get millions of views .
The biggest jump in Francis Bourgeois net worth came from TV work. According to recent reports, he is getting paid about half a million pounds just for his role on The Grand Tour . That is around $600,000 in American money. His company records also show he has already made over £320,000 from his various projects . So while he started with almost nothing, Francis Bourgeois net worth is now growing very fast .
The Amazing Story of His Name
The name Francis Bourgeois sounds fancy, like someone from old England. And actually, there was a famous painter with that name who lived hundreds of years ago. He was a court painter for King George III and helped start one of the first public art galleries in Britain . But our Francis is not related to that painter. He just liked the sound of the name .
The way Francis Bourgeois picked his name is pretty funny. He wanted something that felt protected, like a shield. When he was a teenager, he got made fun of for loving trains. So when he started making videos, he did not want to use his real name. He was afraid people from school would find his videos and make fun of him again . He told interviewers that Francis Bourgeois just had a better ring to it than Luke Nicolson .
The first name Francis came from his love of French trains. He thinks France does trains in a cool way. The last name Bourgeois came from an art gallery visit. He saw a sculpture by Louise Bourgeois and thought it sounded good . So the name is really a mix of his two passions: trains and art. Pretty perfect when you think about it .
Francis Bourgeois Girlfriend: Amy Linkin
Fans always want to know about the personal lives of their favorite stars. When it comes to Francis Bourgeois girlfriend, he has been with the same person for a very long time. Her name is Amy Linkin, and some sources call her Amy Linkin-Chandler . They met at the University of Nottingham while they were both students .
The story of Francis Bourgeois girlfriend is actually really sweet. Amy has a health condition that prevents her from being able to drive . So Francis did something amazing. He bought a car just for her. It was a pink 2003 Honda Jazz that cost him only about one thousand pounds. He named it Rhonda the Honda. Even though Amy could not drive it herself, she could ride in it and enjoy the experience .
Francis Bourgeois girlfriend also works as his camerawoman. She films many of his videos and helps him create content. They have been together for around six years now, which is a long time for someone so young . Francis keeps his private life mostly off social media, so you will not see Amy in many of his posts. But she is there behind the scenes, helping him build his amazing career .
His Mission to Space with Francis Bourgeois
One of the coolest projects Francis Bourgeois has done is his mission to space. Well, kind of. He did not actually fly to space himself. But he got pretty close. In 2025, Channel 4 in the UK made a two-part documentary called Mission To Space with Francis Bourgeois . The show followed him as he tried to fulfill his childhood dream of becoming an astronaut .
The mission to space with Francis Bourgeois took him all over the United States. He visited space agencies and training centers. He met real astronaut Tim Peake, who is a British hero . He went through G-force training, which simulates the feeling of a rocket launch. That part did not go so well. He actually passed out during the test. It showed him just how hard it is to become a real astronaut .
The mission to space with Francis Bourgeois had a beautiful ending. A company called Sent Into Space helped him send something special up high. They launched a tiny model of Francis and his girlfriend Amy on a balloon. It went up over 120,000 feet above the ground. That is more than 20 miles up. The best part? British acting legend Stephen Fry narrated the whole flight . So even though Francis could not go to space himself, a little piece of him made the journey .
Francis Bourgeois Grand Tour Adventure
In 2026, huge news broke. Francis Bourgeois Grand Tour announcement got everyone talking. He was chosen to be one of the new hosts of the famous car show. This is a really big deal. The Grand Tour used to be hosted by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May. Those three are legends in the car world . They stepped down in 2024 after many years of making the show .
The Francis Bourgeois Grand Tour team includes two other hosts. Their names are James Engelsman and Thomas Holland. They run a popular YouTube channel called Throttle House about cars. Together, these three will travel the world driving amazing vehicles . They will cross the Angolan desert in track cars. They will explore car culture in Malaysia. And they will test the newest performance cars in California .
Francis Bourgeois knows he has big shoes to fill. He said it feels like trying to run in shoes that are way too big. It might be awkward at first, but it will be interesting to watch . The great thing is, he actually knows about cars. He studied mechanical engineering. He worked at Rolls-Royce. So he understands how vehicles work. That makes him perfect for the job .
Francis Bourgeois Model Career
You might not expect a train lover to become a fashion model. But that is exactly what happened. The Francis Bourgeois model story began in 2022. Luxury brand Gucci teamed up with outdoor brand The North Face. They needed someone unique for their campaign. Someone real. Someone different. They chose Francis .
The Francis Bourgeois model debut was amazing. He appeared in the campaign video dressed as a train conductor. It was perfect. It mixed his love of trains with high fashion. Fans could not believe their eyes. Here was this guy they watched on TikTok, now in a fancy Gucci ad . It showed that you do not have to look like a typical model to be in fashion. You just have to be yourself .
Since then, the Francis Bourgeois model career has grown. He has worked with other big brands too. ASOS put him in their promotions. Puma used him in ads with famous soccer player Thierry Henry . He even appeared in campaigns for Trainline, a company that sells train tickets . Of course he did. Who better to promote trains than the world’s most famous train lover ?
Complete Biography and Profile Table
Here is a detailed look at the life and career of Francis Bourgeois. This table covers all the important facts you want to know.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Luke Magnus Nicolson |
| Stage Name | Francis Bourgeois |
| Date of Birth | July 9, 2000 |
| Age | 25 years old |
| Birthplace | Harlesden, North West London, England |
| Current Residence | Nottingham, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Height | 6 feet 3 inches (1.90 meters) |
| Weight | Around 180 pounds (82 kilograms) |
| Eye Color | Light Green |
| Hair Color | Blonde |
| Parents | Jenny (NHS worker) and Seamus (photography teacher) |
| Siblings | One younger brother named Benjamin |
| Girlfriend | Amy Linkin (together about 6 years) |
| Education | University of Nottingham, Mechanical Engineering |
| Former Job | Engineer at Rolls-Royce |
| TikTok Followers | Over 3.2 million |
| Instagram Followers | Over 2.6 million |
| YouTube Subscribers | Over 126,000 |
| Net Worth (2026) | Estimated $500,000+ (growing fast) |
| Famous For | Trainspotting videos, unique personality |
| Books Written | The Trainspotter’s Notebook |
| TV Shows | Trainspotting with Francis Bourgeois, Mission to Space with Francis Bourgeois, The Grand Tour |
| Brand Deals | Gucci, The North Face, ASOS, Puma, Trainline |
| First Car | Pink 2003 Honda Jazz named “Rhonda” |
| Famous Celebrity Fan | Joe Jonas (went trainspotting with him) |
| Hidden Talent | Can identify trains just by their sound |
| Biggest Achievement | Staying true to himself while becoming famous |
How He Became Famous on TikTok
The rise of Francis Bourgeois started during the pandemic. Like many people, he was stuck at home with not much to do. He and his brother started making funny videos for TikTok . At first, they were not even about trains. They made fake interviews and silly comedy sketches .
But then something clicked. Francis Bourgeois started filming himself watching trains. He would stand by the tracks with his GoPro camera. When a train came by, his face would light up with pure joy. He waved at the drivers. He got excited about different train models. His happiness was so real that people could not look away .
Two videos really made Francis Bourgeois blow up. In one, he was at Brighton train station. A train called the GB Class 73/9 had a funny name: Dick Mabbutt. His reaction was hilarious and got over 12 million views . In another, he was so excited to see a train that he fell right out of his chair. That one got millions of views too .
Soon, celebrities started noticing Francis Bourgeois. Joe Jonas from the Jonas Brothers reached out. They went trainspotting together in the English countryside . Can you imagine? A huge pop star hanging out with a train guy, just watching trains go by. It was amazing .
His Engineering Background and Education
A lot of people do not realize that Francis Bourgeois is actually a trained engineer. He studied mechanical engineering at the University of Nottingham . This is not an easy subject. It takes a lot of hard work and smart thinking. He chose engineering because of his love for trains. He wanted to understand how they work and maybe even help build better ones someday .
After university, Francis Bourgeois got a job at Rolls-Royce . This is one of the most famous engineering companies in the world. They make airplane engines and other high-tech machines. He worked at a car factory in Portsmouth for a while. It was a real engineering job, not just social media fun .
When his TikTok fame started growing, Francis Bourgeois had a big decision to make. Should he keep his safe engineering job or chase this crazy social media dream? His parents told him they would support him if he kept studying. He agreed to turn his bachelor’s degree into a master’s . That way, he would always have his education to fall back on. Smart thinking .
What Makes Him So Special
There is something about Francis Bourgeois that people just love. Maybe it is his honest joy. When he sees a train he loves, his whole face lights up. You cannot fake that kind of happiness. In a world where so many people try to be cool and act like they do not care, Francis cares so much. And it is beautiful .
Another thing about Francis Bourgeois is that he never changed who he was. When he was a kid, he hid his love of trains because other kids made fun of him. He sold his train sets and tried to be like everyone else . It did not make him happy. Now he knows that being different is what makes him special .
Francis Bourgeois also reminds us that you can love more than one thing. He loves trains. But he also loves fashion. He loves engineering. He loves space. He loves cars. You do not have to pick just one interest. You can be a train nerd and a style icon at the same time. You can be an engineer and a TV star. You can be all of it .
What Lies Ahead for Francis Bourgeois
So, what might the future hold for Francis Bourgeois? Everything suggests exciting opportunities ahead. He is set to appear on The Grand Tour, which will take him across different parts of the world. These journeys will introduce him to new cultures, new locations, and even more supporters. Along the way, he will have the chance to experience incredible vehicles and share those moments with a massive global audience.
It is also very likely that more television opportunities will come his way. Francis Bourgeois has a natural charm on camera that people genuinely enjoy. His enthusiasm is infectious and often brings smiles to viewers. Because of that, television networks will probably want to feature him in additional programs—perhaps documentaries, travel shows, or even his own talk show in the future.
Even as his career expands, trains will always remain close to his heart. His passion for railways is not just a hobby; it is a core part of who he is. Whether he is filming a high-profile motoring show or appearing at a fashion event, trains will always hold a special place in his life. That authenticity is exactly why his fans appreciate him so much.
Why His Journey Motivates People
The story of Francis Bourgeois is ultimately about embracing who you truly are. It reminds us not to hide our passions simply because others might not understand them. Instead, it encourages us to celebrate the things that bring us happiness and to share that excitement with others.
Everyone has interests that may seem unusual to someone else. Sometimes people keep those interests hidden because they fear criticism or judgment. Francis Bourgeois’s journey proves that those very passions can become your greatest strengths. What makes you different may actually be what makes you memorable.
From a young person quietly enjoying model trains to an internationally recognized personality with millions of followers, Francis has come a long way. He has worked with major brands like Gucci, interacted with astronauts, and hosted television content—yet he never abandoned the enthusiasm that made him unique in the first place.
If his story teaches us anything, it is this: authenticity matters. When you remain genuine and pursue what you love, opportunities can appear in unexpected ways.
So the next time you see someone passionately enjoying their favorite hobby, think of Francis Bourgeois. And if you ever feel hesitant about expressing what you love, remember his journey. Take pride in your individuality, celebrate your interests, and share them confidently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Francis Bourgeois his real name?
No, his real name is Luke Magnus Nicolson. He chose Francis Bourgeois as a stage name to protect his privacy when he first started making videos. He liked the way it sounded and it stuck .
How much is Francis Bourgeois worth?
Francis Bourgeois net worth is growing fast. Early estimates were around $20,000 to $23,000. But with his new Grand Tour contract paying about half a million pounds and all his brand deals, his net worth is now much higher .
Who is Francis Bourgeois dating?
He is dating Amy Linkin, a fellow University of Nottingham student. They have been together for about six years. She also works as his camerawoman and helps create his content .
Did Francis Bourgeois really go to space?
No, he did not go to space himself. But he trained like an astronaut for a TV show called Mission To Space with Francis Bourgeois. He also sent a little model of himself and his girlfriend up on a balloon that reached over 120,000 feet .
What is The Grand Tour and why is Francis on it?
The Grand Tour is a famous car show on Amazon Prime Video. It used to be hosted by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May. Francis is now one of three new hosts who will take over the show .
How did Francis Bourgeois become famous?
He became famous on TikTok during the pandemic. He posted videos of himself watching trains with pure joy and excitement. People loved his genuine happiness and unique personality. Soon millions of people were following him .
What brands has Francis Bourgeois worked with?
He has worked with many big brands including Gucci, The North Face, ASOS, Puma, and Trainline. He has also done campaigns for Williams Racing and appeared with celebrities like Joe Jonas and Thierry Henry .
Does Francis Bourgeois still love trains?
Yes, more than ever. Even though he is now a TV star and model, trains are still his greatest passion. He still makes videos about them and shares his excitement with his millions of followers .
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