Why did Edd China leave Wheeler Dealers?
CAR enthusiasts around the world will know Edd China as a presenter and mechanic on the TV show Wheeler Dealers.
The motor specialist spent over a decade hosting the show before announcing his shock exit in 2017.
Why did Edd China leave Wheeler Dealers?
On March 17, 2017, Edd China posted a video to his YouTube channel announcing that he had made the decision to leave Wheeler Dealers.
On the video, Edd said: ”Yes, I’m afraid it’s true and I’m really sorry, after 13 years of making Wheeler Dealers, I’m now going to be leaving the show.
”Wheeler Dealers is a great car show, reportedly the biggest on the planet at the moment. It is broadcast in about 220 territories around the globe and apparently has several hundred million viewers worldwide.
”This success would not have been possible without the huge collaborative effort put in by the production team over the years, but most of all because of the loyalty and appreciation of our fans who have kept watching, in ever increasing numbers around the globe.
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”Because you kept watching it, we kept making it. So thank you all for that.”
He then went on to explain that he was departing Wheeler Dealers due to disagreements over the direction of the programme.
Edd continued: ”Unfortunately, on Velocity’s first attempt at producing the show they found Wheeler Dealers ‘too difficult to make’, ‘at least in its current format’.
”In particular, the detailed and in depth coverage of my fixes in the workshop, what I consider to be the backbone and USP of the programme, are something Velocity feel should be reduced.
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”The workshop jobs are certainly the hardest part of the show to make and reducing their substance and role in the show will save the production considerable time, effort and therefore money.
”However, this new direction is not something I am comfortable with as I feel the corners I was being asked to cut compromised the quality of my work and would erode my integrity as well as that of the show, so I have come to the conclusion that my only option is to let Velocity get on with it, without me.”
Six days later, in another video, China described how his co-presenter Mike Brewer had phoned to explain that his wife and his daughter, were receiving significant online abuse, including death threats, as a result of China’s decision to leave the show.
Who is Edd China?
Edd China, born May 9, 1971 is an English TV presenter, mechanic, motor specialist and inventor.
He is best known for his time on Wheeler Dealers where he was both a mechanic and TV presenter.
He joined the cast of Wheeler Dealers in 2003 and presented 13 series alongside fellow presenter and good friend Mike Brewer.
China developed a love for cars and the mechanics from an early age.
During his studies, he earned a degree in engineering product design from London South Bank University.
It was during this time in his life that China invented the weird yet wonderful Casual Lofa – a driving sofa.
Following the success of his invention, China set up Cummfy Banana Limited, in March 1999 – an outlet for his extreme creations and in 2009 incorporated Grease Junkie Limited.
He also owned an MOT and servicing garage in Bracknell, Berkshire, named Grease Junkie – however, this was was voluntarily liquidated in August 2016.
And he’s accomplishments have stopped there.
China holds the Guinness World Record titles for the fastest shed, toilet, bed, milk float and the largest motorised shopping trolley, among other things.
You can follow Edd China on YouTube – where he regularly posts car content under the handle @eddchina.
His channel to date boasts an impressive 959k subscribers.
Is Edd China married and does he have children?
Edd is married to Norwegian born wife Imogen.
Not much is known about the TV stars wife as she prefers to remain out of the public eye.
The couple do not share any children.
What other TV shows has Edd been in?
Aside from Wheeler Dealers, China has also appeared in a number of different TV shows – and of course they all involve cars.
Other TV show titles include, Scrapheap Challenge, Fifth Gear, Top Gear and Auto Trader.