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Who is Edd China from Wheeler Dealers?
And the real reason he left Wheeler Dealers after over ten years
CAR enthusiast Edd China left fans stunned when he announced his exit from Wheeler Dealers in 2017.
The motor specialist had spent over a decade hosting the show, which sees cast members restore various cars to their original condition.
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Who is Edd China?
Edd China is a TV presenter, mechanic, motor specialist and inventor.
He was born on May 9, 1971, in London and grew up in Surrey.
Edd developed a love for cars from an early age and attended South Bank University where he earned a degree in engineering product design.
During his studies China invented the Casual Lofa - a driving sofa - and the success of his invention led to him setting up Cummfy Banana Limited, in March 1999 - an outlet for his extreme creations.
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Until August 2016, China also owned an MOT and servicing garage in Bracknell, Berkshire, named Grease Junkie.
Grease Junkie is now his online shop where he sells car parts, as well as other mechanic essentials, plus his own merchandise.
China is best known for his time on Wheeler Dealers where he worked as a mechanic and host of the show.
He first joined the cast in 2003 and presented 13 series alongside fellow presenter and good friend Mike Brewer.
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Edd also has a stunning car collection - including a driveable sofa and a 1916 Cadillac.
China holds the Guinness World Record titles for the fastest shed, toilet, bed, milk float and the largest motorised shopping trolley.
Inside world's fastest shed which broke world records with its speed but can you guess how quick?
Where is Edd China now?
Following his departure from Wheeler Dealers, China has become a huge star on YouTube.
He regularly posts car content on the video-sharing website under the handle where he uploads Workshop Diaries.
As of August 2024, Edd boasts over 1.01 million subscribers.
In 2019, China released his memoir titled Grease Junkie: A Book of Moving Parts.
Why did Edd China leave Wheeler Dealers?
China revealed he left Wheeler Dealers due to disagreements over the direction of the programme.
On March 17, 2017, the star posted a video to his YouTube channel announcing that he was leaving the show.
In 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."
He continued: ''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.
''Because you kept watching it, we kept making it. So thank you all for that.''
Edd then added that he disagreed with how channel Velocity wanted the show to be made.
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
Edd China
He explained: ''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.
''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 revealed how his co-presenter Mike Brewer had phoned him 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.
China was replaced on the show by Ant Anstead in 2018.
As of November 2023, Wheeler Dealers is hosted by Brewer and Marc "Elvis" Priestley.
Is Edd China married and does he have children?
Edd is married to Norwegian born wife Imogen.
Imogen prefers to remain out of the public eye so not much is known about the TV star's wife.
The couple do not share any children.
What other TV shows has Edd been in?
China hosted Wheeler Dealers from 2003 until 2017.
He was a producer on the show from 2005-2015.
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China has appeared in a number of different TV shows aside from Wheeler Dealers, though of course they all involve cars.
His other TV credits include Scrapheap Challenge, Fifth Gear, Top Gear and Auto Trader.
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