Posted on 03/23/2017 6:03:31 PM PDT by Snickering Hound
Published on Mar 21, 2017
I am very sorry to say, that after 13 years on the show, I am leaving Wheeler Dealers.
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. Because you kept watching it; we kept making it. So thank you all for that.
Making Wheeler Dealers is no easy task and every episode requires a massive effort from a dedicated team of people. We started, all those years ago, on a niche channel in the UK with just a small production: Michael Wood and Dan Allum; the founders of Attaboy TV and originators of the show, one production manager, a camera man, a sound man and Mike and myself. One hundred and thirty five cars later we have grown to a production team of over forty five staff, and we are now entertaining much of the TV watching planet. It’s been quite a ride.
It was exactly the worldwide popularity of Wheeler Dealers and sheer size of the audience, coupled with the lack of product placement and brand endorsements within the show which meant that Discovery US and Velocity Channel saw an opportunity for further exploitation of the brand and so, after season twelve, the show commission was taken over by Velocity Channel in the US, who decided to replace Attaboy TV with Discovery Studios in California.
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.
Wheeler Dealers has been an enormous part of my life since 2002, a real roller coaster of demanding challenges and triumphant moments. It has been a privilege to meet and work with so many great people and, from the workshop to the joy rides, to be allowed to experience so many fabulous cars and amazing locations. Leaving the show at the height of its success has been a really tough decision to make but I believe the time is right for me to spread my wings. Sometimes you’ve just got to break free from the confines of your rut and head for the far horizon.
I would like to thank Attaboy TV, Mike, our incredible crew, and everyone who has contributed to making such a great programme for all of these years. A special thank you must go to every one of our fans for watching these past thirteen series, it has been great having you along for the ride, your appreciation means so much. Mike and Velocity will continue to make Wheeler Dealers, apparently with Ant Anstead taking my place in the workshop, so new episodes will be on your screens in due course. Being the new boy is never easy, so please give Ant your support, I wish him the very best of luck. It will certainly be nice to see Mike turn up at the workshop with yet another wreck knowing I don’t have to do any of the work!
As for me, I am already working on some great new projects which will expand my world in new directions and, as I will have a bit of time on my hands, I’ll even start to put some things up on my youTube channel, so keep an eye out for that. Right now though, I just feel relieved and exhilarated with freedom and I can’t wait to get cracking on the exciting opportunities that lie ahead.
For years Discovery have been encouraging everyone to: ‘make your world bigger’ – and that is exactly what I am now doing. Edd China
Velocity has turned to crap.
Put me in the “I’m done” column, too. This show’s concept of fixing or modifying a car on a budget was the closest thing to real life situations for most of us that identify with the show. If a new transmission wasn’t in the budget, Ed tore it down and replaced the synchros, for example. Too many similar shows don’t do the mechanics, they’re just parts changers using parts donated by vendors for advertising.
In the coming season, Mike transitions to Michelle. The focus of the show becomes the love lives, spats and grievances of the new diverse group of garage assistants. And Kim Kardashian and Kanye West make a cameo appearance.
And always with some phony contrived deadline...
Edd is a genius. Good on him for telling them to stuff it. I have a lot of back programs to watch anyhow :)
Ed made the show.
Agreed and what a shame.
I literally find the Edd segments the best part. I find it impossible to envision myself liking the show without him.
Edd China doesnt work for free dang it!
Hmmm... Maybe Edd and Aaron can make a show together.
I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Edd and Mike, both super nice guys. It was no surprise that Edd is a tall dude, about 6’-7” I would guess. What did surprise me wa that Mike goes about 6’-2” and only appears average height in comparison to Edd on the tube.
I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Edd and Mike, both super nice guys. It was no surprise that Edd is a tall dude, about 6’-7” I would guess. What did surprise me wa that Mike goes about 6’-2” and only appears average height in comparison to Edd on the tube.
I agree. They’ve done the same thing to most of the HGTV shows — less actual DIY exposition and more practical jokes, family life of the show hosts, etc. and then everything is magically finished.
I don’t tune in for soap opera or sitcom entertainment from these shows. HGTV, Velocity, and Food Network have all become less watchable because of it.
ArrrrGHHH!!!! Not another show to bite the dust! I love the wrenching and hate the drama! Dang!
I’ll miss Edd too. Though he always seemed rather oddly thick through the trunk to my taste, but there we go, eh?
Ed
or I just liked the name ;-)
Edd China is to Wayne Carini’s mechanic, Ralph Barr.
I love it when Ralph quotes Shakespeare. He charms my socks off. and frankly, makes the show.
Just one of many reality TV shows that stretch 10 minutes of content into an hour of air time. Only dumbing down the audience can lead to people liking a show like this. In the olden days, if a show like this wasted people’s time showing 10 minutes of content over an hour’s time, nobody would have watched it.
My favorite gimmick for reality TV — not one used by Wheeler Dealers — Is to repeat the last few minutes of the previous segment after each commercial. So you watch the show from the top of the hour for 10 minutes. Then endure 5 minutes of commercials. Then from time 15-20 minutes, it is a repeat of the last 5 minutes of the first segment, and then you get another 10 minutes of new content. Commercial. Another overlapping segment. Repeat. You draw 25 minutes of content out into an hours air time with only 15 minutes of commercials, with all the repeating content throughout the course of the show.
I hate reality TV. 99% of it stinks, is stupid, is insulting, or is offensive. TV is worse than it is ever been despite having 500 channels.
Just damn. Edd making short work of problems others wouldn’t dare attempt was a highlight of my Velocity Channel viewing. He needs his own show. Job done!
That sucks.
I agree with Edd, if they cut the how to sessions, I’m out too.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.