Wheeler Dealers has some new company. Today, Velocity announced longtime host Edd China is leaving the series after 13 seasons and a new cohost will be featured in season 14.
The car show follows automotive valuation expert Mike Brewer as he finds, fixes, and flips old vehicles with the help of a master mechanic.
In place of China, automotive expert Ant Anstead will co-host season 14 of Wheeler Dealers and serve as master mechanic. Velocity has not yet announced a premiere date for the new season.
Read more details below:
(New York) – Velocity today announced established automotive expert Ant Anstead is the new co-host and master mechanic on the global hit series WHEELER DEALERS. After 13 seasons, longtime co-host and lead mechanic Edd China has decided to leave the series to pursue other projects. WHEELER DEALERS will continue for a season 14 later this year with current co-host Mike Brewer who will now be joined by Anstead. Ant Anstead is the former host of the Channel 4 series “For The Love Of Cars” and previously hosted “Building Cars Live” for BBC2.
“First, the Velocity team wants to thank Edd China for the care, dedication and effort he’s given to the network, Discovery networks worldwide and WHEELER DEALERS for more than a decade. While we’ll miss his signature orange gloves, we know that anything they touch will turn to automotive gold,” said Robert Scanlon, executive vice president and general manager of Velocity and Automotive Content. “We’re committed to making WHEELER DEALERS the best automotive series on TV, and feel Ant brings the in-depth knowledge our viewers crave and a unique style our viewers will love. He, Mike Brewer and the production team are laser focused on delivering the best car projects and best episodes possible.”
“As the first, original format for fans interested in fixing cars, it’s fair to say most TV motoring shows trace their heritage back to WHEELER DEALERS,” said Anstead. “I grew up watching and learning from Edd and Mike, and in recent years have come to know both as close personal friends. It is with Edd’s blessing that I join the team for this new and exciting challenge. I hope he and viewers enjoy what I bring to the show and recognize that for me it’s always been about the love of cars.”
Ant Anstead is best known for his day job as a car builder, but he is also a designer, artist, world record holder for selling vehicles for the highest price in the World at auctions, and a semi-professional soccer player. As a car nut, Anstead has been building custom-made cars since he was a kid. He has built a global reputation for building custom-made classic vehicles to individual client specifications. Anstead creates true works of art and he has built an enviable reputation supplying cars and art works to museums, private collections and enthusiasts all around the world.
Anstead was approached by Love Productions in 2013 to front the Channel 4 series “For The Love of Cars” with Philip Glenister. The series was a huge hit and returned in 2015 for a second season with a one off special in 2016. In 2015 he hosted BBC2’s pioneering live show “Building Cars Live” alongside James May and Kate Humble. In addition to WHEELER DEALERS, he hosts the new 10-part Channel 4 series “World’s Most Expensive Cars”, and is often seen hosting the live stages of some of the United Kingdom’s most prestigious car shows. Anstead also supports a number of charities alongside being an ambassador for the U.K. apprentice scheme.
For 13 seasons WHEELER DEALERS has successfully found, fixed, flipped, tested and traded roughly 135 cars on the international market. The international hit series and Velocity’s #2 franchise continues hunting down deals in America – the most exciting, most competitive car market on the planet. From the sunny beaches of southern California to the coldest edges of Maine, WHEELER DEALERS search coast-to-coast for the best vehicles to buy, restore, test and sell for a tidy profit in all new episodes. Season 14 of WHEELER DEALERS debuts on Velocity in the fourth quarter of 2017.
WHEELER DEALERS is produced for Velocity and Discovery Networks International by Discovery Studios. In the U.S., Joshua C. Berkley is executive producer for Velocity and Robert S. Scanlon is executive vice president and general manager of Velocity and Automotive Content.”
What do you think? Do you watch Wheeler Dealers? Are you sad Edd China is leaving?
Without Edd I am a former watcher.
I have been watching the show for quite a long time and I am not going to like it without Edd. Don’t get me wrong I enjoy both of you but Edd is so knowledgeable and I really enjoy his Witt. Thanks for great shows and I am sure I will get used to the new guy.
I am sad to see Ed leave the show but I will continue to watch.Can you tell me why Ed decided to leave.I would appreciate the info .Thanks for a great show
It is Mike Brewer Jessica Pena!!!!
The workshop ‘tinkering’ Ed does is what makes me watch the show again and again. I’m nota mechanic or even a home tinkerer. I loved the format. Why change something if it’s not broke?
Good luck Ed.
Wow, Surprised to see Ed gone . Always enjoyed his no gimmick, honest and professional approach .
Shocked that there is no more Edd, gave the new guy a chance but NOT. Moved to the US,…loved the show based in UK. Removed my auto record for wheeler dealers. See ya!!!!
I am a woman and Ed got me interested in this show. I have been watching for years. I began to notice a change in the show about a year ago. Ed was very detailed and that was the attraction of the show. He was 95% of the show and I felt some envy from Mike. I tried watching the new guy but he is more of an actor than a mechanic and Mike has gone Hollywood. Goodbye Wheeler Dealer and I will follow Ed on the internet until he can get his own show.
I have been watching the show for about one year and have enjoyed the different cars that have been repaired. I will miss the orange gloves also but think that Ant will be able to fill the shoes of Ed. What I do not understand is why did they move the show to California?
Without ED there is no tv show Wheeler Dealers!!
Can’t get into the new guy, Ant. Really lost some interest when the show was moved to CA. We have plenty of US car shows, but the England based WD is the best!
I just watched the first episode of Season 14.Much like the rest, I miss the presence of Ed China, however do respect Ant due to his experience on previous cars programs.What Imiss is that the show has been moved to the US. Being an American,I enjoyed the change of pace of how the British refurbish their cars. I saw the purchase,flip,and resale of the Escort WAY out of anyone else’s (the everyday man) general ability and price range. I liked the show when it was on a smaller scale.
I just watched the first show of season 14. I won’t make it a point to watch anymore. I wish Ed would have been givin the oppertunity to work on such a special car as this one. Ed explained & showed what was going on. I just can;t relate to the new guy. I perfer the team of Mike & Ed. God Bless you ED CHINA & good luck at what ever you do next. Eric ,IN Alabama, USA
I just watched the first Episode of season14. I loved the car but I would have enjoyed seeing & hearing Ed China working on the this beautiful car. I won’t make it a point to watch the show now like I used too. I have nothing against the new guy but I just like the original team of Mike & Ed. God Bless you Ed. Gonna miss you. From a car nut to another!!!!! ERIC in Alabama, USA
Ed will be missed. His easy going relaxed manner made the show special. I hope the new co-host (Ant) will continue to help us to understand how cars work and how to remove & change bad parts.
What? Eddie is leaving, I’m gone too!