Here's Why Wheeler Dealers Could End Very Soon
If not for one other distinctly, louder, and explosion-filled English motoring show, Wheeler Dealers would be the most popular and most universally adored classic car show in the history of television. Sadly though, instability in the cast line-up and uncertainty about a post-covid future have the prospects for Wheeler Dealers going forward not looking in the best of shape.
As sad as it is to say, the time may be coming in the very near future, and fans of the show should probably think about steeling themselves for the announcement of the show's cancelation.
We wouldn't even discuss such a sad notion of such a treasured television program going belly up if there wasn't lots of evidence pointing in this direction. Let's take a look at the red flags that lead us to suspect the end might be near for one of our favorite car-oriented T.V. shows.
We're not quite ready to break out the kleenex yet on Wheeler Dealers, but signs are more and more present as time passes that it might be time to say goodbye sooner rather than later.
They Just Can't Replace Edd, No Matter How Hard They Try
Edd China should be certified as an official British national treasure. His jovial and inviting demeanor and unwavering mechanical ability were a combination that no other television presenter possessed.
This, combined with undisputedly brilliant chemistry with his partner in crime Mike Brewer made for a fantastic bit of television that didn't get boring for thirteen seasons. Edd's season 14 replacement Ant Andstead is admittantly a phenomenal mechanic and broadcaster in his own right, but he would only last a brief two seasons.
For the upcoming 2021 season, Mike will get a crack at the third Wheeler Dealers mechanic, Marc "Elvis" Priestley. Only time will tell if this latest dynamic duo will have anything like the chemistry Edd and Mike had. Unfortunately though, lightning seldom strikes twice. Meanwhile, Ant Andstead is using his new found noteriety to work on a slew of his own projects. He'll also be returning to Wheeler Dealers periodically to do occasional guest segments.
Mike's Been Very Naughty Recently
The world was saddened when Edd China uploaded a video to his YouTube Channel explaining that inconsolable differences had caused him to leave his deal with Discovery Channel and in turn, Wheeler dealers.
Via: Youtube.com/Matthew Ehmka
Whisperings of bad blood between Mike and Edd were awash online throughout 2017, only for a video of Mike talking badly about Edd appeared online in September of that year. This video, published by user Matthew Ehmka shows Mike accusing Edd of being greedy and unwilling to change as per Discovery Channel requests. Also accusing him of "Starting as a mechanic and becoming a TV star" which is what he attributes to the leading factor in his departure. The video had three quarters of a million views and over four and a-half thousand dislikes.
Another video was uploaded of mike in December 2018 at an unknown charity car show event in which he ironically encouraged people do ask "Daft Questions" about his relationship with Edd. Stating "We don't work together anymore, and we never will again". Brewer continues to have to block people on social media who ask these questions even four years after the tumultuous split up.
While it might be shocking to see one half of a world-famous duo speak ill of the other half, the frequent abuse and death threats Brewer and his family endured in the immediate aftermath of the two splitting adequately explains his particularly vitriolic comments.
Edd released another video urging fans to stop abusing Mike and his family, and vowing that they'd settle their differences in due time. He also re-itterated his intention to never return to the show. There's been no public communication between the two since then. In the mean time, the Wheeler Dealer show will continue, but it's not hard to smell the permiable stench of impending doom in the air.
All Good Things Must Come To An End
Try as they might to re-capture the magic that Mike and Edd were able to mastufully put together, there's no getting past the fact Wheeler Dealers is a far different show than when it firt aired almost two decades ago.
No one is rooting for the show to fail, but just as other English motoring shows must come to an eventual end, so too must the curtain fall on Wheeler Dealers. When it does, at least we'll be able to look back at the great memories we all shared watching two Englishmen buying a car, fixing it up and selling it on, hopefully for a profit. Even when they didnt make a profit, in the end, we all still win, because it was so gosh darn entertaining.
Sources: Youtube.com/CiganoBoxer, Youtube.com/Matthew Ehmka