What happened to Edd China? His net worth, wife, kids,wiki-bio.
Edd China is a television presenter, a mechanic, a motor specialist, an inventor and a Guinness World Record holder. He is not only a master of moving parts, but also a master of making money. He has amassed a net worth of $4 million by working on various TV shows, inventing amazing vehicles, and running his own businesses. He earned his fortune as a co-host and mechanic on Wheeler Dealers, where he bought, restored and sold classic cars with Mike Brewer for 13 years. He also appeared on other shows such as Top Gear, Auto Trader, Scrapheap Challenge and Fifth Gear, showcasing his skills and charisma. He bid farewell to Wheeler Dealers in 2017 to embark on new adventures and challenges that would unleash his creativity and passion for engineering. He has conjured up some of the most astonishing and ingenious vehicles ever seen on the road, such as the Casual Lofa (a driving sofa) and the world’s first all electric ice cream van, and has smashed several Guinness World Records for the fastest furniture, shed, bed and milk float. He resides in Buckinghamshire, England, with his lovely wife Imogen China and their two furry companions, and supports various noble causes such as Children in Need, Macmillan Cancer Support and Raleigh International.
Early Life:
Edward John China was born on the 9th of May 1971 in London. Edd was into cars from a young age and would often tinker around the garage. There is very little information on Ed’s parents and his early life. He studied at King Edward’s School, Witley in Surrey, before going off to London South Bank University. He graduated with a degree in engineering product design and also set a world record in the process.
Edd China’s World Records:
Edd’s professional career began at college when he made the Casual Lofa (driving sofa). The sofa created a new world record entitled Fastest Furniture. Since then, Edd has created several records and broken a few of his previous records. Here’s a look at Edd China’s world records:
- Fastest Furniture: Set in October 1998 and broken by Parry Watkins on 5 September 2010, before being broken again by Edd on 11th May 2007.
- Largest motorized shopping trolley, Trolleyshoppus Rex: Set on 9 November 2005.
- Fastest office, Hot Desk: Set on 9 November 2005.
- Fastest mobile bed, Street Sleeper: Set on 7 November 2008.
- Fastest toilet, Bog Standard: Set on 10 March 2011.
- Fastest garden shed, Gone to Speed: Set on 11 April 2011 and broken by Kevin Nicks on 16 September 2017.
Television:
He started his TV journey in 1994 when he worked as a special effects technician for the ‘Channel 4’ sitcom ‘Father Ted’. He then made his first appearance on ‘Top Gear’ in 1998, driving his ‘Casual Lofa’ (driving sofa) at the Silverstone ‘Live Arena’. He also showcased his ‘Rover 800’ modified with budget ‘James Bond’-esque gadgets on the same show.
Edd’s first stint as a resident designer was on the BBC TV series Panic Mechanic. Edd continued to appear in reality shows as a celebrity host and guest, and would often showcase his inventions on the show. Edd has also appeared on other TV shows related to cars and mechanics, such as ‘Auto Trader,’ ‘Scrapheap Challenge,’ ‘Fifth Gear,’ ‘Panic Mechanics,’ ‘The Culture Show,’ and ‘Classic Car Club’. He has also been featured on shows such as ‘The Big Breakfast,’ ‘This Is Your Life,’ ‘Ready Steady Cook,’ and ‘This Morning’ with his quirky creations. He holds several ‘Guinness World Records’ for his inventions, such as the fastest furniture, the fastest shed, the fastest toilet, and the largest motorized shopping trolley.
Wheelers Dealers:
Edd’s breakthrough came in 2003, when he joined ‘Wheeler Dealers’ as a co-host and mechanic. The show featured him and Mike Brewer buying, repairing, and selling classic cars. Edd was responsible for the technical and mechanical aspects of the show, while Brewer handled the business side. Edd regularly appeared on the show for thirteen seasons during which he made 189 appeareances. However, Edd left the show in 2017, citing disagreements with the producers over the direction of the show.
His exit from Wheeler Dealers caused a lot of controversy and backlash from his fans, some of whom even sent death threats to his co-host Mike Brewer and his family. Edd China intervened and asked his fans to stop the abuse and respect his decision. He also thanked Mike Brewer for their friendship and collaboration over the years.
Life after leaving Wheeler Dealers:
Edd China is not the type of person who can sit still for long. After leaving ‘Wheeler Dealers’ in 2017, he has been busy with various projects and adventures involving cars and mechanics. He has also been using his ‘YouTube’ channel to connect with his fans and share his insights and opinions on various topics.
One of Edd’s main projects after ‘Wheeler Dealers’ was ‘Edd China’s Garage Revival,’ a show where he traveled around the world to help people fix their cars. He visited Norway, Germany, France, and the US, and worked on cars such as a Volkswagen Golf Mk1 GTI, a BMW 2002 Tii, a Citroen 2CV, and a Ford Mustang. The show was released on Edd’s ‘YouTube’ channel in 2018.
Another project that Edd has been working on is ‘Edd China’s Workshop Diaries,’ a show that documents his projects and adventures in his garage. He works on cars such as a Land Rover Defender, a Jaguar XJS, a Porsche 944, and a Mini Moke. He also shows his inventions, such as the fastest electric ice cream van, the fastest shed, and the largest motorized shopping trolley. The show is also released on Edd’s ‘YouTube’ channel and has been running since 2019.
Edd has also made some guest appearances on other shows and events related to cars and mechanics. For example, he appeared on ‘Jay Leno’s Garage’ in 2019, where he showed Jay Leno his electric ice cream van. He also participated in the ‘Goodwood Festival of Speed’ in 2019 and 2021, where he drove his fastest shed and his electric ice cream van .
Edd has not given up on his passion for cars and mechanics after leaving ‘Wheeler Dealers.’ He has continued to pursue his interests and share them with his fans through various platforms. He has also shown his creativity and innovation with his inventions and projects. Edd is always looking for new challenges and opportunities to learn and have fun with cars.
Business Endeavors:
Edd China is not only a talented mechanic and TV presenter, but also a successful entrepreneur and inventor. He has been involved in various business endeavors over the years, some of which are related to his passion for cars and mechanics.
One of Edd’s earliest business ventures was ‘Cummfy Banana Limited,’ which he founded in 1999. The company specialized in creating and trading extreme and bizarre vehicles, such as the ‘Casual Lofa’ (driving sofa), the ‘Bog Standard’ (driving toilet), the ‘Street Sleeper’ (driving bed), and the ‘Fast Food’ (driving kitchen). Edd used his company as an outlet for his inventions and creativity, and also showcased them on various TV shows and events.
Another business endeavor that Edd pursued was ‘Grease Junkie,’ which he started in 2009. The company was a garage and workshop that offered car servicing, repairs, restoration, and customization. Edd used his expertise and experience as a mechanic to provide quality service to his customers, and also filmed some of his projects for his ‘YouTube’ channel. However, the company close down in 2016.
Edd has also collaborated with other businesses and organizations in the automotive industry, such as ‘Motor Trend,’ ‘Jay Leno’s Garage,’ ‘Goodwood Festival of Speed,’ ‘Car Throttle,’ ‘Car SOS,’ and ‘The Grand Tour’.
Personal Life
Wife and Kids:
Edd China is married to Imogen China, a successful entrepreneur and public relations manager. She was born in Norway in 1971 and has a Master’s degree in Business and Economics from BI Norwegian Business School. She has worked as a VIP relations manager for the British Airways London Eye, the Head of External Relations for Tussaud’s Group, and the Director of Cummfy Banana Limited, a company founded by her husband.
Imogen China is not very active on social media, but she occasionally appears on her husband’s Instagram account. The couple has been together for a long time and has a happy and blissful marriage. They do not have any children of their own yet, but they enjoy spending time with each other and their friends, doing adventurous things like cycling and rock climbing. They also support each other in their careers and passions.
Physical Traits:
Edd China is a towering figure in the world of motoring, literally and figuratively. He stands at an impressive 6 ft 7 in, making him one of the tallest TV presenters and mechanics around. He has a slim build and weighs about 85 kg. He has brown eyes and dark brown hair which have gradually turned grey.
Edd China’s dressing style is casual and practical, reflecting his hands-on approach to his work. He usually wears a blue or black T-shirt with his name and logo on it, along with jeans or cargo pants. He also wears his signature orange gloves, which he designed himself to protect his hands from grease and dirt. He sometimes accessorizes with a baseball cap, sunglasses, or a bandana.
Wiki/Bio Facts:
Fact | Value |
---|---|
Full name | Edward John China |
Date of birth | May 9, 1971 |
Place of birth | London, England |
Nationality | British |
Height | 6 ft 7 in (201 cm) |
Spouse | Imogen China |
Occupation | Television presenter, mechanic, motor specialist, inventor |
Education | King Edward’s School, Witley; London South Bank University |
Website | www.eddchina.com |
Known for | Wheeler Dealers, Top Gear, Auto Trader, Scrapheap Challenge, Fifth Gear |
First TV job | Special effects technician for Father Ted in 1994 |
First major project | Casual Lofa (driving sofa) in 1990 |
Guinness World Records | Seven, for fastest furniture, fastest mobile bed, fastest garden shed, fastest toilet, fastest milk float, largest motorized shopping trolley and largest motorized wheelchair |
Company | Cummfy Banana Limited, founded in 1999 |
YouTube channel | Edd China’s Garage Revival, launched in 2018 |
Net worth | Estimated at $4 million |
Favorite car | Citroën 2CV |
Favorite tool | Hammer |
Favorite color | Orange |
Favorite food | Pizza |
Favorite drink | Tea |
Favorite movie | Back to the Future |
Favorite book | The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy |
Favorite band | Madness |
Favorite hobby | Cycling |
Favorite animal | Dog |
Zodiac sign | Taurus |
Life path number | 5 |