Mike Brewer (born 28 August 1964) is an English car trader-turned-presenter of motoring television programmes. He currently presents Wheeler Dealers on the Discovery Channel with Marc "Elvis" Priestley.
Mike Brewer | |
|---|---|
 Brewer at the 2018 NEC Classic Car Show | |
| Born | 28 August 1964 |
| Nationality | English |
| Occupations | Television presenter, car trader, journalist, talk show host, media personality |
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Known for | Wheeler Dealers |
| Spouse |
Michelle (m. 1992) |
| Children | 1 |
| Website | mikebrewer |
Early life
editBrewer was born in 1964 in Lambeth, London, to Roger Wilks and Doreen Fitzgerald. His father Roger was the owner at one point of a Ford Popular called "Mr Popstar" , and was heavily involved in vehicle customizing, which helped Brewer discover his passion for motoring.[1][2][3] Brewer's first car was a beige Mini 850cc.[4]
Television career
editBrewer's television shows have included Driven on Channel 4, Deals on Wheels, Pulling Power, Wrecks to Riches, Auto Trader, Wheeler Dealers and Wheeler Dealers Trading Up. With the exception of Driven and Pulling Power, all these shows have subsequently aired on the Discovery Channel.
He has appeared in a series called Revved Up in which cars are modified, and presents coverage of the British Rally Championship on Sky Sports. He has presented a show called Remote Madness, in which people with remote controlled mini cars, boats, planes and helicopters compete in a multi challenge race.
In 2010, he changed direction and fronted a new Discovery Channel series Frontline Battle Machines, where he went to Afghanistan, and accompanied front line troops, showing how they use their motorised equipment.[5] At one point his helicopter took enemy ground fire, injuring the pilot in the head and damaging a hydraulic line, forcing a landing.[6]
Wheeler Dealers
editIn October 2003, Brewer was hired by the Discovery Channel to present their new motoring show, which was to be titled Wheeler Dealers. Upon its launch, the programme was met with success, and featured Edd China as co-host and mechanic. Following changes to the show's production, China stepped down as co-host in 2017 and was replaced by Ant Anstead.[7]
In 2013, a spin off of Wheeler Dealers was created called Wheeler Dealers - Trading Up. The show featured Brewer travelling around the world buying and selling various cars to reach a final goal of owning a supercar.
January 2020 saw the premier on the Discovery Channel of spin off series Wheeler Dealers: Dream Car. Mike Brewer and former Formula 1 mechanic Marc "Elvis" Priestly help car owners trade up their unwanted vehicles to get them the car of their dreams.[8]
Business career
editIn addition to his TV career, Brewer is still active in the car industry, opening Mike Brewer Motors in 2012.[9] The dealership is based in Sheffield and was nominated for Autotrader dealership of the year in 2022. He has also launched the only annual awards for used car dealers in the UK.[10]
Personal life
editBrewer has several advanced licences: a racing licence, an advanced driving licence, and a world speed licence, which allows him to compete at world speed events.[11]
Brewer is married to his wife Michelle.[12] They live in Warwickshire, and have one daughter.[13][14]
Filmography
editTelevision
edit| Year | Title | Role | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-2001 | Deals on Wheels | Presenter | Channel 4 |
| 1997-2002 | Pulling Power | ITV1 | |
| 1999 | Driven | Channel 4 | |
| 2003–present | Wheeler Dealers | Discovery Channel | |
| 2009 | Auto Trader | ||
| 2020–present | Wheeler Dealers: Dream Car | Presenter | Discovery Channel |
| 2020 | World’s Greatest Cars | Co-Presenter | Quest |
| 2024 | Wheeler Dealers World Tour | Presenter | Discovery Channel |
Awards and honours
editOn 25 October 2000, Brewer was in a team that set a new British 24-hour Endurance Land Speed Record in a Volvo S60 T5.[15]
In 2004, Brewer won the Royal Television Society Midland Centre award for "Best In Vision Personality".[16]
Bibliography
edit- Mike Brewer's The Wheeler Dealer Know How!, Veloce Publishing, 2013, ISBN 9781845844899
References
edit- ^ Mike Brewer. "Happy Birthday Dad". Facebook.com. Retrieved January 19, 2017.
Happy Birthday to the greatest man a son could know. I love you tons Dad. Xxxx he's called Roger by the way.
- ^ Mike Brewer. "Mum and Dad Marriage". Facebook.com. Retrieved January 19, 2017.
Today it's all about family for me...44 years in the making and we couldn't be any happier for our Mum and Dad...x.
- ^ Sean McKellar. "Wheeler Dealers: S10 E8 – Ford Popular 103E". motoringbox.com. Retrieved January 19, 2017.
Micky Bray built the famous "Pinball Wizard" Ford Popular from which the paint scheme idea was taken, and which was owned at one time by Mike's dad, Roger.
- ^ Hudson, Paul (18 November 2016). "My first car - Mike Brewer: 'I had a girlfriend, so a scooter wouldn't do'". The Telegraph. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
- ^ "FRONTLINE BATTLE MACHINES". MikeBrewer.TV. Retrieved January 19, 2017.
So he decided to find out for himself, by going to the front line in Afghanistan, speaking to the soldiers who use the kit and getting a unique insight into their life and the machinery they use in the field of battle.
- ^ Chinook Pilot takes a headshot... then flies the thing home (Television production). Discovery. Archived from the original on 2021-12-19. Retrieved January 19, 2017.
- ^ Edd China on leaving Wheeler Dealers, archived from the original on 2021-12-19, retrieved 2019-12-07
- ^ "Wheeler Dealers: Dream Car". Retrieved 25 February 2020.
- ^ "mike brewers motors". Retrieved 25 February 2020.
- ^ "Mike Brewer". Retrieved 25 February 2020.
- ^ "Me and My Motor - Mike Brewer". Retrieved 25 February 2020.
- ^ "About Mike". Mike Brewer TV. Retrieved 2020-04-15.
- ^ "My Favourite Holiday Mike Brewer". The Sunday Post. 2014-03-16. Retrieved 2020-04-15.
- ^ "Coventry Transport Museum announces Mike Brewer as President of Patron Scheme". Mike Brewer TV. 2016-10-13. Retrieved 2020-04-15.
- ^ "24-hour Endurance Land Speed Record" (PDF). Retrieved 25 February 2020.
- ^ "Wheeler Dealers - Mike Brewer". Retrieved 8 May 2015.