Wheeler Dealers star Mike Brewer has retold how he was “recognised” by a Taliban insurgent while filming in Afghanistan.
The TV star famous for the iconic car restoration programme was even “shot at” by soldiers while filming from a warzone.
Over a decade ago, the Wheeler Dealers’ man wrote and produced a show called ‘Frontline Battle Machines’ where he tested out military equipment.
Back in 2011, he got his hands on “everything” from a Tornado jet to helicopters to long-range weapons used in warfare while staying at RAF’s Camp Bastion base.
Mike recounted his experiences in a feature-length interview with the Road to Success podcast.
Speaking on a YouTube video, he claimed: “Whilst I was there I was shot at, blown up, was in a helicopter crash as the pilot had got shot in the face, I really went through it.
“It was a horrendous time but amazing to come back with this film, amazing.
“When it was over I came back to the UK and promised myself and my wife that I would never ever do that again, that was the most stupid idea I ever had because we had nearly lost it all a couple of times.”
However, Mike later received a call from Discovery praising the success of the show and revealed American producers wanted another show following the US Army.
But, he quickly realised had no way to get to the US base and flew domestically to Kabul which he admits was a “mistake”. After arriving at the airport, Mike realised that he and his cameraman were “well out of their depth” as insurgents “wanted to kill the press”.
Mike arrived at the American Air Force base but was forced to evacuate shortly after as it was under heavy bombardment and considered too dangerous to remain on site.
But, as he was waiting to be evacuated out of Afghanistan, a train of special forces US soldiers reportedly came through holding down a Taliban insurgent. Seconds later, Mike was left stunned as the Taliban soldier recognised him and admitted he was a fan of the show.
Mike commented: “As they were marching him past me, he sort of looked out the corner of his eye and said ‘stop, Wheeler Dealers’.
“The special forces guys ain’t got a clue who I am so they are sort of baffled why this guy is freaking out. This guy in broken English is saying ‘we watch, we watch’, and I’m going ‘oh thank you’.
“And I’m thinking you’re a prisoner, this guy is a prisoner, they are holding onto him tightly and I’m going ‘thank you’.
“Then they pushed his head back down and they started to move off and he shouted ‘do a Toyota HiAce’.
“I swear to God he went ‘Toyota HiAce’ as he was marched off into the distance. The Taliban at the time were sitting up in the mountains watching Wheeler Dealers.”
