Jeremy Wade is one of those people who can be called multi-talented. He is a television presenter, an angler, and a renowned author of books about fishing. Famous for his appearance in the television series “River Monsters”, Wade has also worked as a tour guide, teacher, art teacher, translator, PR consultant, dishwasher, and newspaper reporter.
The Briton was nicknamed “River Monster Hunter” for his work on the above television series, in which he explores waters around the world that are home to many river monsters including pythons, crocodiles, and other large fish species. In addition to his work on the River Monsters series, he has also appeared on other shows such as Jungle Hooks, Mighty Rivers, and Dark Waters.
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Jeremy Wade’s Life Before Fame
The famous television personality was born on 23 March 1956 in Ipswich, Suffolk. He was brought up by his father, the vicar, and attended Dean Close School before enrolling at Bristol University and obtaining a degree in Zoology. He then studied at the University of Kent where he obtained a postgraduate teaching certificate in Life Sciences.
Wade seems to have developed his passion for fishing while living with his family on the banks of Suffolk’s River Stour in East Anglia. Although his first attempt to catch a fish at the age of eight was unsuccessful, with further help and guidance from his friends, he was finally able to make his first catch.
With great support from his parents, Jeremy Wade developed an insatiable thirst to catch more fish. His desire to do so led him to discover new fishing grounds throughout the country and around the world. He searched far and wide for different types of fish and aquatic life when he set off for his first overseas trip to the mountain river in India in 1982.
To finance this hobby, which became a lifelong obsession, Wade took a job as a biology teacher at a secondary school in Kent. Since then he has become fluent in several languages during his travels, including Portuguese, French, and Spanish.
How He Became Famous For Fishing
After returning to England from his first overseas trip to India, where he managed to catch an 18-pound Himalayan Mahseerfish, Jeremy Wade wrote about his experiences and sent the articles to a fishing magazine. His articles were accepted by the editors of the magazine, which led him to consider another overseas trip and to consider fishing as his life’s work.
Wade has since made many trips overseas to find the rarest marine life in the world. In 1992 he published his first book “Somewhere Down the Crazy River”. On his journey through the waters of the world, he encountered animals such as the Humboldt Squid, Bull Sharks, Giant Stingrays, and Arapaimas. However, the angler claims that the Goliath Tiger Fish from the Congo remains his biggest catch. He described the fish as “a man-sized piranha”.
During a subsequent trip to the Himalayan foothills of India in 2005, the biologist got the idea for the River Monsters exhibition. During the journey, he heard stories of people who were missing on the river by an unknown giant sea monster. Wade thought this would make a great script for a show, so he began to research. In the end, he caught the alleged sea creature, which turned out to be a 161-pound goonch wolf. He used this idea to film in other places, creating one of the most-watched and successful programs in Animal Planet’s history.
In 2014, Jeremy Wade made his acting debut when he starred in Blood Lake: Attack of the Killer Lampreys, a film in which he played the role of the Lamprey expert.
How Much Has Jeremy Wade Made From His Career?
On his travels around the world, from the heart of the Amazon in Brazil to the jungles of the Congo and everywhere in between, Jeremy Wade has benefited massively from what he describes as a passionate career. While his annual income is not known to the public, it is no surprise that the workaholic presenter has an estimated net worth of $1.5 million.
His net worth, which is far higher than that of a secondary school biology teacher, is high thanks to the success of his shows and income from the sale of his various books, including River Monsters (2011) and How to Think Like a Fish: And Other Lessons from a Life in Fishing (2019).
Wade does not want to keep his income for himself but tries to work for good causes around the world whenever possible. It is also known that he has worked with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, an organization that supports and encourages children with critical illness by granting them a wish.
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What We Know About His Love Life
For some years now there have been rumors that the reality TV star got married in a secret wedding. The rumors began to circulate after pictures of Jeremy Wade approaching some ladies whose identity is unknown became public. One particular photo that caused a sensation was one showing him with a wife and children.
But despite the references to these photos, Wade still seems to be very much alone. This is evident from the information on his personal website.
Quick Facts About Jeremy Wade
Date of Birth: | 16 August 1971 |
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Age: | 49 years old |
Birth Nation: | United kingdom |
Height: | 5 Feet 3 Inch |
Name | Jeremy Wade |
Birth Name | Jeremy John Wade |
Nationality | English |
Birth Place/City | Suffolk |
Ethnicity | White Ethnicity |
Profession | TV Presenter, author |
Net Worth | 1.5 million US Dollars |
Eye Color | Blue |
Hair Color | Salt and Pepper |
Face Color | White |
Married to | N/A |
Education | University of Bristol |
Awards | Not Yet |
Online Presence | Facebook, Twitter, Wikipedia |
TV Show | River Monsters |