Ardour For Armour: Tank Mechanic Finds Global Audience Through Social Media

MARKET HARBOROUGH, ENGLAND - MAY 14: The Hunting Jet Provost T3A XM405 is seen on the farm of armoured vehicle mechanic and social media content creator Joe Hewes on May 14, 2024 in Market Harborough, England. Inheriting an interest in mechanical repair from his father, Joe Hewes renovated his first armoured vehicle at sixteen and has been sourcing, repairing and renovating ex-military vehicles ever since. Now aged 30, he has built a large following on social media, with over 517k TikTok followers, 227k YouTube followers and 54k Instagram followers to his @MrHewes accounts. The millions of views have brought a new revenue stream, earning more than his actual restoration work, as people from all over the world subscribe to his channels to watch the restoration work he undertakes with fellow mechanic Jack Westaway and pet dog Ted. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)