BBC to air new documentary about Wham!'s historic China performances
Never-before-seen footage of Wham! during their history-making trip to China will air as part of a new BBC Two documentary.
Never-before-seen footage of Wham! in China will air as part of a new BBC Two documentary.
The late George Michael - who died in December 2016 - and his bandmate Andrew Ridgeley became the first pop group to perform in communist China when they played two concerts in Beijing and Guangzhou back in 1985, catapulting them to global stardom, and now a special 90-minute film from BBC Two and BBC Music, Wham! 10 Days in China, will tell the story of the key moment in pop history.
Set to air this summer, the documentary will feature restored, newly-digitised and never-before-seen archive footage, as well as interviews with those who experienced the tour first hand, including the band, their team, and Chinese audiences.
Andrew said: “This film finally reveals the unknown legacy of Wham!’s groundbreaking venture, and lays bare, in all their human contradictions, the individual perspectives behind what was a bold and risky, high stakes gamble.”
Meanwhile, BBC bosses are delighted to bring the footage to TV following the success of 2024's Wham! Last Christmas Unwrapped, which celebrated the 40th anniversary of their classic festive single.
Jonathan Rothery, Head of BBC Pop Music TV said: “Following the huge wave of affection from BBC viewers that greeted Wham! Last Christmas Unwrapped, I’m thrilled that we are able to tell the story of another of Wham!’s legacy milestones. George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley’s momentous visit to China over forty years ago made global headlines, and now our viewers will be able to watch their spellbinding performances and see behind the scenes of their momentous visit for the first time on UK television.”
To accompany the documentary, BBC Two will dedicate a whole night of programming to Wham! and George Michael, while it will also be celebrated by the Gary Davies-hosted Sounds of the 80s show on Radio 2.
