Description
WHAM! 10 DAYS IN CHINA Air Date: August 29, 2026: Featuring previously unseen archive footage filmed during Wham!’s historic 1985 visit, this compelling new documentary tells the story of the first Western pop act to perform in Communist China. George Michael, Andrew Ridgeley, Pepsi and Shirlie arrived for an extraordinary ten-day journey that included landmark concerts in Beijing and Guangzhou—and a collision of pop music, politics and cultures.
New interviews with Andrew Ridgeley, Pepsi, Shirlie, Wham! manager Simon Napier-Bell, touring personnel, Chinese musicians and concert attendees reveal the personal stories behind the visit. Directed by Mike Christie, Wham! 10 Days in China presents the most comprehensive modern account of an unforgettable cultural moment that introduced Wham! to a new audience and left a lasting impression on a generation of Chinese music fans.
Cast: George Michael (Wham! co-founder, lead singer/songwriter — archive footage); Andrew Ridgeley (Wham! co-founder, guitar/backing vocals); Pepsi DeMacque (Wham! backing vocals); Shirlie Kemp (Wham! backing vocals); Simon Napier-Bell (Wham! manager); Cui Jian (Chinese rock musician); Wang Di (Chinese musician and producer); Paul Spong (Wham! touring trumpet player); Danny Cummings (Wham! touring percussionist); Ling Ling Coe (China production consultant and bilingual translator).
Running Time: 1 Hour, 24 Minutes
DELUXE EDITION BONUS FEATURE EXCLUSIVE TO THIS RELEASE ONLY!
WHAM! AT THE BBC Original Air Date: December 14, 2024 on BBC 2 – To mark the 40th anniversary of “Last Christmas,” Andrew Ridgeley, Pepsi DeMacque and Shirlie Kemp introduce a selection of Wham!’s BBC archive performances. Newly recorded interview segments are interlaced with the performances, as the three share memories of the group and of George Michael. Onscreen pop-up captions add period facts, behind-the-scenes anecdotes and details about the performances.
Drawn primarily from Top of the Pops, with an appearance from The Russell Harty Show, this is an affectionate retrospective of Wham!’s BBC television years.
1. Opening includes an in-depth interview with Andrew, Pepsi and Shirlie, who sit down for the first of several interview segments throughout the broadcast. (Part 1)
2. Breakfast Time October 1983: “Young Guns (Go for It)” (Live)
3. In-Depth Interview continued (Part 2): They discuss the accommodations on their first Top of the Pops appearance, including how the dressing room was famously too small for the band.
4. Top of the Pops November 1982: “Young Guns (Go for It)” (Music Video)
5. In-Depth Interview continued (Part 3): Pepsi discusses rehearsing choreography with George in the early days, and how those rehearsals led to her becoming a member of Wham! Andrew talks about presenting Wham! as a live performance act. Pepsi also recalls Dee C. Lee leaving to work with The Style Council, after which Pepsi joined the group and began rehearsals for what would be Wham!’s first tour.
6. Top of the Pops November 1982: “Young Guns (Go for It)” (Performance)
7. In-Depth Interview continued (Part 4): Pepsi and Shirlie reminisce about their first Top of the Pops performance and discuss the behind-the-scenes experience of a new band preparing to record their signature television show.
8. Top of the Pops May 1984: “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” (Performance)
9. In-Depth Interview continued (Part 5): Andrew discusses George auditioning for other bands, his dislike of the audition process, and how he began writing with Andrew under the temporary band name Wham!
10. Top of the Pops January 1983: “Wham Rap! (Enjoy What You Do?)” (Performance)
11. Top of the Pops August 1983: “Club Tropicana” (Music Video)
12. In-Depth Interview continued (Part 6): Andrew discusses London’s legendary Le Beat Route nightclub as the original inspiration for “Club Tropicana,” and the filming of the music video in Ibiza.
13. Top of the Pops August 1983: “Club Tropicana” (Performance)
14. Breakfast Time October 1983: Andrew and George are interviewed on the set of a video production with Mike Mansfield. They discuss the degree of control they had over their 15. career at that moment. Extremely rare footage.
15. Top of the Pops June 1983: “Bad Boys” (Performance)
16. “Everything She Wants” (Music Video — Various Clips)
17. In-Depth Interview continued (Part 7): Pepsi recalls the first time George Michael told her about his idea for “Everything She Wants,” and that its video was filmed at Birmingham’s NEC Arena. A funny moment follows when Shirlie says she never saw it and Andrew and Pepsi emphatically tell her that she did.
18. Top of the Pops January 1985: “Everything She Wants” (Performance)
19. The Terry Wogan Show October 1984: In-studio interview with George Michael and Andrew. George discusses being “slagged off” by the music press.
20. The Terry Wogan Show October 1984: “Freedom” (Performance)
21 The Russell Harty Show September 1983: Interview with Andrew and George discussing how they first met and fans camping outside George’s home.
22. The Russell Harty Show 1983: “Blue (Armed with Love)” (Performance) — more than likely the only television performance of this song.
23. In-Depth Interview continued (Part 8): Andrew, Pepsi and Shirlie discuss performing live on stage, audience reaction, and the interplay between them during Wham!’s live 24. concerts.
24. Top of the Pops December 1985: “I’m Your Man” (Music Video)
25. BBC News April 1985: News report on Wham! becoming the first Western group to perform concerts in China. Includes rare BBC footage from the concerts, completely different from the footage used in documentaries about Wham! in China.
26. Top of the Pops July 1986: “Where Did Your Heart Go?” (Performance)
27. In-Depth Interview continued (Part 9): Pepsi discusses the natural progression of the band and the public’s perception of Wham! from the perspective of Pepsi and Shirlie.
28. Top of the Pops June 1986: “The Edge of Heaven” (Performance)
29. BBC Breakfast Show December 2023: News report on “Last Christmas” reaching Number One.
30. In-Depth Interview continued (Part 10): The three members of Wham! discuss “Last Christmas” reaching Number One for the first time after 40 years, and how it has become an iconic song.
31. Top of the Pops December 1984: “Last Christmas” (Music Video)
Bonus Feature Running Time: 1 Hour, 8 Minutes
Total Running Time Including DELUXE EDITION BONUS MATERIAL: 2 Hours and 33 Minutes
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