In this episode of the ScreenUK Podcast, host Rhianna Dhillon sits down with director Mike Christie and producer Alice Popplewell to go inside the making of WHAM! 10 DAYS IN CHINA - a new documentary about George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley's landmark 1985 visit to China, when Wham! became the first Western pop group to perform in Communist China.
They tell the story behind the story: the maverick PR plan conceived by manager Simon Napier Bell, the Pandora's box of restored and never-before-seen archive footage, and the years of detective work it took to piece together a film that is 41 years in the making.
Mike and Alice discuss tracking down contributors from across three continents, including Ling Ling Coe - Wham!'s bilingual translator who was one of the only people in the world at the time who could bridge both cultures - and travelling to China with Andrew Ridgeley on the 40th anniversary of the tour. They also explore the film's bigger picture: what the visit meant for Chinese music culture, what the archive reveals about George and Andrew's relationship under pressure, and why Wham! turned out to be the perfect UK ambassadors for that extraordinary moment in history.
WHAM! 10 DAYS IN CHINA is in cinemas worldwide from 28 July 2026.
Mike Christie, Director of Wham! 10 Days in China.
Mike began his career in the music industry before moving into filmmaking. He has become one of the UK’s leading music documentary directors, making acclaimed films on Wham!, Nick Cave, New Order, Suede and Hansa Studios, alongside a wider body of documentaries exploring art, sport, technology and culture. His work has been commissioned by broadcasters and platforms including the BBC, Channel 4, Sky, Discovery/MAX, Showtime, Sony Music Vision and Amazon Prime, earning nominations and awards from Emmy, RTS, Grierson, Rose d’Or, New York Festivals and Focal. Alongside his documentary work, Mike directs films for brands including Red Bull, LEGO, Apple and Mercedes F1, and has worked on major live events including the London 2012 Olympic Ceremonies and a range of concert productions for artists including Gary Barlow, Pet Shop Boys, and New Order. Mike is Creative Director of Supercollider at Zinc Media Group. He lives in London and works internationally.
Alice Popplewell, Producer of Wham! 10 Days in China.
Alice is a Grierson- and RTS-nominated documentary producer whose work spans acclaimed music documentaries including Ed Sheeran: the Sum of it All and Nick Cave’s Veiled World. Her latest feature, WHAM!: 10 Days in China, revisits the band's landmark 1985 tour through newly restored archive footage, uncovering a pivotal moment in cultural and political history.
