A new documentary, "Wham! 10 Days in China," is set to explore the profound impact of the British pop duo's historic 1985 visit to the country. The film, scheduled for a worldwide cinema release on July 28, will later be broadcast on BBC Two.
Andrew Ridgeley, the surviving member of Wham!, reflected on the unlikely origins of the band and its global influence. He met his future bandmate, the late George Michael (born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou), then known as "Yog," at Bushey Meads School in 1974. Ridgeley, then 12, was the only student to volunteer to help the new student, an act he described as a "sliding doors moment" that shaped both their lives and, unexpectedly, influenced people across the world.
The band's visit to China was a significant cultural event, marking one of the first times a Western pop group had performed in the country. The documentary aims to showcase how their music and presence resonated with audiences, inspiring young people not only in China but globally. Ridgeley noted that the "vibrancy and vitality" of their music continues to connect with listeners today.
"To know that it has the sort of impact on people's lives, and still does, that's something that I don't think we could have guessed at," Ridgeley stated, marveling at the enduring legacy of their work stemming from a "small act of kindness in a Hertfordshire classroom."