WHAM! 10 Days in China, directed by Mike Christie, explores the duo’s groundbreaking tour as the first Western pop group to perform in communist China. The film blends restored archival footage with new interviews, including Andrew’s own reflections on the cultural significance of the trip. The documentary arrives in theaters on July 28, 2026, offering fans the most comprehensive look yet at the tour that helped cement Wham!’s global legacy.
It is remarkable to see people’s first reaction to that kind of genre of music. It’s evident that some had never actually been exposed to that before.
In hindsight, being able to understand what it meant to those people, it was touching and moving and gave the whole trip a substance and meaning that perhaps didn’t have previously. I think George would feel the same way.”
Andrew Ridgeley “‘It still catches me’ says emotional Andrew Ridgeley over losing best friend George Michael ahead of new Wham! film” – Daily Star
Although Andrew has largely lived privately since the early 1990s, he has made a handful of meaningful appearances in recent years. In May 2026, he accepted the Academy Fellowship at The Ivors Awards on behalf of George Michael, sharing heartfelt reflections on what the honor would have meant to his late friend.
His appearance at the WHAM! 10 Days in China screening continues that quiet but significant pattern: Andrew emerging publicly when it matters most—when celebrating Wham!’s legacy, George Michael’s memory, and the cultural impact they made together.
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On June 28, 1986, 72,000 fans filled Wembley Stadium for what would become one of the most iconic farewells in pop history: Wham!’s The Final—a six‑hour celebration of joy, gratitude, and the end of an era.
Forty years later, the concert still stands as a defining moment not only for George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley, but for 1980s pop culture itself.
A Farewell Announced With Love
Earlier that year, Wham! publicly confirmed they would part ways, with George Michael explaining the split as an amicable, intentional transition into adulthood and artistic independence.
June 28, 1986: Wembley Says Goodbye
The Final opened with the premiere of Wham! in China: Foreign Skies, shown on giant screens — setting a record for the largest audience ever to attend a film premiere.
A massive black curtain emblazoned with THE FINAL dropped to reveal George Michael in leather and sunglasses, launching into an extended intro of “Everything She Wants.” Andrew Ridgeley, Pepsi DeMacque, and Shirlie Holliman soon joined him, kicking off a setlist that traced the full arc of Wham!’s meteoric career.
During “Bad Boys,” Pepsi and Shirlie appeared in playful bouffant wigs.
Elton John, dressed in full Ronald McDonald makeup and costume performed “Candle in the Wind.”
For the encore, Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran joined Elton John and Wham! for a final, exuberant performance of “I’m Your Man.”
The atmosphere was electric — fans waving orange program cards, George dividing the stadium into singing sections, and the duo repeatedly thanking the audience for their support.
A Day of Endings and Beginnings
In a poetic twist, Wham!’s final single “The Edge of Heaven” hit No. 1 on the UK charts the same day as the Wembley concert. It was a triumphant close to a career that had lasted just three years but reshaped the sound of 1980s pop.
George Michael, only 23, was already preparing for a more mature artistic path — one that would soon lead to Faith and global superstardom. Andrew Ridgeley, too, stepped into a new chapter, supported by the legacy they had built together.
Why The Final Still Matters 40 Years Later
Four decades on, The Final remains a cultural touchstone because it captured something rare: a pop group choosing to end at their peak, with gratitude, spectacle, and love.
It honored the fans who propelled Wham! to global success.
It showcased George Michael’s evolution into a once‑in‑a‑generation artist.
It preserved the joy, color, and optimism that defined Wham!’s music.
It demonstrated a friendship strong enough to end with celebration rather than conflict.
The images of that day — sunlight over Wembley, fans waving, George and Andrew embracing — still resonate as symbols of a band that knew exactly how to say goodbye.
A Legacy That Still Shines
As we mark the 40th anniversary of The Final, Wham!’s music continues to inspire new generations. From “Wake Me Up Before You Go‑Go” to “Everything She Wants,” their songs remain timeless, joyful, and unmistakably theirs.
And on June 28, 1986, they gave the world a farewell worthy of their legacy.
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Tickets for the theatrical release of Wham! 10 Day in China are on sale today, coinciding with the debut of the film’s first full trailer. The documentary of George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley’s visit to China in 1985 will screen worldwide on July 28, 2026.
A First Look: The Trailer
The new trailer shows restored, never-before-seen archival footage that wasn’t in Wham! in China: Foreign Skies, including more of the infamous George Michael massage scene. It includes interviews with Andrew Ridgeley and Chinese fans who experienced Wham! concerts in China.
Tickets Now Available
Tickets for the one-night-only event are on sale today. The official site is a good place to start for ticket information: www.wham10daysinchina.com.
After Theaters
Following the worldwide debut on July 28, 2026, Wham! 10 Days in China will air on BBC Two this summer. There is no word yet on other sources to see the documentary.
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The 90-minute documentary, directed by Mike Christie, brings newly-digitized, restored footage and new interviews in celebration of Wham!’s groundbreaking 1985 visit to the People’s Republic of China.
Also, BBC Two and BBC Music will present the world exclusive terrestrial TV broadcast of Wham! 10 Days in China this summer.
In April 1985, Wham! became the first Western pop act to perform in communist China, with performances in Beijing and Guangzhou. For Wham! it was a strategy to “make it big” in the U.S., with the help of Simon Napier-Bell, their then manager.
Filmmaker Lindsay Anderson was originally in charge of the Wham! in China documentary. His version, entitled If You Were There, was never released, but some of that material was used in the documentary, Wham! in China: Foreign Skies, which premiered at Wham!’s The Final farewell concert on June 28, 1986. It was then released on video.
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George Michael’s Faith “Rockers Revenge” leather jacket
The 2026 auction season delivered one of the most significant surges in George Michael memorabilia interest in recent years. Items spanning the Faith era, Wham!’s early touring years, and George’s later 25 Live period drew passionate bidding, record‑setting prices, and a renewed appreciation for the artistry, style, and cultural impact George carried through every phase of his career.
Below is a full breakdown of the confirmed hammer prices — a snapshot of a market that continues to grow, deepen, and reveal just how cherished George Michael remains.
The Crown Jewel: The Photo‑Matched “Faith” La Rocka Leather Jacket
Sold for £176,400 (21 bids)
Few garments in pop history are as instantly recognizable as George Michael’s black La Rocka leather jacket — the one he wore in the Faith music video and throughout the 1988 tour. This wasn’t just a jacket; it was the visual signature of an era.
The 2026 sale of the photo‑matched, screen‑verified jacket became the headline of the auction, soaring to £176,400 after 21 competitive bids. Its value reflects not only its rarity but its cultural weight: this is the jacket that helped define George’s transformation into a global solo icon.
For collectors, this piece represents the conceptual DNA of the Faith aesthetic: bold, rebellious, and unmistakably George.
George Michael & Andrew Ridgeley–Signed Club Fantastic Tour Programme
Sold for £1,260
Wham!’s early touring years remain deeply nostalgic for fans, and signed items from this period are increasingly scarce.
The autographed Club Fantastic tour programme, signed by both George and Andrew, achieved £1,260, underscoring the enduring affection for the duo’s early energy and camaraderie.
Chris Cuffaro’s photography has become synonymous with the Faith era’s visual legacy.
This limited edition 1988 print, part of the Rockarchive collection, sold for £819, reflecting the growing collector demand for authenticated, artist‑approved photographic works from George’s most iconic period.
Selling for £6,930, it stands as one of the strongest results for post‑2000 stage‑worn George Michael fashion — a testament to the tour’s emotional resonance and George’s enduring style.
Rockarchive Artist’s Proofs: Faith Music Video & Tour Prints (Chris Cuffaro)
Artist’s proofs are especially prized for their rarity and direct connection to the photographer’s creative process.
“Careless Whisper” First Cut Vinyl + Negatives & Photographic Prints
Sold for £2,835
One of the most historically significant lots, this set included:
a six‑minute first cut vinyl of “Careless Whisper,”
nine strips of original negatives, and
four photographic prints.
Selling for £2,835, the lot offered a rare glimpse into George’s early solo artistry and the visual documentation surrounding one of the most enduring ballads of the 1980s.
A Market That Reflects a Legacy
The 2026 auction results reveal a clear trend: George Michael’s cultural impact is not only enduring — it is deepening.
From the record‑setting sale of the Faith jacket to the strong performance of photographic and tour‑worn items, collectors are increasingly valuing pieces that:
tell a story,
connect directly to George’s creative evolution, and
capture the emotional resonance of his music and image.
For longtime fans and new collectors alike, these sales reaffirm what the world has always known: George Michael’s artistry continues to inspire, captivate, and live on — not just in music, but in the objects and images that shaped his legacy.
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