- Home » Expat News » British expat in China becomes TV talent contest singing sensation
British expat in China becomes TV talent contest singing sensation
| Published: | 10 Apr at 6 PM |
Want to get involved?
Become a Featured Expat and take our interview.
Become a Local Expert and contribute articles.
Get in touch today!
Become a Local Expert and contribute articles.
Get in touch today!
When British expat Iain Inglis was invited to audition as a contestant on the TV talent show China’s Got Talent, he took it as a joke, never dreaming he’d become a household name for his performances.
Convinced that he’s one of the worst singers on the planet, Southampton-born and Cardiff-raised Iain donned fake military gear and belted out a medley of Communist songs, expecting to get thrown out after the first round. To his utter amazement, one million viewers fell in love with him and voted for him right up to the semi-finals, by which time he’d made headlines worldwide.
Iain had lived in China for eight years, having migrated after his marriage to Yu Yanling, whom he met whilst working in Japan as an English teacher. He’d already made a name for himself in several regional TV talent shows and had been a guest performer on several more when he was contacted by China’s Got Talent.
Dressed in a greatcoat, hat and a take on a Chinese military uniform, he stripped off one item of clothing every time he changed songs in his medley of Communist ditties. The best-known song was entitled, ‘I love reading Chairman Mao’s books the most’, described by Iain as the Chinese equivalent of ‘Knees up, Mother Brown’ and ‘Roll out the Barrel’ for its singalongability.
His success has changed his life, and enabled him to quit his job in hotel management as offers to appear on other TV shows just kept rolling in. He’s recognised everywhere he goes, and is invited to perform at cultural events, concerts and on prime-time TV shows.
Iain is still amazed at his unlooked-for success, but plans to change careers again and open an English language school in his home town, Sanya. For a guy who speaks fluent Mandarin, Russian, German and some Japanese, French and Swiss, that shouldn’t be too hard.
Convinced that he’s one of the worst singers on the planet, Southampton-born and Cardiff-raised Iain donned fake military gear and belted out a medley of Communist songs, expecting to get thrown out after the first round. To his utter amazement, one million viewers fell in love with him and voted for him right up to the semi-finals, by which time he’d made headlines worldwide.
Iain had lived in China for eight years, having migrated after his marriage to Yu Yanling, whom he met whilst working in Japan as an English teacher. He’d already made a name for himself in several regional TV talent shows and had been a guest performer on several more when he was contacted by China’s Got Talent.
Dressed in a greatcoat, hat and a take on a Chinese military uniform, he stripped off one item of clothing every time he changed songs in his medley of Communist ditties. The best-known song was entitled, ‘I love reading Chairman Mao’s books the most’, described by Iain as the Chinese equivalent of ‘Knees up, Mother Brown’ and ‘Roll out the Barrel’ for its singalongability.
His success has changed his life, and enabled him to quit his job in hotel management as offers to appear on other TV shows just kept rolling in. He’s recognised everywhere he goes, and is invited to perform at cultural events, concerts and on prime-time TV shows.
Iain is still amazed at his unlooked-for success, but plans to change careers again and open an English language school in his home town, Sanya. For a guy who speaks fluent Mandarin, Russian, German and some Japanese, French and Swiss, that shouldn’t be too hard.
Comments » No published comments just yet for this article...
Feel free to have your say on this item. Go on... be the first!
