BBC Three has announced a new sitcom called Chinese Burn, which will star Yennis Cheung and Shin-Fei Chen.
The British Comedy Guide reports that the new show will follow the lives of “three normal Chinese girls.”
Producers of the show aim to break stereotypes of Chinese girls in the west, “There’s a common assumption about Chinese girls; Studious. Conservative. Polite,” the producers explain. “Well think again! Chinese Burn smashes all the stereotypes and with a round-house kick, busts opens the door to the messy, hilarious, unbridled reality putting an eastern twist on the western world.”
The sitcom follows three “normal” Chinese girls – Elizabeth, a Chinese daughter is who prone to failure, Jackie, a struggling actress and Fufu, a rich Buddhist princess. Each are shown as they adapt to London’s modern day life and its struggles.
“From sex to relationships, failing careers to just about paying rent, getting drunk to getting in fights – they’re visitors from a scary superpower and they’re taking over London,” the producers add.
Chinese Burn is written by Yennis Cheung and Shin-Fei Chen, who will also star in the show alongside Yuyu Rau. The pilot, which features a guest performance from Alan Partridge star Felicity Montagu, sees Fufu visiting Elizabeth in London for the first time. Elizabeth, who has lied to about her job to avoid shame from her parents, has consequently resorted to an alcoholic lifestyle. Meanwhile, Jackie is preparing for a casting role of a lifetime, instead of the usual “Chinese prostitute, DVD seller or takeaway girl.”
Discussing the show, Shin-Fei Chen and Yennnis Cheung say: “Chinese people don’t get much representation on British TV, and when they do it’s usually illegal immigrants, Triads or takeaway staff. Chinese Burn aims to tackle these stereotypes and share real East Asian experiences of living in London. This show’s stories are straight-from-the-dragon’s-mouth, no-MSG, authentic. 6 billion Chinese can’t all be Wongs.”
“We are more than the stereotypes. We are varied. We are different. But our stories are universal, so Brits can relate… mate.”
