NewChinese comedian Zhao Benshan to attend national summit amid graft-probe rumours

Popular Chinese comedian Zhao Benshan, who has been fending off rumours that he is under corruption investigation, will attend the national political advisory body’s upcoming annual meeting in March, Chinese media reported on Thursday.

The confirmation of Zhao’s attendance at this year’s national session of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference suggests that he may be in a “safe” position.

Zhao is a household name in China. But under President Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption and frugality campaign, Zhao, who has an image of being showy and is well connected with many senior officials, became exceptionally low-key over the past year.

The West China City Daily, which broke the news of Zhao’s confirmed attendance at the meeting, wrote that the comedian had been conducting grass-roots research and was preparing his proposal to present to the CPPCC.

The paper reported that several other celebrities had also become CPPCC members, and some of their proposals – such as a 2013 one to stop holding extravagant galas – had had an impact in the entertainment industry.

Zhao experienced a downturn amid Xi’s anti-extravagance drive during CCTV’s New Year’s Gala last year, despite being the most popular performer at the country’s most-watched television programme. His connections with officials and luxury entities – such as a high-end Beijing club under his name – have made him a hot topic for speculation over who would be hauled up next in Xi’s anti-graft investigation.