Magician's sleight breakdown melts ice maidens' hearts

Liu Qian reckons he earned more than 10 million yuan ($1.5 million) in just three months after his breakout Spring Festival Gala performance at the end of January this year. The moneyed magician is now about to capitalize further on his new-found fame and anchor a CCTV show called Magic Miracle.

But could it be too much for the man with the golden sleight of hand? He appears to be experiencing a Susan Boyle-type of breakdown. Before going on stage in Nanjing last month he apparently dissolved into tears and complained about the pressure that comes with success. According to tom.com he said: "Fame came so quick I don't think I was ready for it." Liu's apparent fragility has only encouraged some of his female fans and in Hunan recently they sent him ice cream backstage to cheer him up.

Another man who did well out of the Spring Festival Gala is Xiao Shenyang, who on Monday turned up to take part in Zhang Yimou's new film, Amazing Stories: Three Guns. According to qq.com he will reprise the sissy-style persona that made him a national celebrity. He is expected to play the part of an employee in a noodle shop who has an affair with the boss's wife. It sounds intriguing and would be even funnier if the love scenes hadn't been ruled out.