Australian Story: Time After Time – Cheng Lei airs tonight on ABC as journalist Cheng Lei reflects on freedom, family and the years taken from her life during her imprisonment in China.
The episode follows Lei after her return to Australia, shifting the story beyond the public homecoming and into the more complicated question of how life is rebuilt after detention, separation and international attention.
Lei was arrested in 2020 while working as a television anchor in China and was accused of espionage. She spent three years behind bars, separated from her two teenage children and cut off from regular contact with her family.
Since returning to Australia, Lei has spoken about the lasting impact of that imprisonment. In tonight’s episode, she describes the anguish of missing years when her children needed her most and the challenge of finding normal life again.
The program also looks at the pressure Lei has faced within parts of the Australian-Chinese community, where Chinese state propaganda has continued to shape how some people view her case.
Lei has responded by trying to live with urgency. She has written a book, taken up soccer and appeared in a play about her imprisonment, with friend Kylie Moore-Gilbert describing this period as a second shot at life.
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When to watch Australian Story
Australian Story: Time After Time – Cheng Lei airs tonight, Monday 7 September, at 8.00pm on ABC. The episode will also be available on ABC iview.
For more ABC coverage, visit TV Central’s ABC section.
