A line-up of fresh faces are set to appear on the stage of the CCTV Spring Festival Soiree to be broadcast on the eve of the forthcoming Chinese Lunar New Year.

Hong Kong action movie star Jackie Chan and his son Jaycee Chan, new mother Na Ying and veteran singer Mao Amin are expected to add fresh blood to the program, which as suffered declining ratings over the past few years.

Popular Hong Kong pop idols TWINS and singing group BOYZ have also been enlisted.

CCTV's veteran anchorman Zhao Zhongxiang will not appear this time due to his involvement in a humiliating sex scandal earlier this year. Instead, Zhu Jun and Zhou Tao will take his place.

The CCTV Spring Festival Soiree has been a popular part of Chinese New Year celebrations for dozens of years.

(CRI November 30, 2004)