in january 1991, ridgeley joined michael on stage for a few songs at the encore of his performance at the rock in rio event at the maracanã stadium in rio de janeiro, brazil. on 21 november 2009, there was a wham!-themed night on television's "the x factor" in the uk. michael later appeared on the show's final episode, performing a duet of "don't let the sun go down on me" with finalist and eventual winner joe mcelderry. in 2012, michael said that there was no truth in speculation that he and ridgeley were set for a wham! reunion to mark the 30th anniversary of the group's first album.