Series synopsis
The Lead is a Chinese drama television series that premiered on CCTV-1 on May 10, 2026. It ended on June 3, 2026. It was created by Zhang Yimou, Li Shaofei, Chen Yan. It stars Zhang Jiayi, Liu Haocun, Qin Hailu and Shawn Dou.
Yi Qin'e is taken to the cultural troupe by her uncle Hu Sanyuan to learn to sing Qinqiang Opera. From then on, her life unfolds with ups and downs. She achieves glorious artistic accomplishments, yet also experiences a profound sense of loneliness beyond ordinary people's comprehension.
Premise
Yi Qin'e is taken to the cultural troupe by her uncle Hu Sanyuan to learn to sing Qinqiang Opera. From then on, her life unfolds with ups and downs. She achieves glorious artistic accomplishments, yet also experiences a profound sense of loneliness beyond ordinary people's comprehension.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Zhang Jiayi as Hu Sanyuan
- Liu Haocun as Yi Qin’e
- Qin Hailu as Hua Caixiang
- Shawn Dou as Liu Hongbing
- Zhai Zilu as Feng Xiaoxiao
- Wang Xiaochen as Mi Lan
Episodes
This series spans 1 season with 48 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 48 | May 10, 2026 | June 3, 2026 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Episode 1 | May 10, 2026 |
| 2 | Episode 2 | May 10, 2026 |
| 3 | Episode 3 | May 10, 2026 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | CCTV-1 |
|---|---|
| First aired | May 10, 2026 |
| Last aired | June 3, 2026 |
| Status | ended |