Fountain appears in a mini size in the video about the two sessions in March, which received 50 million hits. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Star appeal

Fountain has made a number of films since including ones on Chinese tea culture, China's railways, telecommunications, the 90th anniversary of the People's Liberation Army and most recently about China's attempts to fight back against desertification in Saihanba on the Hebei province-Inner Mongolia autonomous region border, for which he was recently interviewed by CCTV.

"I was standing on this watch station and there was just trees to the horizon as far as the eye could see. The forest was about the size of Hong Kong in terms of land coverage."

His video with the most hits so far, was the one of this year's two sessions, which deployed green screen technology showing a seemingly diminutive Fountain walking along a desk.

"The mini me got a mention on the BBC and other media outlets," he says. "In terms of production standards it was much more sophisticated than the first one we produced, which was a lot more rough and ready."

The success of the films means that Fountain now often gets recognized on the streets.

"A couple of times I have noticed, even going into a supermarket, people taking pictures on their iPhones so I am pretty sure they recognize me from the videos," he says.

Unlike many broadcasters from the United Kingdom, Fountain does not speak in Received Pronunciation but in his native Yorkshire accent of the north of England.

"From what I have read－there have been studies in the UK－the Yorkshire and Scottish accents are among the most trusted British accents. My accent is actually a lot broader when I am speaking to my mum on the phone or if I am in a pub back home," he says.

"It is not popular with everyone. People have left comments saying they would prefer to hear an American accent since they say it would be easier for them to understand."