Dennis Chew

Dennis Chew
Born (1973-08-15) 15 August 1973 (age 51)
Education
  • Pearl's Hill Primary School
  • Tuan Mong High School
Alma materShatec Institutes
Occupations
Years active1991–present
AwardsFull list
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese周崇慶
Simplified Chinese周崇庆
Hanyu PinyinZhōu Chóngqìng

Dennis Chew Chong Kheng (born 15 August 1973),[1] also known as Zhou Chongqing, is a Singaporean radio deejay, actor, variety show host, businessman and singer. Chew is known for playing Aunty Lucy, a character which requires him to cross-dress as a woman in the variety show Paris and Milan.

Early life

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Chew studied at the former Pearl's Hill Primary School and Tuan Mong High School (predecessor of Ngee Ann Secondary School). At 13, Chew performed in the musical and children's television programme 《成语50》(Chinese Idioms 50). At 14, he was talent scouted for a commercial for Yakult. He was part of the first batch of students in the teen acting classes organised by the Singapore Broadcasting Corporation during the late 1980s. In 1991, he played a substantial role in the TV drama The Future is Mine (锦绣前程).

After serving his National Service, Chew went on to Shatec to get a Diploma in Hotel Management as he realised during NS that it is important to further his studies.[citation needed]

Career

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Chew became a Chinese teacher in Yumin Primary School and Raffles Girls' Primary School after completing his education. At the same time, he also worked as a part-time DJ at local radio station YES 933. A few years later, he signed on as a full-time DJ with YES 933.

In Jan 2005, Chew released a music album, containing nine original songs.

Chew's big break in television came in 2009 when he portrayed Aunty Lucy in the variety show Paris and Milan (女王本色), which also starred Patricia Mok, Michelle Tay and Ben Yeo.[2] His performance was extremely well received, earning him popularity which led to his first ever win (Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Award) at the annual Star Awards in 2010. The character's catchphrase "Aiyoh, so embarrassing!" and the swooshing of his head to the right was popular with audiences. "Aunty Lucy" was also featured in films like Aunty Lucy Slam Dunk (Auntie Lucy 也灌篮) (2009),[3] It's a Great, Great World (大世界) (2011) and Dance Dance Dragon (龙众舞) (2012), and the game show We Are Singaporeans (season 1 - 2011) as a guest. Chew later stated in an interview that the success of Aunty Lucy was a major turning point in his career, and the endorsement deals it brought helped him clear debts which he had incurred from an unsuccessful business venture.[2]

While juggling DJ duties, Chew also hosts many different programmes ranging from roadshows, variety programmes and game shows, and starred in several television series. He had also participated in several local productions and films. These include the 881 The Musical, in which he played the role of an evil artiste manager. In February 2013, Chew finalised his plans to move over to Love 97.2FM in mid-March as DJ, after hosting at YES 93.3FM for 20 years.[4]

In 2019, Chew appeared in an advertisement by e-payments website epaysg.com, where he portrayed characters such as a woman in a tudung and a man with visibly darker skin. Broadcaster Mediacorp, through its celebrity management wing, later apologized for the controversial ad and the epaysg.com website has also removed it.[5]

Personal life

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In April 2022, Chew returned to study and enrolled in Ngee Ann Polytechnic to pursue a diploma in Chinese Media and Communication.[6][7][8] In October 2023, Chew was awarded a scholarship by the Kongzi Culture Fund's Pei Hwa Foundation.[9]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2006 Zodiac: The Race Begins Rooster, Rat, Evil Official Voiceover
2007 One Last Dance (茶舞) Foresan
Men in White Himself
2009 Aunty Lucy Slam Dunk (Auntie Lucy也灌篮) Auntie Lucy
2011 It's a Great, Great World Auntie Lucy
The Ghosts Must Be Crazy Ah Tan
2012 Dance Dance Dragon Lucy Long
Ghost on Air Ping Xiao [10]
2013 Everybody's Business Mr Tay Special appearance
2015 King of Mahjong
2016 My Love Sinema (放映爱) Mark Tan
2017 Take 2
2019 Make It Big Big Himself [11]

Television series

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1989 Good Morning, Sir! 早安!老師
1991 The Future is Mine 锦绣前程 Zhu Xiangqian
1992 Duel in Shanghai 轰天龙虎 Yan Huaiming
1993 Heavenly Beings 再战封神榜 Lan Caihe
Hidden Truth 法网晴天 Lin Zhiji
Battle of Justice 人海孤鸿 Short-sighted
1999 Darling-In-Law 我的岳母是巫婆 Host Cameo
2000 The Invincible Squad Zhang Wenqing
2001 Love Me, Love Me Not Xiongxiong Cameo
2002 My Genie 2 v 3838438
New Dragon's Inn 新龙门客栈 Dian Xiao-er
2012 Blk 88 Voice-over (guest appearance)
Animated web series
Beyond Marcus Cameo
2013 It's a Wonderful Life Bai Baoxiang
The Dream Makers Fang Yuanren
2014 Yes We Can! 我们一定行! Mr Chew Cameo
World at Your Feet Lan Yangyang 蓝阳阳
118 Wang Shunfeng
2015 The Dream Makers II Fang Yuanren
2016 I Want to Be a Star Edgar
118 II Wang Shunfeng
Hero Aunty Lucy Cameo
2017 Happy Can Already!
Happy Can Already! 2
2018 118 Reunion 118大团圆 Wang Shunfeng
Eat Already? 4 Aunty Lucy
My Agent Is A Hero 流氓经纪 Lin Bozai Cameo
2019 Limited Edition 我是限量版 Yingxiong
I See You 看见看不见的你 748
My One in a Million 我的万里挑一 Zhang Sheng
Cameo
A World of Difference 都市狂想 Mr Zhou
2021 Mr Zhou's Ghost Stories@Job Haunting Mr Zhou
2022 Home Again 多年后的全家福 Xiao Ma Ge
Mr Zhou's Ghost stories @ Singapore's Sightings 周公讲鬼,哪里有鬼 Mr Zhou
2023 Mr Zhou's Ghost Stories@Job Haunting II

Television host

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Compilation album

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Year English title Mandarin title
2015 MediaCorp Music Lunar New Year Album 15 新传媒群星金羊添吉祥
2016 MediaCorp Music Lunar New Year Album 16 新传媒群星金猴添喜庆
2017 MediaCorp Music Lunar New Year Album 17 新传媒群星咕鸡咕鸡庆丰年
2018 MediaCorp Music Lunar New Year Album 18 新传媒群星阿狗狗过好年
2019 MediaCorp Music Lunar New Year Album 19 新传媒群星猪饱饱欢乐迎肥年
2020 MediaCorp Music Lunar New Year Album 20 裕鼠鼠纳福迎春了

Awards and nominations

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Year Organisation Category Nominated work Result Ref
2000 RCS Golden Mike Awards 'Most Friendly' DJ Won
2001 Friday Weekly Singapore's Top 10 Most Popular DJs Won
2002 Star Awards Best Comedy Performer New Dragon's Inn Nominated
Best Variety Show Host One Fun Day Nominated
Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Nominated
Friday Weekly Singapore's Top 10 Most Popular DJs Won
MediaCorp Radio Golden Mike Awards 'Most Humorous' DJ Won [12]
2003 Star Awards Best Variety Show Host Innocent Moments Nominated
Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Nominated
Friday Weekly Singapore's Top 10 Most Popular DJs Won
2004 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Nominated
MediaCorp Radio Golden Mike Awards YES 933 Most Popular DJ Won
Most Popular Mandarin Stations DJ Won
Friday Weekly Singapore's Top 10 Most Popular DJs Won
2005 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Nominated
Friday Weekly Singapore's Top 10 Most Popular DJs Won
2006 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Nominated
Friday Weekly Singapore's Top 10 Most Popular DJs Won
2007 Singapore Radio Awards Radio Personality of the Year (Chinese stations) Won
2010 Star Awards Best Variety Show Host Paris and Milan Nominated
Favourite Female Character Paris and Milan
(as Auntie Lucy)
Nominated
Favourite Male Character Paris and Milan
(as Foreigner)
Nominated
Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Won
Singapore Radio Awards Chinese stations DJ of the Year (Media's Choice) Won
2011 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Won
Singapore Radio Awards YES 933 Most Popular DJ Won
2012 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Won
2013 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Won
2014 Star Awards Best Supporting Actor The Dream Makers
(as Fang Yuanren)
Nominated
Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Won
2015 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Nominated
2016 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Won
2017 Star Awards Best Comedy Actor (3rd Asia Rainbow TV Awards) 118
(as Wang Shunfeng)
Won
Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Won
2018 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Won
2019 Star Awards Best Programme Host Dennis Uncovers Nominated
Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Won
Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Won
2021 Star Awards Best Radio Programme LOVE 972 - The Breakfast Quartet 早安!玉建煌崇 Won
Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Won
2022 Star Awards Best Radio Programme LOVE 972 - The Breakfast Quartet 早安!玉建煌崇 Won
Best Radio Programme Mr Zhou's Ghost Stories 周公讲鬼 Nominated
Perfect Combo LOVE 972 - Yujian Huangchong (Weekend Edition) 玉建煌崇 (周末版) Won
All-Time Favourite Artiste Won [13]
2023 Star Awards Best Radio Programme LOVE 972 - The Breakfast Quartet 早安!玉建煌崇 Won
Best Programme Host Mr Zhou's Ghost Stories @ Singapore Sightings 周公讲鬼,那里有鬼 Nominated
2024 Star Awards Best Radio Programme LOVE 972 - The Breakfast Quintet 早安!玉建蔡煌崇 Won
Best Audio Personality The Breakfast Quintet 早安! 玉建蔡煌崇 Won

References

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  1. ^ "Phyllis Quek turns 45! Here are 13 other celebs born in August". Her World Singapore. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Radio DJ Dennis Chew interview: My dad hit me when I was young". Yahoo! Singapore. 4 March 2012.
  3. ^ "Aunty Lucy goes to the movies". Channel News Asia. 25 August 2009. Archived from the original on 4 January 2010. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  4. ^ "Dennis Chew leaving YES 93.3FM in March". XinMSN. Archived from the original on 7 March 2013. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
  5. ^ Lim, Adrian (1 August 2019). "Nets and Havas apologise for hurt caused by 'brownface' ad, advertising authority says it did not breach guidelines". The Straits Times. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  6. ^ Sng, Suzanne (27 April 2022). "DJ-actor Dennis Chew goes back to school at age 48". The Straits Times. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  7. ^ 陈, 韵红 (29 May 2022). "自嘲"老人家" 周崇庆重返校园被同学一句话触动". Lianhe Zaobao (in Simplified Chinese). Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  8. ^ Toh, Ziyi (23 May 2022). "One Perk Of Having Dennis Chew As Your Ngee Ann Poly Classmate — He Will Send You Home After School". 8 Days. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  9. ^ "Ngee Ann Poly Student Dennis Chew, 50, Receives His First Ever Academic Scholarship: "I'm Not Smart. Thankfully, I Work Hard"". 8days. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  10. ^ "Tales of terror Free scares". The Star. 11 June 2012. Archived from the original on 19 February 2013.
  11. ^ "Mark Lee makes debut as feature film director in Make It Big Big". AsiaOne. 3 January 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  12. ^ "金唛奖2002". Archived from the original on 18 January 2006. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  13. ^ "Star Awards 2022: A night of surprises for Chen Hanwei, Huang Biren and Brandon Wong". CNA Lifestyle. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
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