Dennis Chew

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 middle-aged woman in the variety show Paris and Milan.

Dennis Chew
Born (1973-08-15) 15 August 1973
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

Early life

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 because of his cute looks. 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.

Career

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 by both young and old, 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 a 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]

Chew won 10 Star Awards for Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes in 2010–2014, 2016–2019 and 2021 respectively. Subsequently, he was honored with the All-Time Favourite Artiste award.

Personal life

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

Television host

  • Celebrity Squares《名人 tic tac toe》常驻嘉宾 (2001)
  • One Fun Day《惊喜一整天》(2001 - 2002) (with Dasmond Koh, Florence Tan, Mark Lee, Patricia Mok)
  • One Fun Day II《惊喜一整天》II (2002) (with Dasmond Koh, Florence Tan, Mark Lee, Patricia Mok)
  • Innocent Moments 《小小儿戏》(2002 - 2003) (with Fiona Xie)
  • Singapore Hit Awards 新加坡金曲奖颁奖典礼 (2002)
  • Singapore Hit Awards 新加坡金曲奖颁奖典礼 (2003)
  • Durian Delights《我吃,你吃,它刺刺刺》(2004) (with Huang Wenyong)
  • Singapore Hit Awards 新加坡金曲奖颁奖典礼 (2004)
  • Singapore Hit Awards 新加坡金曲奖颁奖典礼 (2005)
  • Kungfu Chef《神厨双怪》(2006) (with Chew Chor Meng)
  • SuperBand (Season 1)《非常Superband》常驻评判 (2006)
  • Fact Or Fiction?《真相大点击》(2006) (with Kym Ng)
  • Stock Exchange《好货上门》(2006) (with Patricia Mok)
  • Singapore Hit Awards 新加坡金曲奖颁奖典礼 (2006)
  • Singapore Hit Awards 新加坡金曲奖颁奖典礼 (2007)
  • F&B Heroes《餐饮英雄榜》(2008)
  • Buzzing Cashier《抢摊大行动》(2008) (with Kym Ng & Quan Yi Fong)
  • Singapore Hit Awards 新加坡金曲奖颁奖典礼 (2008)
  • Buzzing Cashier II《抢摊大行动 II》(2009) (with Kym Ng & Quan Yi Fong)
  • Paris and Milan (2009)
  • Singapore Hit Awards 新加坡金曲奖颁奖典礼 (2009)
  • Black Rose (2010)
  • Gatekeepers (2010)
  • Star Awards 2010 红星大奖 (Show 1) (2010)
  • Singapore Hit Awards 新加坡金曲奖颁奖典礼 (2010)
  • Small and Beautiful (2011) (channel 5)
  • Singapore Hit Awards 新加坡金曲奖颁奖典礼 (2011)
  • Black Rose II (2014)
  • Halloween Singapore Remake of Comic《中华英雄》(2015)
  • Star Awards 2016 红星大奖 (2016)
  • Dennis Uncovers 周公找茶 (2018)
  • The Love 97.2 Breakfast Quartet 《玉建煌崇电视版2》 (2018) (with Mark Lee & Marcus Chin)
  • Kids《看招》(2021)
  • Eat Eat Lok Lok《吃吃乐乐》(2021)
  • Goggles Life 3 (2021)

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref
2006Zodiac: The Race BeginsRooster, Rat, Evil OfficialVoiceover
2007One Last Dance (茶舞)Foresan
Men in WhiteHimself
2009Aunty Lucy Slam Dunk (Auntie Lucy也灌篮)Auntie Lucy
2011It's a Great, Great WorldAuntie Lucy
The Ghosts Must Be CrazyAh Tan
2012Dance Dance DragonLucy Long
Ghost on AirPing Xiao [10]
2013Everybody's BusinessMr TaySpecial appearance
2015King of Mahjong
2016My Love Sinema (放映爱)Mark Tan
2017Take 2
2019Make It Big BigHimself [11]

Television series

Year Title Role Notes Ref
1989Good Morning, Sir! 早安!老師
1991The Future is Mine 锦绣前程Zhu Xiangqian
1992Duel in Shanghai 轰天龙虎Yan Huaiming
1993Heavenly 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
1999Darling-In-Law 我的岳母是巫婆HostCameo
2000The Invincible SquadZhang Wenqing
2001Love Me, Love Me NotXiongxiongCameo
2002My Genie 2 v3838438
New Dragon's Inn 新龙门客栈Dian Xiao-er
2012Blk 88Voice-over (guest appearance)
Animated web series
BeyondMarcusCameo
2013It's a Wonderful LifeBai Baoxiang
The Dream MakersFang Yuanren
2014Yes We Can! 我们一定行!Mr ChewCameo
World at Your FeetLan Yangyang 蓝阳阳
118Wang Shunfeng
2015The Dream Makers IIFang Yuanren
2016I Want to Be a StarEdgar
118 IIWang Shunfeng
HeroAunty LucyCameo
2017Happy Can Already!
Happy Can Already! 2
2018118 Reunion 118大团圆Wang Shunfeng
Eat Already? 4Aunty Lucy
My Agent Is A Hero 流氓经纪Lin BozaiCameo
2019Limited 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
2021Mr Zhou's Ghost Stories@Job HauntingMr Zhou
2022Home 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
2023Mr Zhou's Ghost Stories@Job Haunting II

Compilation album

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

Awards and nominations

Year OrganisationCategoryNominated workResultRef
2000 RCS Golden Mike Awards'Most Friendly' DJWon
2001 Friday WeeklySingapore's Top 10 Most Popular DJsTop 10
2002 Star AwardsBest Comedy PerformerNew Dragon's InnNominated
Best Variety Show HostOne Fun DayNominated
Top 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesTop 20
Friday WeeklySingapore's Top 10 Most Popular DJsTop 10
MediaCorp Radio Golden Mike Awards'Most Humorous' DJWon[12]
2003 Star Awards Best Variety Show HostInnocent MomentsNominated
Top 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesTop 20
Friday Weekly Singapore's Top 10 Most Popular DJsTop 10
2004 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesTop 20
MediaCorp Radio Golden Mike Awards YES 933 Most Popular DJWon
Most Popular Mandarin Stations DJWon
Friday Weekly Singapore's Top 10 Most Popular DJsTop 10
2005 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesTop 20
Friday Weekly Singapore's Top 10 Most Popular DJsTop 10
2006 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesTop 20
Friday WeeklySingapore's Top 10 Most Popular DJsTop 10
2007 Singapore Radio AwardsRadio Personality of the Year (Chinese stations)Won
2010 Star Awards Best Variety Show HostParis and MilanNominated
Favourite Female CharacterParis and Milan
(as Auntie Lucy)
Nominated
Favourite Male CharacterParis and Milan
(as Foreigner)
Nominated
Top 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesTop 10
Singapore Radio AwardsChinese stations DJ of the Year (Media's Choice)Won
2011 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesTop 10
Singapore Radio AwardsYES 933 Most Popular DJWon
2012 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesTop 10
2013 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesTop 10
2014 Star AwardsBest Supporting ActorThe Dream Makers
(as Fang Yuanren)
Nominated
Top 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesTop 10
2015 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesTop 20
2016 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesTop 10
2017 Star AwardsBest Comedy Actor (3rd Asia Rainbow TV Awards)118
(as Wang Shunfeng)
Won
Top 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesTop 10
2018 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesTop 10
2019 Star AwardsBest Programme HostDennis UncoversNominated
Top 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesTop 10
Top 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesTop 10
2021 Star Awards Best Radio ProgrammeLOVE 972 - The Breakfast Quartet 早安!玉建煌崇Won
Top 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesTop 10
2022 Star Awards Best Radio ProgrammeLOVE 972 - The Breakfast Quartet 早安!玉建煌崇Won
Best Radio ProgrammeMr Zhou's Ghost Stories 周公讲鬼Nominated
Perfect ComboLOVE 972 - Yujian Huangchong (Weekend Edition) 玉建煌崇 (周末版)Won
All-Time Favourite ArtisteReceived[13]
2023Star AwardsBest Programme HostMr Zhou's Ghost Stories @ Singapore Sightings 周公讲鬼,那里有鬼Nominated

References

  1. "Phyllis Quek turns 45! Here are 13 other celebs born in August". Her World Singapore. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  2. "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.
  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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