Not nominated for Star Awards' Best Audio Personality but Dennis Chew says The Breakfast Quartet 'should be confident of ourselves'
They've won Best Radio Programme for four years consecutively, but the four DJs in local radio station Love 972's The Breakfast Quartet were surprisingly left out of the Best Audio Personality nominations in Star Awards 2025.
Two of the DJs, Dennis Chew and Mark Lee, told AsiaOne in a recent interview that it's not something they worry about. The other two DJs in the team are Marcus Chin and Chen Biyu.
Mark, 56, shared: "I feel that the main reason for us not being nominated is because the judges have different preferences for the styles that each DJ presents.
"It could be a coincidence that this year's judges are a little 'stricter', so 'innocent and cute' DJs like us are not nominated. But it's okay, because the judges are different every year."
Dennis, 51, said: "I feel that it doesn't matter whether we are nominated or not. Most importantly, we should be confident of ourselves, just like how the four of us feel that we are good enough and that's sufficient."
The nominees this year are Yes 933 DJs Chen Ning, Hazelle Teo, Kenneth Chung and Zhu Zeliang as well as Capital 958 DJ Pan Jia Biao.
In response to queries from AsiaOne, a Mediacorp spokesperson said that as with all Star Awards' programme and performance awards, the nominees for Best Audio Personality are determined by a panel consisting of industry veterans and established media practitioners who would evaluate everyone who is eligible with a standard set of criteria.
They added: "Given how competitive this award is, not being nominated in any given year does not necessarily take away from the calibre of their work nor their popularity.
"The Breakfast Quartet remains a contender in the Best Radio Programme category, testament to the enduring excellence the show continues to deliver daily."
The quartet won the above category for four consecutive years from 2021 to 2024.
This year, Dennis' programme Mr Zhou's Ghost Stories is also in the running.
On whether they feel pressured to continue winning the award this year, both of them said the achievement doesn't affect their emotions.
Dennis shared: "To be honest, we didn't expect to go on stage to receive the award. It's a surprise to us every year. So whether or not there is any surprise this year, we would feel the same way."
"If we can receive it for another year, it's the best, but even if we didn't get it this year, it's okay also. Most importantly, it's whether the judges like it or not, because the judges are different every year. If we are awarded again this year, then 'Oh dear, we are the first again!'" Mark quipped.
Both Mark and Dennis received their All-Time Favourite Artiste award in 2010 and 2022 respectively.
The award is given to artistes who have won the Top 10 Most Popular Artiste honour 10 times.
When asked which artistes they wish to see joining them at the 'altar', Dennis shared that he hopes actor-host Guo Liang — who has been in local showbiz for three decades — would bag the award soon, because he "truly deserves it".
For Mark, it would be Marcus, 70, who debuted in local showbiz in the 1970s.
He quipped: "I looked at his fortunes before and concluded he can live till about 95 years old, so if he receives his 10th Top 10 award before 90 and goes up the 'altar', I think it's not bad because he is really very hardworking."
You can vote for the Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Male and Female Artistes from now till July 6, 7.30pm on the Mediacorp website. Voters can make up to 10 votes per account, per award category, per day. On July 6 from 12am to 7.30pm, voters can make unlimited votes for each category.
Star Awards 2025 will be presented on July 6, starting from Backstage Live at 3.30pm to 10.30pm, Walk of Fame from 5pm to 6.30pm, the awards show from 7pm to 10pm and Post-Party from 10pm to 10.30pm.
Backstage Live will air on Mewatch and the Mediacorp Entertainment YouTube channel, while Walk of Fame and the awards show will air on Channel 8, Channel U, Mewatch and the Mediacorp Entertainment YouTube channel.
[[nid:719280]]
yeo.shuhui@asiaone.com
No part of this article can be reproduced without permission from AsiaOne.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
AsiaOne
11 hours ago
- AsiaOne
Not nominated for Star Awards' Best Audio Personality but Dennis Chew says The Breakfast Quartet 'should be confident of ourselves'
They've won Best Radio Programme for four years consecutively, but the four DJs in local radio station Love 972's The Breakfast Quartet were surprisingly left out of the Best Audio Personality nominations in Star Awards 2025. Two of the DJs, Dennis Chew and Mark Lee, told AsiaOne in a recent interview that it's not something they worry about. The other two DJs in the team are Marcus Chin and Chen Biyu. Mark, 56, shared: "I feel that the main reason for us not being nominated is because the judges have different preferences for the styles that each DJ presents. "It could be a coincidence that this year's judges are a little 'stricter', so 'innocent and cute' DJs like us are not nominated. But it's okay, because the judges are different every year." Dennis, 51, said: "I feel that it doesn't matter whether we are nominated or not. Most importantly, we should be confident of ourselves, just like how the four of us feel that we are good enough and that's sufficient." The nominees this year are Yes 933 DJs Chen Ning, Hazelle Teo, Kenneth Chung and Zhu Zeliang as well as Capital 958 DJ Pan Jia Biao. In response to queries from AsiaOne, a Mediacorp spokesperson said that as with all Star Awards' programme and performance awards, the nominees for Best Audio Personality are determined by a panel consisting of industry veterans and established media practitioners who would evaluate everyone who is eligible with a standard set of criteria. They added: "Given how competitive this award is, not being nominated in any given year does not necessarily take away from the calibre of their work nor their popularity. "The Breakfast Quartet remains a contender in the Best Radio Programme category, testament to the enduring excellence the show continues to deliver daily." The quartet won the above category for four consecutive years from 2021 to 2024. This year, Dennis' programme Mr Zhou's Ghost Stories is also in the running. On whether they feel pressured to continue winning the award this year, both of them said the achievement doesn't affect their emotions. Dennis shared: "To be honest, we didn't expect to go on stage to receive the award. It's a surprise to us every year. So whether or not there is any surprise this year, we would feel the same way." "If we can receive it for another year, it's the best, but even if we didn't get it this year, it's okay also. Most importantly, it's whether the judges like it or not, because the judges are different every year. If we are awarded again this year, then 'Oh dear, we are the first again!'" Mark quipped. Both Mark and Dennis received their All-Time Favourite Artiste award in 2010 and 2022 respectively. The award is given to artistes who have won the Top 10 Most Popular Artiste honour 10 times. When asked which artistes they wish to see joining them at the 'altar', Dennis shared that he hopes actor-host Guo Liang — who has been in local showbiz for three decades — would bag the award soon, because he "truly deserves it". For Mark, it would be Marcus, 70, who debuted in local showbiz in the 1970s. He quipped: "I looked at his fortunes before and concluded he can live till about 95 years old, so if he receives his 10th Top 10 award before 90 and goes up the 'altar', I think it's not bad because he is really very hardworking." You can vote for the Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Male and Female Artistes from now till July 6, 7.30pm on the Mediacorp website. Voters can make up to 10 votes per account, per award category, per day. On July 6 from 12am to 7.30pm, voters can make unlimited votes for each category. Star Awards 2025 will be presented on July 6, starting from Backstage Live at 3.30pm to 10.30pm, Walk of Fame from 5pm to 6.30pm, the awards show from 7pm to 10pm and Post-Party from 10pm to 10.30pm. Backstage Live will air on Mewatch and the Mediacorp Entertainment YouTube channel, while Walk of Fame and the awards show will air on Channel 8, Channel U, Mewatch and the Mediacorp Entertainment YouTube channel. [[nid:719280]] No part of this article can be reproduced without permission from AsiaOne.
AsiaOne
15 hours ago
- AsiaOne
Asian Art Association Singapore denies misuse of artist profiles, says Botanic Gardens event is legit, Singapore News
The Asian Art Association Singapore (AAA) has shut down claims that it misused artist profiles and falsely associated its events with the Singapore Botanic Gardens. In a statement posted to Facebook on Wednesday (June 18), the association said it was recently made aware of remarks circulating on social media which it described as "false and misleading". One of these remarks was about the artist profile of a Japanese illustrator who had been formally invited to join the association in 2022. A screenshot of the profile, which was shared with AsiaOne, showed the illustrator's name, place of origin, works and awards. It also had a short description of how aspects of his life influenced his art style. The person who made the accusatory post has since deleted it. Responding to AsiaOne's enquiries, AAA chairman Jay Chau said the illustrator had voluntarily submitted his materials for publication and was sent a draft webpage of his artist profile on Aug 23, 2022. The profile was only published after receiving the illustrator's written confirmation, according to the chairman. "Earlier this month, the artist contacted us to request the removal of his profile but did not provide a reason at the time. We respected the request and promptly took the page down," Chau said. Artist profiles published only with their consent: Chau He also explained that the association either invites artists to join it or accepts applications from individuals who demonstrate excellence or strong potential. Artist profiles are only published on AAA's website or social media after receiving explicit consent from them, Chau added. AAA also clarified in its statement that its Wild City exhibition, which was held at the Singapore Botanic Gardens from December 2024 to April this year, is an officially listed event on the National Parks Board (NParks) website and Botanic Gardens event calendar. This was in response to accusations that the association falsely associated its events with the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Highlighting that the event was endorsed by the French Embassy in Singapore as a form of "cross-cultural artistic exchange" and covered by international media, Chau reiterated that it was legitimate. He also said that the association has maintained clear and positive communication with NParks with no concerns or disputes raised regarding the event. AsiaOne has contacted NParks for more information. 'Surprised and disappointed' The person who made the accusatory post which prompted the association's statement has since apologised, Chau told AsiaOne. In a comment below AAA's post, the person wrote: "I acknowledge that I should have verified my findings more thoroughly before making my post...I sincerely regret any confusion this may have caused." Chau said that the association was "surprised and disappointed" by the tone and content of the post, particularly because "no effort was made to verify the facts with us before such serious accusations were made". "It is regrettable that such unfounded claims—whether stemming from misunderstanding or other intentions—could damage trust within Singapore 's arts ecosystem." "AAA operates on the principles of transparency, professionalism, and inclusiveness. We welcome constructive dialogue, feedback, and collaboration across the creative community, and remain open to any opportunity for mutual growth." [[nid:716331]]
AsiaOne
16 hours ago
- AsiaOne
'After wrapping the drama, I went into shutdown mode': Hong Ling recalls tough times during filming of The Spirit Hunter, Entertainment News
For local actress Hong Ling, the filming period for her new fantasy drama The Spirit Hunter was fraught with personal trials. In an interview with AsiaOne on June 18, the 30-year-old told us: "It was New Year's Day when my mum was admitted into the A&E, so I stopped filming for about two days. She was in a very critical condition. In the last two weeks of filming, I told the crew that I'd be on standby mode, that I might have to leave right away." She filmed the drama between October 2024 and mid-January 2025. "For a whole two weeks after wrapping the drama, I went into shutdown mode because there were so many things going on. I was on the bed the whole time and I would just lie down and sleep. I didn't want to get up or go out, I just wanted to rest." Her mother died at the age of 52 on Feb 23, and in the same month, Hong Ling, who's married to local actor Nick Teo, suffered a miscarriage. [[nid:717950]] Now, four months after the ordeal, "all the emotions just come back" when she's alone. To help herself find strength, she said: "A few weeks ago, I tried to start exercising. My friends and work also keep me busy. When I'm busy, everything just seems to be better." In The Spirit Hunter, Hong Ling plays protagonist Tian Nana, a 20-year-old girl burdened to carry a toy sword infused with the spirit of Jian Ling (Richie Koh), which curses her to see supernatural entities that she must defeat. 'I had tears in my eyes' On the more physical side of things, Hong Ling revealed she has a fear of heights that she has yet to overcome even post-filming. In addition to fight scenes, Hong Ling had to do wire stunts, a special technique where performers are suspended and moved using wires to create the illusion of 'flying', jumping, or other gravity-defying actions. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hong Ling (@honglingg_) For two weeks straight, she was on the wire every day under the watchful eye of a Hong Kong stunt team. She recounted: "I was very afraid and I was shivering. I even had tears in my eyes. "I was alone up there. Even though the crew tried to support me and say, 'There's nothing to be afraid of, you know you're very safe', I'm like, 'I know, but I'm two storeys high up in the air'." There was also no preparation for the wire stunts due to the drama's tight filming schedule, so the cast and crew would "just go for it". Hong Ling said: "I was very afraid that I would injure myself, because they mentioned I needed to stay still when they pull [on the wires], otherwise my waist and other parts of my body would get injured." Injuries did occur after an intense fight scene with co-star Tyler Ten, where she suffered a muscle tear in her dominant arm. Cradling her arm back and forth, she explained to us: "I was filming with Tyler and you know how he's very tall and muscular, right? For one scene, we had to interlock arms and he would flip me 360 degrees onto the floor. "We had a full day of filming and with all the fighting scenes, my arms were already very tired. When it was time to lock our arms, I didn't have the strength to lock mine. So when he flipped me, my arm didn't dislocate thankfully, but there was a muscle tear and I had to see a doctor. TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) was my best friend." In the aftermath, even having sought medical attention for the injury, Hong Ling still felt the strain in her arm "every day" with all the fight scenes planned beforehand. Share strong sense of justice To Hong Ling, she feels that portraying her role in the drama was not a huge struggle. She elaborated: "Actually, I think Nana's character is very easy to play. It's very straightforward, compared to Ferlyn (Wong) and Tyler's roles. She's just a very girl-next-door. It's the fight scenes that were the most difficult part." Ferlyn plays Hua Chen Feng, a mysterious swordswoman whose actions teeter between good and evil. She said that while she and her character share a strong sense of justice, she lacks the degree of frankness Nana has. However, she shared with us something she did "impulsively" during an event in 2022. "There were two fans, A and B. B wanted to take pictures with me. I don't know what exactly happened, maybe B cut the queue or something, but A started to scold B and bodyshamed him saying things like, 'You fat pig! Why do you keep wanting to take more pictures?' "I didn't know what was right or wrong anymore, because at the time I thought A shouldn't have done that and I confronted him. I told him, 'You are wrong. You cannot bodyshame people. You have no right to scold him.' And I just continued walking. "Then, an admin of my fanclub approached me and said that next time, I shouldn't just confront A since it's probably not good for me or my image. But to me, I felt that B was wronged and A was at fault, regardless of whether I made the right choice to call A out on his actions." Hong Ling will be present in this year's Star Awards, having received five nominations: Best Actress, Most Emotional Performance, The Show Stealer and BYD Favourite Female Character for her role as Guan Lin in Unforgivable, as well as Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes. The Spirit Hunter will be available on demand for free on Mewatch from June 30. It will also premiere on Channel 8 on July 3, airing weekdays at 9pm. [[nid:719280]] No part of this article can be reproduced without permission from AsiaOne.
