Dennis Chew

☆ Save On Wikipedia ↗
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

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

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 Chinese Idioms 50 成语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.

In 2025, Chew graduated from Ngee Ann Polytechnic with a diploma in Chinese media and communication.[2]

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 January 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.[3] 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),[4] 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.[3]

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.[5]

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.[6]

Personal life

In April 2022, Chew returned to study and enrolled in Ngee Ann Polytechnic to pursue a diploma in Chinese Media and Communication.[7][8][9] In October 2023, Chew was awarded a scholarship by the Kongzi Culture Fund's Pei Hwa Foundation.[10]

In February 2025, Dennis completed his studies at the polytechnic.[11]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2006 Zodiac: The Race BeginsRooster, Rat, Evil OfficialVoiceover
2007 One Last Dance (茶舞)Foresan
Men in WhiteHimself
2009 Aunty Lucy Slam Dunk (Auntie Lucy也灌篮)Auntie Lucy
2011 It's a Great, Great WorldAuntie Lucy
The Ghosts Must Be CrazyAh Tan
2012 Dance Dance DragonLucy Long
Ghost on AirPing Xiao [12]
2013 Everybody's BusinessMr TaySpecial appearance
2015 King of Mahjong
2016 My Love Sinema (放映爱)Mark Tan
2017 Take 2
2019 Make It Big BigHimself [13]
2019 When Ghost Meets Zombie Hell Manager [14]

Television series

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HostCameo
2000 The Invincible SquadZhang Wenqing
2001 Love Me, Love Me NotXiongxiongCameo
2002 My Genie 2 v3838438
New Dragon's Inn 新龙门客栈Dian Xiao-er
2012 Blk 88Voice-over (guest appearance)
Animated web series
BeyondMarcusCameo
2013 It's a Wonderful LifeBai Baoxiang
The Dream MakersFang Yuanren
2014 Yes We Can! 我们一定行!Mr ChewCameo
World at Your FeetLan Yangyang 蓝阳阳
118Wang Shunfeng
2015 The Dream Makers IIFang Yuanren
2016 I Want to Be a StarEdgar
118 IIWang Shunfeng
HeroAunty LucyCameo
2017 Happy Can Already!
Happy Can Already! 2
2018 118 Reunion 118大团圆Wang Shunfeng
Eat Already? 4Aunty Lucy
My Agent Is A Hero 流氓经纪Lin BozaiCameo
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 HauntingMr 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
2025 Emerald Hill - The Little Nyonya Story (小娘惹之翡翠山) Ni Lao Zi [15]

Television host

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

Organisation YearCategoryWorkResultRef
Friday Weekly 2001Singapore's Top 10 Most Popular DJsN/aWon
2002N/aWon
2003N/aWon
2004 Singapore's Top 10 Most Popular DJsN/aWon
2005 Singapore's Top 10 Most Popular DJsN/aWon
2006 Singapore's Top 10 Most Popular DJsN/aWon
RCS Golden Mike Awards 2000'Most Friendly' DJN/aWon
MediaCorp Radio Golden Mike Awards 2002 'Most Humorous' DJN/aWon [16]
2004 YES 933 Most Popular DJN/aWon
2004 Most Popular Mandarin Stations DJN/aWon
Singapore Radio Awards 2007 Radio Personality of the Year (Chinese stations)N/aWon
2010 Chinese stations DJ of the Year (Media's Choice)N/aWon
2011 YES 933 Most Popular DJN/aWon
Star Awards 2002Best Comedy PerformerNew Dragon's InnNominated
Best Variety Show HostOne Fun DayNominated
Top 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesN/aNominated
2003 Best Variety Show HostInnocent MomentsNominated
Top 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesN/aNominated
2004 Top 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesN/aNominated
2005 Top 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesN/aNominated
2006 Top 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesN/aNominated
2010 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 ArtistesN/aWon
2011 Top 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesN/aWon
2012 Top 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesN/aWon
2013 Top 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesN/aWon
2014Best Supporting ActorThe Dream Makers (as Fang Yuanren)Nominated[17]
Top 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesN/aWon
2015 Top 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesN/aNominated
2016 Top 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesN/aWon
2017Best Comedy Actor (3rd Asia Rainbow TV Awards)118 (as Wang Shunfeng)Won
Top 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesN/aWon
2018 Top 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesN/aWon
2019Best Programme HostDennis UncoversNominated
Top 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesN/aWon
2021 Best Radio ProgrammeLOVE 972 - The Breakfast Quartet 早安!玉建煌崇Won
Top 10 Most Popular Male ArtistesN/aWon
2022 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 ArtisteN/aWon[18]
2023 Best Radio ProgrammeLOVE 972 - The Breakfast Quartet 早安!玉建煌崇Won
Best Programme HostMr Zhou's Ghost Stories @ Singapore Sightings 周公讲鬼,那里有鬼Nominated
2024 Best Radio ProgrammeLOVE 972 - The Breakfast Quintet 早安!玉建蔡煌崇Won
Best Audio PersonalityThe Breakfast Quintet 早安!玉建蔡煌崇Won
2025 Best Radio ProgrammeLOVE 972 - The Breakfast Quintet 早安!玉建煌崇Nominated
Best Radio ProgrammeMr Zhou's Ghost Stories 周公讲鬼Nominated

References

  1. "Phyllis Quek turns 45! Here are 13 other celebs born in August". Her World Singapore. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  2. Ang, Benson (2 May 2025). "Actor-DJ Dennis Chew, 51, graduates from Ngee Ann Polytechnic, offered spot in NUS". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  3. "Radio DJ Dennis Chew interview: My dad hit me when I was young". Yahoo! Singapore. 4 March 2012.
  4. "Aunty Lucy goes to the movies". Channel News Asia. 25 August 2009. Archived from the original on 4 January 2010. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  5. "Dennis Chew leaving YES 93.3FM in March". XinMSN. Archived from the original on 7 March 2013. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
  6. 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.
  7. Sng, Suzanne (27 April 2022). "DJ-actor Dennis Chew goes back to school at age 48". The Straits Times. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. "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.
  11. "Mediacorp artiste Dennis Chew's father dies 1 day after the radio DJ completes his polytechnic studies". CNA Lifestyle. Retrieved 21 February 2025.
  12. "Tales of terror Free scares". The Star. 11 June 2012.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  13. "Mark Lee makes debut as feature film director in Make It Big Big". AsiaOne. 3 January 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  14. "Oh, the horror! Singaporean horror films haunting our screens this 2019". CNA Lifestyle. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  15. "Star-studded The Little Nyonya spin-off in the works with Tasha Low, Zoe Tay, Chantalle Ng, Shaun Chen and many more". Channel News Asia. 1 February 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  16. "金唛奖2002". Archived from the original on 18 January 2006. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  17. "The Dream Makers tops Star Awards 20 list with 19 nominations". TODAY. Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  18. "Star Awards 2022: A night of surprises for Chen Hanwei, Huang Biren and Brandon Wong". CNA Lifestyle. Retrieved 9 May 2022.