Dennis Chew Chong Kheng, also known as Zhou Chongqing, is a Singaporean radio deejay, actor, variety show host 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.
Early life
Chew studied at the former Pearl's Hill Primary School and Tuan Mong High School. At 13, Chew performed in the musical and children's television programme 《成语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 dramaThe Future is Mine. 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 Y.E.S. 93.3FM. A few years later, he signed on as a full-time DJ with 93.3FM. In Jan 2005, Chew released a music album, containing 9 original songs. Chew's big break in television came in 2009 when he portrayed Aunty Lucy in the variety show Paris and Milan, which also starred Patricia Mok, Michelle Tay and Ben Yeo. His performance was extremely well received by both young and old, earning him popularity which led to his first ever win 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, It's a Great, Great World and Dance Dance Dragon, and the game showWe Are Singaporeans. 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. 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. Chew has gotten 9 out of 10 Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes from 2010–2013, 2016–2019 respectively.
"Brownface" controversy
Chew appeared in a controversial 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.
