The 25th Asian Television Awards kicked off earlier last week, with Singapore taking home six awards. The biggest winner this year is none other than the local English-language drama Last Madame — the Mediacorp meWatch drama took home awards for Best Digital Fiction Programme or Series, Best Leading Female Performance (Digital) by Joanna Peh, for her role as a feisty brothel owner Fung lan, and Best Actress in Supporting Role by Lina Ng, for her portrayal as a capable domestic servant. This marks the only programme to have bagged more than two awards.

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Last Madame is Mediacorp’s first M18 drama and marks Peh’s most risque role since her acting debut in 2002. The story involves a present-day plot and another set in the 1930s, surrounding a brothel in a shophouse, filled with murder and intrigue.

Other Singapore winners include Galatta 360, which aired on Mediacorp Vasantham, for Best Talk Show, and Oddbods Christmas Special —The Festival Menace, which aired earlier on Mediacorp Channel 5 for Best Children’s Programme.

 

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This makes the first time the celebrated awards festival, considered the region’s most prestigious gathering of Asian TV celebrities and professionals, was held without a physical meeting. It was televised to 500 homes across the Asia Pacific, and streamed over its official Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts.

This year’s awards were hosted by Wallace Ang and Benjamin Josiah Tan from Singapore, Ji Xiao Jun from China, Anyarin Terathananpat from Thailand and  Rennie Lau from Malaysia, with regional performing acts included Alfred Sng, Sherraine Law, Haven and Emiliano Cyrus from Singapore, Ernie Zakri and Lee Pei Ling from Malaysia,  Dat Ozy from Vietnam, and Sam Concepcion and Regine Velasquez from the  Philippines.