48 nominees for Star Awards’ Top 10 Most Popular Artistes awards

SINGAPORE — This year, 48 nominees — 24 male and 24 female — have been shortlisted for the Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Male and Female Artistes Awards, instead of the usual 40.

“With a new format, we hope to generate new excitement, as well as to be able to engage the audience starting from an earlier date,” said Mediacorp’s Paul Chan, lead in the branding and marketing unit.

The 48 names, announced today, include several newer faces in the running for the first time, such as Hong Ling, He Ying Ying, Bonnie Loo, Seraph Sun, Desmond Ng and Wendy Xiao Ying.

Significantly, some familiar faces have cracked the list for the first time. Andie Chen, who is also nominated this year in the categories of Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor, is on the Popular shortlist for the first time in his 10-year career.

Another first-time nominee is Sora Ma, who started her career in 2010. There is also host and actor Cavin Soh, who started his career in the 1990’s.

Conspicuously missing from the list is popular young actor Aloysius Pang, who clinched the award last year.

The 48 names were determined via a survey conducted by a market research company. Winners will be determined by online voting.

This year, Elvin Ng, Joanne Peh and Quan Yi Fong, having each received 10 Top 10 Most Popular Female Artiste trophies, will be receiving the All-Time Favourite Artiste award.

The awards ceremony, which is in its 23rd year, will be held at the MES Theatre at Mediacorp and broadcast live. The theme this year is Iridescence, with a pre-show red carpet ceremony set to dazzle with lights.

Catch the Star Awards 2017 on April 16 at 7pm (Walk Of Fame at 5.30pm) on Mediacorp TV Channel 8. Also catch the three-episode The Road To Star Awards 2017 every Sunday from March 26 to April 16 at 9pm.

For voting information, visit www.toggle.sg/starawards2017