Helen Tam

Helen Tam Yuk Ying (traditional Chinese: 譚玉瑛; simplified Chinese: 谭玉瑛; pinyin: Tán Yùyīng, born 30 November 1963) is a host of children's programmes in Hong Kong.^[1]

She joined Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) in 1980 and has hosted for children's shows since the 1980s, including 430 Space Shuttle (1982–1989), Flash Fax (1989–1999), Kids Click (2000–2004) and After School ICU (2005 - 2014).^[2] Therefore, she is often called "Sister Tam Yuk Ying" (譚玉瑛姐姐) as if she is an elder sister.^[3]

Biography

Helen Tam was unable to be promoted to form 6 after completing Form 5 studies, and she applied for courses in shipping engineering and constructions, but was rejected by both because she did not have enough weight. As the talent training class of TVB was open for recruitment, she applied in the hope of learning magic, and she was subsequently enrolled.^[4]

At the completion of the training class, Helen had a chance to act in a TVB serial drama. On 26 April 1982, she begin her career in children's shows when she was assigned as a co-host in the newly established children' show, 430 Space Shuttle. In the course of 30 years, the children's shows were re-organized several times by TVB, but Helen remained a core member of the shows and is the only person to host all of the shows. She was most well known by her role as an English-teaching witch in Flash Fax. Some of her partners, such as Stephen Chow, Tony Leung and Athena Chu, have become successful film actors.^[5] In 2012 TVB celebrated her 30-year contributions to the children's shows.^[6] However, due to human resource decisions, in 2014, she was forced to relinquish her roles as a children TV host after her contract was not renewed, ending her 32-year tenure. She then made her debut as an entertainment news host, and made her debut on April 17, 2014

In spite of her famous role, Tam is not fond of having her own children.^[7]

References

1. "港台文教組首辦「網上故事新編創作大賽:鼓勵全港人士運用創意 發揮想像力量(Hong Kong and Taiwan Culture and Education organized the first "Online New Stories Contest" :Encourage the creative use of Hong Kong people the power of imagination)" (in Chinese). RTHK. 20 October 2000. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
2. 《兒歌金曲》鬧鬼？ 白臉譚玉瑛伴舞嚇傻網民 (Haunted Kids Songs Award? Tam Yuk-ying in white face scares citizens
3. 譚玉瑛──我的兒童節目主持人 (Tam Yuk Ying - My host for Children's show)
4. 譚玉瑛──我的兒童節目主持人 (Tam Yuk Ying - My host for Children's show)
5. 譚玉瑛──我的兒童節目主持人 (Tam Yuk Ying - My host for Children's show)
6. 惡死譚玉瑛否認討厭孩子
7. 譚玉瑛──我的兒童節目主持人 (Tam Yuk Ying - My host for Children's show)