HONG KONG — After more than a decade of on-screen chemistry and a surprise Hong Kong Film Awards nomination, television host Li Shangzheng—better known to fans as Ah Zheng—is stepping into the spotlight as the lead of a new sitcom. HOY TV’s upcoming original series, Your Security Guard Li Bao’an, begins filming Wednesday, marking a major career milestone for the 36-year-old entertainer.
Li first gained widespread recognition alongside partner Lu Song’en, nicknamed “Mei Tou,” as the bumbling yet endearing duo of the travel prank show Undercover Tour Group. The program, which features the pair posing as ordinary tourists while exposing dodgy travel practices, has been renewed multiple times over a decade due to its loyal fan base.
Now Li is taking the fictional alter ego that earned him industry acclaim and giving it a full-length comedic treatment. The upcoming sitcom borrows the name of the character he portrayed in the 2023 black comedy Death of a Corpse at 44—a performance that landed him his first-ever Best Supporting Actor nomination at the 43rd Hong Kong Film Awards.
“Li Bao’an” is a security guard at the residential complex “Linhai Peak,” and the show will follow his daily interactions with eccentric colleagues and residents. The series is directed by Ho Chuet-tin, who previously helmed Death of a Corpse at 44.
A Familiar Cast and Fresh Faces
Li will be joined by longtime collaborator Lu Song’en, along with actors Mak Pui-tung, Wong Yiu-wang, and Tsang Yui-chi. The cast also includes Marco Yip, a member of the boy band P1X3L, who recently ended his contract with ViuTV earlier this month. Yip’s inclusion marks one of his first acting roles since becoming a free agent.
Neither HOY TV nor the production team has announced an exact premiere date, but filming is expected to wrap by late spring. Industry insiders suggest the network is betting on the show’s lighthearted premise and built-in audience from the Undercover Tour Group franchise to attract viewers.
Career Breakthrough After Years of Supporting Roles
Li’s journey to leading man status has been gradual. He joined HOY TV (formerly known as HKTV) in its early days and spent years as a presenter before branching into acting. His turn in Death of a Corpse at 44, a satire about a family scrambling to dispose of a corpse before property prices fall, showcased a comedic timing that caught award voters’ attention.
Though he did not win the trophy—the category was taken by veteran actor Michael Ning—the nomination itself was seen as validation from the industry. “It felt surreal to be sitting among actors I’ve admired since childhood,” Li said in a previous interview. “I never expected to be recognized for a role that started as a joke.”
Broader Implications for Hong Kong Television
The sitcom’s launch reflects HOY TV’s strategy of investing in low-to-mid-budget original content to compete with larger networks like TVB and ViuTV. By leveraging a known character from a successful film, the network hopes to cross-pollinate audiences between cinema and streaming.
For Li, the leap from sidekick to lead may also signal a shift in Hong Kong’s entertainment landscape, where variety-show personalities increasingly transition into scripted drama. Your Security Guard Li Bao’an will test whether that formula can sustain a full season.
