Lede
Veteran Hong Kong actress Mei Siu Wai, affectionately known as “Pretty Mei,” made a rare television appearance Tuesday night on the TVB Plus cooking program Food News Report, taking host Hang Jai to her favorite restaurant in North Point and regaling viewers with behind-the-scenes stories from her decades-long career.
Body
The episode, airing tonight, marks one of the few public outings for Mei, who has stepped away from the spotlight in recent years. True to her reputation for a cheeky sense of humor, she kept the young host on his toes with playful banter that left him struggling to keep up.
Mei explained that she chose the restaurant for two reasons. “Besides being close friends with the owner, I really love the spaciousness here,” she said. “You know, in an office you’re just staring at four walls all day. This place feels so comfortable.”
The actress then took a nostalgic turn, recalling her time performing in TVB’s annual charity telethon Tung Wah Charity Show. She described a grueling 10-day period during which she drank only black coffee to stay slim enough to fit into a traditional cheongsam on camera. “Competition was fierce back then — you had to try everything,” Mei said. “People told me models lose weight by drinking black coffee, so I went for it.”
Her most vivid memory, however, was the wild post-show routine. “The telethon aired late into the night. As soon as the Late News finished, we would fire up a hotpot in the backstage area,” she recalled, laughing. “There was so much food. It was absolutely crazy.”
Mei rose to fame in the 1980s and 1990s as a versatile TVB actress, appearing in sitcoms and variety shows. Her nickname “Pretty Mei” stuck with audiences for decades. Food News Report is a daily lifestyle program that blends cooking segments with celebrity interviews and restaurant recommendations.
The episode also featured a tasting session where Mei and Hang Jai sampled the restaurant’s signature dishes, including a stir-fried seafood platter and a traditional clay-pot rice. The host, visibly impressed, said the meal reminded him of home-cooked comfort food.
Broader Impact
Mei’s return to the small screen — even in a supporting role — has sparked nostalgia among longtime Hong Kong viewers who grew up watching her. Her candid anecdotes offer a rare glimpse into the high-pressure, behind-the-scenes culture of classic TVB productions, where physical endurance and camaraderie often went hand in hand.
For younger audiences, the episode serves as a window into the era of marathon charity telethons and the quirky dieting methods that once dominated showbiz gossip. With the resurgence of retro programming and celebrity reunion shows, appearances like Mei’s may help bridge generational gaps in Hong Kong’s entertainment landscape.
Food News Report airs weeknights on TVB Plus. Viewers can catch the full episode on the network’s streaming platform.
