HONG KONG – A little over a year after walking away from Hong Kong’s dominant broadcaster TVB, actor Yuen Ching-fung says his career has only broadened. Speaking Thursday night at the premiere of the animated film “Look Back,” Yuen described a schedule packed with radio shows, a sports-hosting gig and a front-row seat to his best friend’s upcoming wedding – a far cry from the constraints of a network contract.
Yuen, best known for his eight-year run on the long-running sitcom “Come Home Love: Lo and Behold,” left TVB last year. Since then, he has launched a talk program for RTHK, the public broadcaster, and will soon appear as a guest host for HOY TV’s opening ceremony coverage of the Asian Games. In a separate project, Yuen is also developing dubbing work alongside actor Cheung Ming-wai.
Cheung, who proposed to actress Hui Yee-wing – daughter of veteran star Nina Li – in March, plans to marry next year. Yuen confirmed he will serve as both a groomsman and the wedding emcee.
“I’m very happy to be part of it,” Yuen said. “It’s a chance to celebrate with someone I’ve worked with for years.”
Ratings Slide for TVB’s New Sitcom
The conversation inevitably turned to television. Yuen’s former home, TVB, recently launched a replacement sitcom for “Come Home Love” titled “Come Home Love: Three Generations with Sugar.” Ratings, however, have continued to fall – a trend Yuen acknowledged with caution.
“I’m grateful for the audience that supported us for so long,” he said. “But I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to comment on the new show. ‘Lo and Behold’ grew with viewers over nine years. That kind of connection doesn’t disappear overnight – the sudden absence leaves a sense of emptiness.”
To fill that void for fans, Yuen took matters into his own hands. Earlier this year, he produced a self-funded spin-off mini-series that follows the fictional “Chi family” characters from the original sitcom, inspired by Japanese drama formats. “It was a dream project,” he explained. “I just wanted to give the characters a proper farewell.”
He added that the new show’s production team has a responsibility to attract viewers, but ultimately, acceptance rests with the public.
Broader Implications for Hong Kong’s Entertainment Landscape
Yuen’s comments reflect a wider shift in Hong Kong’s television industry. Once a near-monopoly, TVB now faces stiff competition from ViuTV, HOY TV and streaming platforms. Talent, too, is increasingly choosing independence. Since 2020, dozens of actors and producers have left TVB for freelance or contract work, seeking greater creative freedom and diversified income streams.
“Actors now have more options than ever,” Yuen noted. “You don’t have to rely on a single network. You can do radio, sports, online content – it’s all possible.” His trajectory – radio host, Olympic-style programming, voice-over work – exemplifies that new path.
As Hong Kong’s entertainment sector adapts to changing viewer habits, the success of “Three Generations with Sugar” will likely be seen as a bellwether. Whether TVB can regain its sitcom magic remains to be seen. For Yuen, the future is about variety – and a wedding toast.
