Hong Kong - Line Walker, a rollicking undercover police comedy that salvaged TVB's ratings, was the big winner at the Hong Kong network's TVB Awards on Monday.
It won two of the top three prizes, Best Drama and Best Actress for its star, Charmaine Sheh, setting the seal on the success of her return to the network, said Ming Pao Daily News. The show is her first for TVB after a two-year absence when she concentrated on a career in China.
Obviously inspired by Wei Xiaobao, the rogue in the Louis Cha novel The Deer And The Cauldron, Sheh's character is an irrepressible undercover policewoman who manages the demands of her many bosses, including a cautious detective (Michael Miu), an ambitious bookie (Raymond Lam) and a genial gangster (Benz Hui).
On Monday, Sheh also won Most Popular Female TV Character, and Hui, Most Popular Male TV Character.
Roger Kwok, the star of the thriller Black Heart White Soul, won Best Actor for the third time, equalling the record shared by Gallen Lo and Wayne Lai.
An excited Kwok thanked his children, whose faces adorned his white suit, said Ming Pao.
The actor, who has a son and a daughter with actress Cindy Au, said: "Today I sent my son to school and I said I had to attend the ceremony tonight and wouldn't be with him. He said, 'Win all the prizes and come back.' I said, 'Since my son and daughter were born, I've won all the prizes.'"
Addressing his children, Kwok added: "Thanks for the love you have given me, for nurturing my ability to love, for rejecting the traits I shouldn't have, like jealousy, arrogance and pride, so I can face my career naturally, comfortably, and my acting is natural."
He said he had pictures of his children printed on his jacket "to symbolise the family attending the awards ceremony". He said Hong Kongers had been unfriending even family members during the pro-democracy protests in the past two months, and he hoped everyone could be friends again.
Accepting her awards, Sheh struck a note of humility. She said: "I'm lucky to have encountered a good script, a good role, a good producer. I also thank my mummy. When I'm under a lot of pressure at work, she's always giving me a bright smile and by my side, encouraging me."
Her co-star Lam, who has left the network, neither attended the ceremony nor won. Cheung Chi Kwong won Best Supporting Actor for Come On, Cousin, the sequel to last year's comedy about a Hong Kong-China family, Inbound Troubles. Josie Ho won Best Supporting Actress for the prison drama Tomorrow Is Another Day.
The TVB Awards are Hong Kong's answer to Singapore's Star Awards. Since 2012, the top three TVB Awards have been decided by voting viewers, as well as a jury.
