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.

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 - now). Therefore, she is often called "Sister Tam Yuk Ying" (譚玉瑛姐姐) as if she was an elder sister.

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.

At the completion of the training class, Helen had a chance to act in a TVB serial drama. In 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.

In spite of her famous role, Tam is not fond of having her own children.