PETALING JAYA: Popular TV host and actor Datuk Aznil Nawawi renewed his contract with satellite pay-TV Astro. However, the 53-year-old declined to disclose the length of his new deal inked on Oct 1.
Last month, there were talks that Aznil, who is affectionately known as Pak Nil to his young fans, was quitting after his 10-year contract with Astro ended last Sept 30.
“I am happy to be part of the Astro family of artistes because it is here that I achieve fame and success. I work well under Astro and that’s why I’ve decided to continue. I love giving ideas on new programmes for young viewers,” said Aznil, who is also Astro’s talent development division vice-president.
The Kuala Lumpur-born artiste shot to fame after hosting Astro’s most renowned reality show Akademi Fantasia for five seasons, as well as a string of variety shows and talkshows like Macam-Macam Aznil, Tom Tom Bak and Jangan Lupa Lirik.
When met at the launch of Astro Ceria’s (Astro channel 611) new reality show Ceria All Stars, held at The Talent Lounge in Damansara Perdana here yesterday, Aznil, who is also the show’s patron, is tasked to provide the production team input and advice, besides guiding the 20 teams of pre-teens who display their individual talents in music, martial arts, dance, acrobatics and magic every week.
Co-hosted by Jihan Musa and Mia Sara Nasuha, with Nabil Ahmad and Nora Danish as contest judges, the eight-episode show is set to premiere on Nov 27, every Friday at 9pm.
Aznil does not merely play the role of a “sifu” to budding TV personalities under the Astro umbrella.
“I coach many newbies who aspire to host its many TV programmes. I’m a strict disciplinarian. I show them the ropes, instil professionalism, moral values and good work ethics in them,” said the father-of-three who most recently coached the hosts of Astro’s entertainment programme H Live.
Aznil began his career as a journalist in TV3 after completing an economics degree at Universiti Malaya in 1984. He was a news presenter for a year and later hosted the entertainment programme Pop Kuiz in 1990.