SINGAPORE – Long one of the most prominent names on local Malay-language television, Singaporean entertainment veteran Najip Ali’s latest brainchild is the new reality singing show Kaki Nyanyi, which is currently airing on Suria. He is the show’s executive producer and judge.

He is pulling double duty and taking on English-language television too. The 57-year-old will appear in another music-based reality show, I Can See Your Voice Singapore, the local version of the popular mystery singer show originally from South Korea. It premieres on Channel 5 on Jan 13.

Najip is part of a panel of celebrity “detectives”, alongside others such as actor-host Gurmit Singh, singer Benjamin Kheng and actress-host Xixi Lim.

Each episode sees celebrity contestants such as actress Tasha Low and actor-host Suhaimi Yusof try to suss out – through lip-sync performances, clues and advice from the detectives – which of the six mystery singers are bad or good crooners.

Najip says his role on I Can See Your Voice is different from that in other music-based shows, as it requires him to “unlearn” his critical nature of being a judge.

“I thought the producers wanted me for my skill set, but no, they actually just wanted me to observe and have fun. It was very annoying when my guesses were wrong, some of the singers could really mime very well.”

Channel 5 audiences would also recognise him as family patriarch Mr Ibrahim from long-form drama Sunny Side Up (2022 to 2024), his first major acting role. And he is stoked about reuniting with the series’ leading man Singh, 59, on I Can See Your Voice.

“We have very good chemistry and we always finish each other’s lines. Our vibes are the same, we’re from the same generation.”

Najip is also enthusiastic about working with younger artistes like Kheng and Lim. “This show requires diversity. The millennials have a different point of view and that makes the show exciting.”

The double exposure on different channels at the same time is all in a day’s work for the bachelor. When Sunny Side Up was on air, you could switch to Suria and see him on shows such as reality singing competition Berani Nyanyi? (2022), which he hosted and executive produced.

The predecessor of Kaki Nyanyi, it featured actors who showcased their singing and performing skills, and saw Salif Hardie and Siti Khalijah Zainal emerge champions of the first and second seasons respectively. The show won...