DATIN Diana Danielle is keeping herself busy these days with something new and fresh.
TV viewers can now catch her hosting her first live show, Kata Serasi, on ntv7 every Monday.
Interviewing successful Malaysians from all walks of life, Diana, 27, is co-hosting the two-hour show with Naz Rahman, whom she has known since his days in the Breakfast Show which ran from 2006 until last month.
“It’s so good to share hosting duties with Naz. We are fans of each other and he gives me positive vibes all the time.
“Naz is very sporting. He’s a treasure house of general knowledge and he has a great sense of humour. Best of all, my children get along with him,” said Diana at the launch of ntv7’s new programmes in T6, Light Grey Shopping Centre, Sungai Buloh recently.
Diana, who has been a guest host in entertainment programmes, said hosting has enabled her to be close to her children, Muhammad and Aurora Farid.
“They follow me to the studio from time to time, and while they have to stay clear from the cameras, Naz and the production crew members always welcome them.”
Naz, 40, is honoured to partner Diana for the first time and describes his co-host as an exemplary mother.
“Diana takes great care of her children even if she is busy at work. She’s always there for them and I admire her fortitude in keeping her family together in trying times,” said Naz.
He added that she is also widely read, with entertainment facts at her fingertips.
Kata Serasi, which is screened live at 9.30pm, discusses family, relationships, peer pressure and working life from the perspectives of men and women.
It is one of 10 new programmes on ntv7, and they comprise talk shows, game shows and drama series.
NEW SHOWS
The other programmes are The Feel Good Show at 8am daily which features Singaporean actor Erwin Dawson as one of nine co-hosts, singer Alif Satar’s talk show It’s Alif (9.30pm on Tuesdays), entertainment news programme Pop! TV co-hosted by singer Azira Shafinaz of De Fam (9.30pm on Fridays) and its shorter spin-off Pop! Express (6.30pm from Mondays to Thursdays).
Choreographer Dennis Yin and comedienne Sherry Alhadad co-host Drop The Beat at 8.30pm on Saturdays, where celebrities compete to be the best lip-syncers in various songs.
As for dramas and comedies, there is Turkish series New Bride at 8.30pm from Mondays to Thursdays, Manipulasi at 8.30pm on April 8, Inai Yang Hilang at 8.30pm from Mondays to Thursdays beginning July 27 and comedy Dapur Kongsi at 10am on Mondays.
Azira said live hosting is a challenge for her, as she has to look confident and keep up with the latest news in showbiz.
“I’ve got a lot of reading to do since I do not keep abreast of the goings-on of local and international entertainment all the time. Nevertheless, showbiz news is relatively easy and I believe I can master it with help from my experienced co-hosts as Shuk, Maggy Wang and Shalma Ainaa.
Azira is also participating in Drop The Beat and loves the challenge of mimicking various songs.
“The most difficult are the Bollywood songs because they are very fast,” she said, adding that she is competing with 23 others to win RM50,000.
Singer-actress Kaka Azraff, who plays the protagonist Ika in Inai Yang Hilang, said the 20-episode drama is a thriller involving her search for her missing elder sister, Sara.
“I’ve been acting for five years now, and while I love it, singing is always my priority,” she said, adding that she planned to duet with Singaporean Imran Ajmain.
“Last year, he expressed his wish to record a song with me, and I’m looking forward to meet him.”
Media Prima Television Networks chief executive officer Johan Ishak said the rebranding of ntv7 is to draw in more advertisers and new audiences.
“ntv7 will now focus on urban Malaysians and provide a better demographic for advertisers. From talk shows to dramas and telemovies, new programmes are injected with hip and fresh elements,” he said.
“There are fresh faces from all ethnic groups, and a mix of old and new hosts who bring different styles, ideas and catchphrases to bond with viewers.”