There’s no business like government business for celebrity presenters
STAR POWER has delivered a big ratings boost to the spin-off of the government’s longstanding “Thailand Moving Forward” show – and four of the recent celebrity hosts are in turn getting certificates of appreciation from Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha as thanks at a September 4 ceremony.
Among the special celebrity hosts of recent and upcoming episodes of the “Thailand Moving Forward: Reform Together” spin-off are Thai television drama stars Pongsakorn Mettarikanon, Nittha Jirayungyurn, and Thanaphad Kawila. They, along with BNK48 singer Cherprang Areekul, have agreed to attend the ceremony, to be held ahead of the weekly Cabinet meeting at Government House, said a Minister attached to the Prime Minister’s Office, Kobsak Pootrakool, yesterday. Actor Nadech Kugimiya had not yet confirmed his attendance.
They’ll be celebrated with the certificates as thanks for appearing on the show free of charge, Kobsak said. He also revealed that the show had invited actress Urassaya Sperbund to host an episode.
The spin-off, which has been on air every Saturday for six episodes, has been popular, Kobsak noted. The latest episode, broadcast on August 25, featured Nittha presenting the topic of “Social Enterprise and Tourism Business” and drew 6 million viewers.
The September 4 certificate-granting ceremony will include the launch of a monthly print magazine discussing the key projects of all government ministries. The event will also hear the launch of a specially composed song celebrating reform in Thailand, Kobsak said.
A Government House source said the spin-off was produced following instructions from the government and the National Council for Peace and Order to improve and modernise the “Thailand Moving Forward” show. That programme continues to be aired daily at 6pm with the aim of promoting the government’s achievements and projects.
A previous attempt to improve the show to reach a younger audience caused a February 25 episode to be heavily slammed for its very dated host costumes.
Past episodes of Thailand Moving Forward: Reform Together
July 21: Actor Tanawat Wattanaputi presents the fisherman’s lifestyle and the Pracha Rat public-private collaborative scheme in blue swimmer crab banks in Phetchaburi
July 28: Singer Kiatkamol Lata presents benefits under the Universal Coverage for Emergency Patients (UCEP) scheme
August 4: Actor Jaron Sorat presents caregivers for bedridden patients
August 11: Actor Nadech Kugimiya presents injustice inflicted by illegal moneylenders
August 18: Actor Pongsakorn Mettarikanon presents community water management for farming in Pathum Thani
August 25: Actress Nittha Jirayungyurn presents the topic of “social enterprise and the tourism business”