Chinese Title: 大太監
English Title: The Confidant
Genre: Historical fiction, Costume drama
Producer: Marco Law (Grace Under Fire, A Great Way To Care, Gloves Come Off)
Production: December 2011 - April 2012
Notable: TVB 45th Anniversary Series 2012
Episodes: 33

RELEASE DATE: NOVEMBER 5, 2012

Cast:
Wayne Lai
Michelle Yim
Maggie Siu
Raymond Wong
Nancy Wu
KK Cheung
Ngok Wah
Raymond Cho
Power Chan
Aimee Chan
Edwin Siu
King Sir
Natalie Tong (guest)
Oscar Leung (guest)
Selena Li (guest, 5 episodes)


Synopsis
Owing to the destitution during their youth, LI LIAN-YING (Lai Yiu Cheung) and AN DE-HAI (Raymond Cho) have presented themselves as eunuchs in the court, where they serve their apprenticeship with an old eunuch LAU DOR-SANG (Chung King Fai). Having closely bonded to one another, the two respectively played dominant roles during the rule of Empress Dowager CIXI (Michelle Yim). However, unlike DE-HAI's single-minded obsession with greed, LIAN-YING overcautiously abides by the rules, gradually diverging from the former. In view of them gaining recognition from CIXI, the Head Eunuch CHAN FOK (Yueh Hua) resorts to strike treachery against LIAN-YING and DE-HAI, feeling that his position is threatened. Fortunately, with the help of his two close friends, a palace maid SIN-YUNG (Nancy Wu) and a eunuch of the Imperial Dispensary YIU SHEUNG-HEI (Wong Ho Yin), LIAN-YING manages to avert the disaster. With the Emperor TONGZHI (Oscar Leung) conferring the throne on his Empress, Empress Dowager CIAN (Maggie Shiu) fears that CIXI will further wield power. She then colludes with Prince GONG (Cheung Kwok Keung) to sow discords among the court, isolating CIXI. In the face of such ever-changing phenomena, only LIAN-YING firmly stands his ground on the motto of "A servant is no more than a servant", remaining as CIXI’s loyal attendant.

Production
Catherine Tsang, one of the deputy chief directors of TVB's drama department, initially created the idea of producing a drama based on Li Lianying. A pre-production trailer was filmed in late 2010 for TVB's 2011 Sales Production Presentation, and it was the last and longest trailer to broadcast at the ceremony. At the time, the temporary cast featured in the trailer consisted of Wayne Lai as Li, Michelle Yim as Empress Dowager Cixi, Bosco Wong as the Guangxu Emperor, Tavia Yeung as Consort Zhen, Susanna Kwan as Li's mother, and John Chiang, Elliot Ngok, and Chung King-fai as prominent government officials. When production for The Confidant was announced, only Lai was confirmed to star. The drama was originally slated to begin production in March 2011, but it was pushed back to end of the year due to production difficulties.

In October 2011, TVB confirmed that the drama will begin filming in December 2011 and will continue its filming in Hengdian World Studios in March 2012. To compete with the three new free broadcasting television stations in Hong Kong, TVB invested an additional 40 percent to the production budget. Maggie Cheung Ho-yee, Maggie Shiu, Ruco Chan, and Raymond Wong were officially announced to join the cast in October 2011. A few weeks later, Chan was pulled out of the cast and signed to film another TVB drama, No Good Either Way, instead. In November 2011, Nancy Wu, Edwin Siu and Aimee Chan were announced to join the cast through their radio interviews and official weibo fansites. Helena Ma announced that she and Elliot Ngok, an original cast member from the sales presentation trailer) will join the cast through a post on her weibo, and Oscar Chan uploaded a picture of his casting call on his weibo. Natalie Tong, Power Chan, Raymond Cho and Chung King-fai (also an original cast member) are confirmed to join later on. (Credit: The Confidant wiki)

Info

Wayne Lai portrays Lei Lin-ying (李連英), one of the most powerful imperial eunuchs during the later years of the Qing Dynasty.
Michelle Yim portrays Empress Dowager Chee-hei (慈禧皇太后), the de facto ruler of China.
Maggie Shiu portrays Empress Dowager Chee-on (慈安皇太后), co-ruler of China with Cixi.
Raymond Wong portrays Yiu Sheung-hei (姚雙喜), a eunuch.
Power Chan portrays Pang Sam-shun (彭三順), a eunuch.
Edwin Siu portrays Ling Tim-sau (凌添壽), a eunuch.
Raymond Cho portrays On Tak-hoi (安德海),[15] a fourth-rank eunuch.
Natalie Tong portrays Empress Ka-shun (嘉順皇后).
Oscar Leung portrays the Tung-chi Emperor (同治帝).[16]
Nancy Wu portrays Sin-yung (倩蓉),[17] a palace maid who shares an ambiguous relationship with Lin-ying.
Aimee Chan portrays Princess Wo-shek (和碩公主), Sheung-hei's love interest.
Chung King-fai portrays Lau Dor-sang (劉多生), a eunuch and Lin-ying's mentor.
Eric Li portrays Pak-lun (伯倫), Sin-yung's lover.
Helen Ma portrays So Mor-mor (蘇嬤嬤), a senior maid.
Elliot Ngok and Oscar Chan are confirmed to join the cast in unspecified roles.
KK Cheung portrays Prince Gong.
Cilla Kung portrays Empress Wai.
Stanley Cheung portrays Hong You-wai
Selena Li makes a guest appearance as Imperial Consort Yuen (婉貴妃).



Pictures


Promotional Clips