Tasha Low and Tyler Ten reunite in new drama and he admits “romantic attraction”

They have played love interests in three Channel 8 dramas – Hope Afloat (2024), Emerald Hill – The Little Nyonya Story (2025) and, now, Last But Not Least (2026).

But there are no real-life sparks between Tasha Low and Tyler Ten

At a Jan 23 coffee session at the Mediacorp Campus to promote their latest series, the Singaporean actors spoke about their comfortable on-screen chemistry.

In Hope Afloat, Ten played the boyfriend of Low’s character. He indirectly caused a water sports injury that left her paralysed and led to their break-up.

In Emerald Hill, he portrayed the friend of Low’s character and who had unreciprocated feelings for her, and she ended up marrying another man.

But things are looking up in Last But Not Least, which will be available on mewatch from Feb 2 and premieres on Channel 8 on Feb 6, airing on weekdays at 9pm.

Ten plays a man who falls on hard times and accepts a posting as a secondary school Chinese teacher. Low plays his colleague, a straight-laced mathematics teacher who is initially dismissive of him, but the two eventually develop feelings for each other.

Of their three collaborations, Ten hints that their latest couple pairing is expected to have the happiest outcome.

The 29-year-old says: “In Hope Afloat, we were getting to know each other. On Emerald Hill, we were ‘dating’. And in this one, we get together. Those are the different stages of a relationship.”

For fans wondering what would have happened if Low’s character had chosen Ten’s on Emerald Hill, he jokes: “Last But Not Least is the continuation. This show is like an alternate ending.”

Both artistes auditioned for Last But Not Least and went for a chemistry test. The scene they acted out together required Ten to feed a blindfolded Low, who had to guess what the food was. He says: “It was sort of the actions that lovers do.”

Low, 32, adds that the interaction was “really natural and comfortable” in the eyes of the show’s executive producer and scriptwriter.

He continues with a laugh: “Maybe we are just naturals.”

Both have already kissed on Hope Afloat and hugged on Emerald Hill, and there will be even more intimate scenes in Last But Not Least, Ten promises. “You will have to watch to find out,” he teases.

But no, Ten and Low are not dating. When asked to describe their relationship, he redirects the question to her: “What do you think?”

She replies: “Good friends, good colleagues.”

They say they were practically strangers when working on Hope Afloat, but became closer while filming Emerald Hill, where scenes were partly shot in Melaka and Johor.

Low says: “We were based in Malaysia for quite some time, so we went out to eat with the other castmates and built the friendship from there.”

Did they ever have a crush on each other after co-starring thrice? Ten admits to “a little romantic attraction” because, as actors, they have to play out the emotions.

He adds: “We have to really put ourselves in that situation, so there will be times where I’d be attracted to her.”

But for Low, her feelings towards Ten are “more of respect”. She says: “When I see him on set, he is very professional. When he needs to do a topless scene, he eats really clean and works out just before the scene.”

Both are quick to highlight the downsides of coupling up repeatedly, such as fans getting sick of them or not wanting them to be paired with other actors.

Still, they are receptive to working together again, but in a different capacity.

“We are open to anything,” he says, to which she suggests: “Siblings?”

He acquiesces: “Siblings also can.”

• Last But Not Least will be available on mewatch from Feb 2. It premieres on Channel 8 on Feb 6, airing on weekdays at 9pm.

This article was originally published in The Straits Times.