Didn’t you hear the news? Nigel Ng, famously known as “Uncle Roger”, is bringing his act to real life by opening his first restaurant in Malaysia!
He snuck the announcement into his latest YouTube video, “Uncle Roger Miss Anthony Bourdain.” While showing a clip of the late chef Anthony Bourdain enjoying Assam Laksa in Penang, Nigel casually mentioned, “Oh yeah, and another reason to visit Malaysia – Uncle Roger is gonna be opening his very first restaurant there! Fuyoo!”

In 2020, Nigel Ng skyrocketed to fame with his Uncle Roger character, where he humorously critiqued an egg fried rice video. Within two years, he garnered over half a billion views on YouTube and amassed a following exceeding 20 million across various social media platforms.
But who is the man behind the character?
Here are some interesting facts about him:
From Data Science to Stand-Up Comedy
Nigel Ng’s journey to fame is as captivating as his character. He was born on March 15, 1991, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to Chinese-Malaysian parents with Hokkien ancestry. After graduating from Chong Hwa Independent High School in 2009, he moved to the United States to study at Northwestern University. There, he majored in engineering and minored in philosophy, graduating in 2014.
However, his true calling lay in making people laugh. Starting his comedy career in 2011, Ng quickly made a name for himself, earning a nomination for the Best Newcomer Award at the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. In the same year, he took a bold step, leaving his data science job to embrace comedy full-time. In 2020 he hosted a sold out week-long run at London’s Soho Theatre.
The Birth of Uncle Roger
Interestingly, the concept of Uncle Roger wasn’t Ng’s own. His comedy partner, Evelyn Mok, initially envisioned the character for a sitcom. Ng brought this character to life on social media, starting with short sketches on TikTok and Instagram before transitioning to YouTube. The character quickly resonated with audiences worldwide, thanks to Ng’s spot-on portrayal and the relatable nature of Uncle Roger’s critiques.
Personal Life Inspires Comedy: The Story of Helen
Uncle Roger occasionally makes reference to his fictional ex-wife, Helen, in his videos. This character, often mentioned humorously, has roots in Ng’s personal life. In a food travel vlog posted in April 2020, Ng revealed to fellow YouTuber Shu that he was divorced. This real-life experience subtly influences his comedy, adding depth and relatability to his character’s backstory.
Named after Uncle Roger
Since he was born and raised in Malaysia’s capital city of Kuala Lumpur, Ng’s newfound fame is a source of pride for many Malaysians; there’s even a restaurant that pays homage to him. Haiyaa Breakfast (named for Uncle Roger’s famous catchphrase) is a food stall in Sarawak featuring a cartoon caricature of Ng in his signature pose.
Source: here
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