# When Duty Calls

When Duty Calls (Chinese: 卫国先锋) is a 20-episode Singaporean drama produced and telecast on Mediacorp Channel 8 in 2017. It was made to commemorate 50 years of National Service in Singapore. It is sponsored by the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Home Affairs.
It stars Desmond Tan, Romeo Tan, Pierre Png, Paige Chua, and Felicia Chin as the main cast of the series.

## Cast
### Main cast

| Cast | Character | Description |
| Desmond Tan | Lu Junguang (陆俊光) | Army (Land) 1st Sergeant (NS) - Loke Jun Guang (Platoon Sergeant ↝ Company Sergeant Major) Sergeant Loke (陆上士), Brother (兄弟) Ding Ji Breadshop's second owner and head-baker Shen Yixuan’s boyfriend |
| Romeo Tan | Xu Longbin (许龙斌) | Army (Land) Captain (NS) - Koh Long Bin (Officer Commanding) Captain Koh (许军官), BB (宝贝), Busy Man (工作狂), Mr Xu (许先生) Kopi Kia coffeehouse's assistant operation director |
| Pierre Png | Chen Jinbao (陈金保) | Army (Land) Young Version portrayed by Shaun Tan (陈凯轩) Corporal (NS) - Tan Kim Poh (Trooper) Lance Coperal Tan (陈下士), Daniel Tan, Daniao (大鸟), Play Boy (花花公子), Rich Kid (富二代), Little Airplane (小飞机) Kopi Kia coffeehouse's younger boss |
| Paige Chua | Shen Yixuan (沈宜萱) | Navy (Sea) Captain - Sim Yi Xuan (Divisional Officer) Madam Sim (沈女官) Shen Yiyun's older sister Xie Mingyao's ex-girlfriend Lu Junguang's poly mate and girlfriend Yao Weiguo's commander |
| Felicia Chin | Bai Jingyu (白静雨) | Army (Land) Military Expert 2 - Pey Jing Yu (Senior Brigade Medic) Madam Pey (白女官), Brother (兄弟), Tom Boy (男人婆), Stainless Steel (铁金刚), Babe (美女) Lu Junguang's childhood best friend and ex-girlfriend |

### Supporting cast

| Cast | Character | Description |
| Shane Pow | Yao Weiguo (姚卫国) | Navy (Sea) Officer Cadet - Yeoh Wei Guo (Midshipman) Gordon Yeoh, Mate/Buddy (伙伴), Recruit Yeoh, Sabo King Yao Yixin's brother Lu Xianfeng's Basic Military Training buddy Shen Yiyun's ex-boyfriend |
| Richie Koh | Lu Xianfeng (陆先锋) | Air Force (Air) Officer Cadet - Loke Xian Feng (Air Warfare Officer (C3) Ah Boy (阿Boy), Mummy Boy, Mate/Buddy (伙伴), Recruit Loke Lu Junguang's nephew Lu Meiguang's son Yang Yongzheng's son Yao Weiguo's Basic Military Training buddy Shen Yiyun's boyfriend |
| Jasmine Sim | Shen Yiyun (沈宜芸) | Air Force (Air) Air Force Engineer - Military Expert 1 Sim Yi Yun Air Force Engineering (AFE) (Maintenance) Cloudie Sim Yao Weiguo's ex-girlfriend Lu Xianfeng's girlfriend Shen Yixuan's sister |
| Kym Ng | Lu Meiguang (陆美光) | Teenage version portrayed by Cai Bei'er (蔡贝儿) Ms Lu (陆小姐), Little White Boat (小白船) Ding Ji Breadshop's owner and boss Kopi Kia's previous employee Yang Yongzheng's ex-lover Lu Xianfeng's mother Lu Junguang's older sister Chen Jinbao's girlfriend and long lost childhood friend Chen Weirong's previous employee |
| Mei Xin | Yao Yixin (姚一心) | Germaine Yeoh, B (宝贝), Lawyer Yao (姚律师) |
| James Seah | Xie Mingyao (谢明耀) | Navy (Sea) Captain - Seah Ming Yao (Divisional Officer) Roger That (收到) Shen Yixuan's ex-boyfriend Lu Junguang's best friend and rival in love (Deceased - 4 years ago by involved with a truck accident) |
| Darryl Yong | Li Hongxun (李宏讯) | Police Deputy Superintendent (NS) - Lee Hong Xun (Patrol) Roger That (收到), Lawyer Li (李律师) Lawyer Xu Longbin's best old-friend Yao Yixin's colleague In love with Shen Yixuan |
| Zheng Geping | Yang Yongzheng (杨勇正) | Air Force (Air) Teenage version portrayed by Li Bin (李彬) Lieutenant Colonel - Yeo Yongzheng Fighter SQN (Commanding Officer) Michael Yeo Tina's husband Lu Meiguang's ex-lover Lu Xianfeng's father Lu Junguang's brother-in-law Chen Jinbao's rival in love Shen Yiyun's boss Chen Weirong's previous employee |
| Hong Huifang | Zhu Cuihua (朱翠花) | Auntie Hua (花姐) Kopi Kia coffeehouse's lady boss Xu Longbin's lady-boss and god-mother Chen Weirong's wife Chen Jinbao's mother |
| Li Wenhai | Chen Weirong (陈伟荣) | Uncle Rong (荣叔) Kopi Kia coffeehouse's older boss Xu Longbin's boss Zhu Cuihua's husband Chen Jinbao's father Yang Yongzheng and Lu Meiguang's previous boss Suffered from heart attack |

### Guest appearances

| Cast | Character | Description |
| Tommy Wong | Lu Jiading (陆家钉) | Lu Meiguang and Lu Junguang's father Lu Xianfeng's grandfather |
| Zack Lim | Fuji | Mount Fuji (富土山) Kopi Kia's employee Chen Weirong and Zhu Cuihua's employee and chef In love with Lu Meiguang |
| Caryn Cheng | Summer | Sweetheart (甜蜜) Chen Jinbao's ex-lover |
| Dylan Quek | Jeffery Poh | Navy (Sea) Jeff Xie Mingyao and Shen Yixuan's best friend |
| Gary Tan | Nick Goh | Navy (Sea) Shen Yixuan's cadet |
| Brian Ng | Roy Ho | Navy (Sea) Yao Weiguo's platoon mate Shen Yixuan's cadet |
| Benjamin Cheah | | Part time Police Officer (NS) - (Patrol) Li Hongxun's colleague |
| Amy Cheng | Tina | Yang Zhongzheng's wife |
| Terence Tay | Captain Khoo | Air Force (Air) Yang Yongzheng's friend Lu Xianfeng's sir |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Ceremony | Nominees | Category | Result |
| 2018 | Star Awards Creative Achievement Award Ceremony | Png Keh Hock | Best Director | Nominated |
| 2018 | Star Awards Creative Achievement Award Ceremony | Martin Chan | Best Director | Won |
| 2018 | Star Awards Creative Achievement Award Ceremony | Seah Choon Guan & Tang Yeow | Best Screenplay | Nominated |
| 2018 | Star Awards | Desmond Tan | Best Actor | Won |
| 2018 | Star Awards | Pierre Png | Best Actor | Nominated |
| 2018 | Star Awards | Shane Pow | Best Supporting Actor | Nominated |
| 2018 | Star Awards | Kym Ng | Best Supporting Actress | Won |
| 2018 | Star Awards | Mei Xin | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated |
| 2018 | Star Awards | Richie Koh | Best Newcomer | Nominated |
| 2018 | Star Awards | Desmond Ng and Kenny Khoo | Best Theme Song (《以刚克刚》) | Won |
| 2018 | Star Awards | — | Best Drama Serial | Won |

## Soundtrack

| No. | Song Title | Artist |
| 1) | 以刚克刚 (Main song for the series) | Desmond Ng Kenny Khoo |
| 2) | 以为的以为 (Song for Lu Junguang, Shen Yixuan, and Bai Jingyu) | Alfred Sim Tay Kewei |
| 3) | 一直都在 (Song for Xu Longbin and Yao Yixin) | Alfred Sim |
| 4) | 关怀新方式 (Song for Chen Jinbao and Lu Meiguang) | Desmond Tan Felicia Chin |
| 5) | 关怀方式 (Song for Chen Jinbao and Lu Meiguang) | Chen Hanwei |
| 6) | 关怀方式 (Unplugged Version) (Song for Chen Jinbao and Lu Meiguang) | Pierre Png |
| 7) | I Just Wanna Be Loved (Song for Shen Yiyun, Yao Weiguo, and Lu Xianfeng) | Tim Ellis |

## Development and production

Filming began in February 2017 and was completed in May. The series was filmed in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and Ministry of Home Affairs (Home Team).