Tag Archives: Shirley Adonisi

Idols SA returns for season 18

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Idols SA judges

South African talent/reality show Idols SA is back for an 18th season, after debuting in the country in 2002.

The show is based on popular UK show Pop Idol, which debuted on ITV in 2001 and has been produced in more than 50 territories, including the US. The format is distributed by Fremantle.

The South African adaptation aims to determine the best young singer in South Africa and is set to debut on MNet-owned SA network Mzansi Magic (DStv channel 161) at 17.30 on July 17.

Under the theme Singing a Different Tune, this year’s show will see 16 hopefuls compete.

The judges who will nurture and usher in these new talents including pop culture icon Thembi Seete, rapper/producer extraordinaire JR Bogopa and multi-talented choreographer and TV star Somizi Mhlongo, while the host will be co-executive producer Tebogo ‘ProVerb’ Thekisho.

Shirley Adonisi, director of local entertainment channels at MNet, said: “Idols SA is back! As much as it is about the music, it is also about the people. We are proud to unearth new and emerging talent, and our viewers form emotional connections with the singers as we follow along their journey from audition stage to making a career from their passion. We are excited to see who season 18 brings us.

“We are also excited to welcome our new headline sponsor, Standard Bank, as a valued partner for this season. They have, over the years, proven to be passionate about making dreams come true, and our winners should look forward to a basket of great prizes, which will be announced in due course.”

Lindy Lou Alexander, head of brand and marketing at Standard Bank, added: “True to our values at Standard Bank, we want to give South Africans the tools and support they need to achieve their dreams and aspirations and this sponsorship helps us do just that. It’s all about taking the first steps to building your dreams and believing that it can be a reality. We’re really excited to be part of the journey, all the best to those fighting to make their dreams a reality.”

Berenike Trytsman (aka Berry) from Cape Town emerged as the winner of season 17.

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The Real Housewives arrive in Cape Town

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The Real Housewives of Cape Town

NBCUniversal format The Real Housewives is set to launch its fourth local African adaptation, The Real Housewives of Cape Town, on the Mzansi Magic channel next month.

The news comes after the successful debuts of previous iterations The Real Housewives of Johannesburg, The Real Housewives of Durban and The Real Housewives of Lagos on the MultiChoice-owned network.

The Real Housewives of Cape Town, which will debut on July 10 at 19.00, features a group of powerful and affluent women who are beloved, enigmatic and often misunderstood.

They represent diverse social backgrounds and are an eccentric mix of new and old money, connected by one common thread: their desire to run the Mother City.

The shows features Beverley Steyn, a property owner and investor with a love of planes, yachts, fast cars and a luxury lifestyle; Rushda Moosajee, a qualified trainer and mother of three with a fitness empire and an impressive social media presence; Loveline Abinokhauno, a proud wife of 14 years, blogger, momfluencer and entrepreneur; and Thato Montse, a wine connoisseur.

Other participants are Camilla McDowell, also known as the Queen of Constantia; Kutazwa ‘Rooksy’ Gqirana, a proud Capetonian and self-described hustler; and Lulwando ‘Lue’ Tukwayo, a free-spirited property entrepreneur, digital creator, chartered accountant and mother of three.

Ana Langenberg, senior VP of format sales and production at NBCUniversal Formats, said: “We are elated to continue to build on the monumental success of The Real Housewives franchise in Africa with this latest instalment. The spirit of Cape Town and the unique energy this series will bring will deliver an addictive and unmissable experience and we can’t wait for audiences around the world to experience it.”

“We look forward to premiering this exciting new addition on Mzansi Magic, which will no doubt keep our audience hooked and will undoubtedly be of the premium quality our viewers have grown accustomed to,” added Shirley Adonisi, director of local entertainment channels at MultiChoice’s M-Net.

“This may be a global franchise, but our spin on it is very much South African. The story lines explored on the show and the cast’s lives are as authentic as they come. As a channel, keeping up with our viewers’ tastes and preferences is important, and this is evidence of that.”

Produced by Trace Studios, The Real Housewives of Cape Town marks the 17th international version of the franchise, the fourth to be adapted in Africa and the third South African instalment.

The Real Housewives format began life in the US on NBCUniversal-owned cable channel Bravo in 2006 as The Real Housewives of Orange County. The format is shopped internationally by NBCUniversal Formats, a division of Universal Studio Group.

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