FIRST LOOK! Isidingo Talent Search behind the scenes.

You're seeing and reading it here first.

This morning I spent some time with the 4 judges of the nationwide Isidingo Talent Search behind the scenes at the Cape Town auditions taking place today which I told you about first RIGHT HERE.

One of them is a female version of Simon Cowell and I loved how she spoke to the contestants! Oooh!

I have some wonderful gossip from the four judges, Tshego Monaisa, Mpotseng Lebentle, Gray Hofmeyr and Debashnie Thangevelo, some great behind the scenes photos, and more. Do you want to know who is Ms Cowell?

Click on READ MORE below to see more.

I spent a few hours earlier today in the SABC auditorium in Sea Point in Cape Town on this city's audition day of the Isidingo Talent Search (watch an hour special on the Isidingo Talent Search on 11 March on SABC3).

On the photo above you can see the 4 judges. They are from left Tshego Monaisa, SABC commissioning editor, Mpotseng Lebentle, SABC3 brand manager, Gray Hofmeyr, and TV and entertainment journalist, the brilliant Debashnie Thangevelo from The Independent Newspaper group's daily TONIGHT section who's weekly TV soap opera info, interviews and write-ups are basically the best and most comprehensive in South Africa.

Here is how you can see the 4 of them sitting waiting to see the hundreds of guys who pitched up for their minute or two, script in hand, hoping that they can impress the judges. Every now and then, one of the judges would get a little powder on the nose or cheek, while 2 cameras - one on the person auditioning, and one on the judges' table - record everything.

Here is a photo with a bit of a wider angle to show you more of the auditorium. After an audition, the judges would quickly deliberate on what they've just seen and heard. I have to tell you - my heart went out to them all. Some of the auditions are truly horrible. And for every single one they have to say ''Hallo, what's your name?'', tell them that they can hold the script, and that they have to talk directly to them.

In this photo you can get a sense of the guys auditioning to be Isidingo's great new ''ex football star and a bit of a playa''. Some of the auditions are truly CRINGE WORTHY, but the guy you see here was actually one of the much better ones.
Of course, with some people just not making the cut, there is simply NOT TIME for niceties. So, who is kindof the ''b----'' that rhymes with itch?  I had a lot of fun listening to the judges when they would give comments to the contestants from time to time. The one giving the best advice, but also not letting them off so gently, was definitely Mpotseng Lebentle, SABC3's Isidingo brand manager.
Ms. Cowell told them straight up when they didn't make it, and often also why. ''You're just not what we're looking for today,'' she said several times.

Here's one more pic with another guy auditioning after they've lined-up in cloudy weather since 08:00 this morning. I spent some time outside talking with some of them, and listening in on conversations here, as well as just outside the audition door.
Some would encourage each other - all of them were very stressed. Some would focus on their lines - they got one of 5 sets of little scripts they had to learn - and most dressed up very well for the audition, which is not something you regularly see during auditions such as these.

Next up is Johannesburg on Thursday and Friday 18 and 19 February at Atlas Studios in Milpark.