BREAKING. The second series of Come Dine with Me South Africa on BBC Entertainment is again an instant viewership hit on DStv.

You're reading it here first. 

The ascendant BBC Entertainment (DStv 120) TV channel has even more reason to smile: the second season of Come Dine with Me South Africa which started on Monday night for a new 13 episodes is again a viewership success story.

From Downton Abbey to Come Dine with Me South Africa and The Only Way is Essex , BBC Entertainment since the latter part of 2011 has suddenly become that most rarest of TV channels: one that can proudly boast a sterling line-up of highbrow, high quality TV shows - but shows also getting ratings.

Flushed with productions that's both quality and viewership hits, the second series of Come Dine with Me South Africa is instantly delivering for the channel and BBC Worldwide Channels.

The second series of Come Dine with Me South Africa, an ITV format for BBC Worldwide Channels and produced by Rapid Blue, started on Monday night at 20:00. It immediately lifted BBC Entertainment's viewership in the timeslot with 64% on DStv compared to the previous two month's average.

The debut episode of the second series of Come Dine with Me South Africa Monday night pulled 160 000 viewers on DStv, doubling the audience share for DStv viewers between 16 and 50 compared to the previous three months.

Come Dine with Me South Africa is the very first - and highly successful - originally produced TV show from BBC Worldwide Channels in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region. Not only did viewers love it, making BBC Entertainment the number one international TV channel on DStv in its timeslot during its run, but TV critics could find no fault at all.

BBC Worldwide Channels says the show is an example of the way in which BBC Worldwide Channels is committed to commissioning original programming targeting local TV markets as well as a gloval audience.

Come Dine with Me South Africa is the very first - and highly successful - originally produced TV show from BBC Worldwide Channels in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region. Not only did viewers love it, making BBC Entertainment the number one international TV channel on DStv in its timeslot during its run, but TV critics could find no fault at all.

"Given the fantastic response to the first series we knew that it was going to be a hard act to follow, but we had faith in our production and the hugely entertaining contestants that have come forward to compete for the title of South Africa's ultimate dinner party host," says Ian McDonough, the senior vice president and general manager for the EMEA region for BBC Worldwide Channels.