The second season of Uzalo on SABC1 starts tonight and will continue seamlessly with most of the original cast as the former telenovela officially becomes a soap.
With blowout ratings in 2015, SABC1 was reluctant to let go of Uzalo as a capped, one series affair with a definite end.
The SABC decided to turn the production that was originally sold as a KwaMashu set "telenovela" with a specific beginning and end, into a multi-season soap - deciding to follow the Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) playbook where isiBaya that started as a telenovela, was turned into an ongoing soap to keep luring viewers and advertisers.
Uzalo quickly stole the damaged Generations - The Legacy's ratings crown after that show's reset following the firing of its entire cast. Uzalo's viewership success spurred rival broadcaster e.tv to commission a competing new prime time show that will start within months and will also be filmed and set in KwaZulu-Natal.
Generations that for years reigned supreme as the most watched soap, most watched local show, and overall most watched TV show in all of South African television now trail Uzalo and its 7.1 million viewers as the Monday to Wednesday appointment television at 20:30 with a riveting storyline that South African viewers just can't bear to miss.
Besides the firing of Mpumelelo Bhulose who appeared as Gxhabashe, most of the original Uzalo cast, including Leleti Khumalo, Dawn Thandeka King, Naymaps Maphalala and Ayanda "Kay" Sibiya will be "back" for the seamless second season starting tonight on SABC1.
Uzalo is still filmed on location in Durban on a film studio as well as in KwaMashu's streets, and promises "new surprises".
New Uzalo faces include Zimiphi "Zim Dollar" Biyela as MaNzuza's (Leleti Khumalo) sister, as well as Mfana Jones Hlope as MaNgcobo's (Xulu's wife) new love interest.
"Uzalo launched with an outstanding debut season and the second season is bringing back favourite characters and a few exciting new faces," says Mmamitse Thibedi, Uzalo's creative director.
"Although much has changed, Uzalo will still serve a provocative, bold and authentic story of two family dynasties and the two young men who carry their hopes and legacies as they face the complexities of identity, inheritance and belief."
