Thando Thabethe as the latest on-air face to quit the South African public broadcaster will be starting her upcoming TV talk show on TLC Entertainment (DStv 135) in early 2018 that will be entitled Thando Bares All.
The "slightly risque" 8-episode Thando Bares All is produced by Oxyg3n Media and will see Thando Thabethe talking with people about "body positivity" and "things that society might be afraid or embarrassed to speak about".
Thando Thabethe recently quit her role on the SABC's Generations weekday soap on SABC1 for the chance to appeal to a pay-TV audience in a localised African TV talk show for Discovery Networks International's female-focused African channel feed of TLC Entertainment.
Thando Thabethe couldn't continue to be seen on the South African public broadcaster as a SABC face and as one of Discovery's new faces on TLC Entertainment and opted to take a chance on appealing and reaching out to a new audience after she appeared on TLC Entertainment in 2016 as a judge in a presenter search competition.
Topics in the 8 episodes of Thando Bares All will discuss polygamy, "naked attraction", outrageous style and body issues with themes borrowed and synchronising with other well-known TLC Entertainment programming.
Casissa Cupido, winnter of TLC Entertainment's Next Great Presenter Search 2016 and now the official TLC Entertainment voice-over artist, will film vox pop inserts with the public for Thando Bares All.
'When TLC approached me to present this show, I was ecstatic," says Thando Thabethe in a prepared statement.
"I'm a huge fan of the channel and thoroughly enjoyed with the brand as a judge for its Next Great Presenter competition in 2016."
"This for me is a step in the right direction for my career in the entertainment industry. I can't wait to start filming Thando Bares All and finding out what South Africans think about the topics that really matter," says Thando Thabethe.
"TLC Entertainment proudly celebrates inspirational, larger-than-life characters and we are incredibly excited to welcome Thando to the family," says Dilek Doyran, vice president of commercial development and country manager of Africa at Discovery Networks Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEEMEA).
"Thando Bares All is about bringing people together and tackling topics we know our viewers will have strong opinions on."
"With her charismatic personality and unique presenting style, Thando was the perfect fit to front the series and we look forward to bringing even more 'OMG' moments to our viewers when Thando Bares All comes to TLC early next year," says Dilek Doyran.
"Oxyg3n Media are delighted to be working with TLC Entertainment on this new and exciting talk show," says Rebecca Fuller-Campbell, Oxyg3n Media CEO.
"We can't think of anyone better than Thando and Carissa to talk TLC topics with the heart that represents the channel."
"It has been a very interesting journey for us to decide what topics to discuss, but I have no doubt that the TLC audience will be captivated by this unique, colourful, heartfelt and slightly risque talk show."
