When episode 468 of the TV soap Suidooster [Southeaster] unspools this Friday at 18:30, it will mark the Afrikaans soap's first foray into Fridays after M-Net's Afrikaans channels division, kykNET, in the latter part of 2017 decided to increase the drama of the people of the fictional Ruiterbosch community from 4 to 5 days a week from April 2018.
While Friday will mark episode 468 of Suidooster on the kykNET (DStv 144) and kykNET & Kie (DStv 145) channels, the soap, produced by Suidooster Films and filmed at Atlantic Studios in Milnerton, Cape Town, recently also completed its milestone 500th episode.
"Since February we're filming 6 episodes in order to broadcast 5 episodes per week," Wilmer Muller, Suidooster publicist told TVwithThinus. "We were told in November about the extension to 5 days per week and the production team has had enough time to adequately prepare and to adjust all of the production schedules".
Suidooster episodes are filmed 6 to 8 weeks before the broadcast date, but the show's cast and crew are actually on a production break this week.
The Suidooster cast member Eden Classens also took a temporary hiatus from the show. He is practising his dance moves for the Sunday live shows as one of the remaining contestants in Dancing with the Stars SA on sister channel M-Net (DStv 101), produced by Rapid Blue that's nearing its live finale at the end of April, after which he will return to Suidooster.
Asked what the show has learnt from the feedback from viewers the past year, Wilmer Muller says "it's of cardinal importance to be authentic, realistic and honest with storylines. From all of the feedback - from focus groups, social media and the interaction with the public - it's clear that most viewers are positive about what Suidooster delivers".
As to what's waiting in the months ahead on Suidooster, viewers can get ready for even more drama and several shockers.
The relationships and family ties of the residents of Ruiterbosch will be tested anew in the upcoming few weeks.
Ian and Bridgette October's marriage is crumbling with Ian getting more and more involved in sinister activities in the Bridge - his latest business venture and the controversial hangout place in the Suidooster centre. And did another woman catch his eye?
Meanwhile Siya and Michelle's relationship has changed after the hostage situation in his flat and Siya will be making a shocking revelation over more of the events that had transpired that night.
The Samsodiens are still struggling to accept Eben's presence in Ruiterbosch as he tries to get to know Bianca better. But is Eben really the man who he portrays himself to be?
Suidooster started on 16 November 2015 with 3 weekly episodes that got extended to 4 episodes since July 2016 and now 5 per week.
