by Thinus Ferreira
M-Net (DStv 101) has named its year-at-the-seaside series from Red Letter Day Productions set in Simon's Town as Summertide with the 52-episode drama which will debut on the channel in January 2024.
The local production from Corné and René van Rooyen who have helmed the drama series Alles Malan, on kykNET (DStv 144) as well as the films Vaselinetjie and Moorivier – follows a widowed marine biologist with two children who relocates to Simon's Town in the Western Cape province following to start a penguin rehabilitation
centre.
Currently in development, Martin Field has two teenage children, Tristan and Lucy.
Summertide will include his parents - retired naval commander Jack and his mother Wilma - as well as his brother Gavin described as "a surfer who leads a careless life of
sleeping around and repeatedly losing jobs".
Martin also gets reacquainted with his first romantic love interest Rebecca Solomons who worked as a Michelin star chef in New York. M-Net and Red Letter Day Productions haven't yet announced any casting.
"We are incredibly excited about this new series and
the creative team involved in bringing it to life," says Waldimar Pelser, M-Net director of premium channels. "Prepare for an unforgettable
journey with an authentic family set against the picturesque backdrop of False
Bay."
Red Letter Day Productions says "We are thrilled to be introducing our Simon's Town Field family to South African audiences and take them on a highly entertaining weekly
journey where we explore the themes of family, love, and community against the
backdrop of saving the oceans in the incredible setting of False Bay."