by Thinus Ferreira
Primedia Studios with Homebrew Films and SABC2 are adding a Deal or No Deal Celebrity spin-off season on Saturdays with South African A-listers with the Saturday edition that will return to the format game show's original version featuring models holding and opening briefcases.
After the shift of Deal or No Deal South Africa from SABC1 to SABC2 from March for a second season on the public broadcaster and the fourth season overall after two seasons on M-Net, host Katlego Maboe will now do a Saturday celebrity version on SABC1 featuring actors, TV and radio presenters, socialites, comedians, sports stars, social media influencers and other movers and shakers.
The Saturday celebrity episodes will look like the special charity episodes of the first season of Deal or No Deal on SABC1, except that the format will switch to the original Deal or No Deal format where models are holding the silver briefcases and open them to reveal different amounts of money.
Deal or No Deal SA will now run on weekdays on SABC2 at 18:30 in the timeslot where the Afrikaans TV news bulletin used to be, with Deal or No Deal Celebrity airing on SABC12 on Saturdays at 18:00.
Deal or No Deal Celebrity will start on SABC1 on Saturday 9 March with the celebrity contestants who could win between R1 and R250 000. Winnings will be donated to various worthy causes.
After picking briefcases to open, models will open them to reveal the money that contestants won't get, hoping to keep the bigger amounts for last.
Besides the models' change for the Deal or No Deal Celebrity edition, the Saturday season will look different with a sleek new set design in a different colour palette from the weekday show on SABC2.
"The SABC's exciting new Deal or No Deal Celebrity spin-off
highlights the public broadcaster's mission to provide world-class
entertainment that is positive, aspirational and impactful," says Lala Tuku, the SABC's acting group executive for its video entertainment division.
"We are committed to using the power of television for the greater
good of our society. The first season of Deal or No Deal South Africa transformed
the lives of more than 250 individuals, with over R5 million won."
"Now, we're
taking it one step further. Deal or No Deal Celebrity, spawned by a
couple of top-rated special season 1 episodes featuring big-hearted celebs
playing for charity, will make a substantial difference in many underprivileged
communities."
Deal or No Deal Celebrity, like the latest season of Deal or No Deal, is also produced in Cape Town by Homebrew Films and filmed at Atlantic Studios in Milnerton.
