BREAKING. Sisa Hewana wins Isidingo Talent Search competition to star as new Ace in SABC3 soapie.

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Sisa Hewana (27) from Port Elizabeth has won the nationwide Isidingo Talent Search competition and snagged the role of the new ''ex soccer player Ace'' character in the SABC3 soapie.

''I'm very excited,'' Sisa Hewana told me yesterday when I spoke with him in Port Elizabeth as he was busy packing to travel to Johannesburg on Sunday night. Today he already has to report for duty on the Isidingo set where he will immediately start working as South Africa's newest soapie actor.

Sisa Hewana got the new permanent Isidingo role after he decided to try out in the auditions with thousands of others in the countrywide search for the new character that Isidingo and SABC3 decided to do to find the perfect actor.

''I'm feeling very excited about it, and it's going to be a very big challenge and it starts immediately tomorrow,'' Sisa Hewana told me when I called him on Sunday. ''I did see the ad for the auditions but friends of mine pushed me to go and my girlfriend told me I would be good for the role,'' the financial advisor said. ''I told myself I'm going to go into it and that I'm just going to have fun.''

Sisa Hewana is staying in a hotel in Johannesburg for about a month, after which he'll find his own place.

Kabelo Collis, SABC3 spokesperson said the channel and Isidingo are excited too, when I spoke with her yesterday. ''We're very excited that we did find the raw talent we were looking for. Sisa Hewana doesn't have any form of acting training and he's never acted before. We're very excited to develop his acting skills and we wish him all the best.''

FIRST LOOK! The Isidingo Talent Search five finalists at ON!TV.

I just got this picture in from the Isidingo Talent Search that will have that one hour TV special entitled Isidingo Talent Search Special on Thursday at 21:00 on SABC3 in which viewers and the judges will get to choose the new ''Ace'' ex-soccer star character that will be joining the show. (The winner will be announced on 3Talk on Friday, 12 March on SABC3.)

Here's you're first look at the five finalists who made it from the nationwide auditions.

In front we have Solomon Ngapi (Port Elizabeth), Sisa Hewana (Port Elizabeth) and Mothusi Letlaka (Durban). In the back we have David Bule (Johannesburg) and Bonga Dlamini (wild card contestant).

SABC3 reveals plans for Isidingo Talent Search TV special.

SABC3 just revealed a little bit more information regarding the Isidingo Talent Search and the hour long TV special, entitled the Isidingo Talent Search Special.

First off I can tell you that the winner who will play the new character of Ace will be announced live on SABC3 on Friday, 12 March on 3Talk with Noeleen as well as the finalists. A day earlier, on Thursday night, 11 March at 21:00 viewers will be able to tune into the Isidingo Talent Search Special with presenter and Isidingo actor Chris Beasley who will be hosting the hour long special.

The finalists (so far it's Sisa Hewana from Port Elizabeth, Mothusi Letlaka from Durban, Solomon Ngapi from Port Elizabeth and David Bule from Johannesburg). picked from thousands across South Africa will have to perform while viewers get to vote by SMS and the panel decides. The panel of experts will be Kuli Roberts, actor Hlomba Dandala, and Isidingo's casting director and actress Karin van de Laag.

''The new character needs to last way beyond 2010 World Cup soccer.'' - Gray Hofmeyr, Isidingo creator

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I spoke to Isidingo creator Gray Hofmeyr who is part of the judging panel of the nationwide Isidingo Talent Search that concludes today in Johannesburg after they've scoured the country looking for a new actor to play an ex football star on the SABC3 soapie.

At the auditions I asked him whether the football star character was dreamed up because we are in 2010 and South Africa is hosting the World Cup Soccer tournament and if it will be a permanent character.

For Gray Hofmeyr's answers you can click on READ MORE below.

Isidingo Talent Search: ''We've seen some quite good-looking boys come through, but they can't necessarily do the gig.'' - Gray Hofmeyr.

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The nationwide Isidingo Talent Search has one more pitstop left: Johannesburg on Thursday and Friday 18 and 19 January at Atlas Studios in Milpark, and I spoke to Isidingo creator and Isidingo Talent Search judge Gray Hofmeyr.

I asked him how the process of finding the new ex-football star character for Isidingo is going so far, why they decided to do the Isidingo Talent Search and whether the number of people who showed up so far has surprised him.

Click on READ MORE below to hear what Gray Hofmeyr has to say!

FIRST LOOK! Isidingo Talent Search behind the scenes.

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This morning I spent some time with the 4 judges of the nationwide Isidingo Talent Search behind the scenes at the Cape Town auditions taking place today which I told you about first RIGHT HERE.

One of them is a female version of Simon Cowell and I loved how she spoke to the contestants! Oooh!

I have some wonderful gossip from the four judges, Tshego Monaisa, Mpotseng Lebentle, Gray Hofmeyr and Debashnie Thangevelo, some great behind the scenes photos, and more. Do you want to know who is Ms Cowell?

Click on READ MORE below to see more.

BREAKING. Isidingo Talent Search: Only black men need apply. Seriously.

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So I was first to exclusively break the news RIGHT HERE about the new Isidingo Talent Search and all the information about it and the auditions. Since then - and I'm not using hyperbole - I've been inundated with GAZILLIONS of enquiries from dear, dear readers who wanted to know more, wanted me to help them get to the auditions and just have general queries.

The biggest query by far from most readers regarding the Isidingo Talent Search, is echoed by N. Dollie who wrote me to ask: ''They say they're looking for a black male. I'm coloured. Does "black" mean anything not white? Or does it mean black as in African black?''

Well N, I asked. The Isidingo Talent Search is looking for a black man, ''as in African black'' says SABC3. Also, no women, although if this Isidingo Talent Search goes well, there might be more in the future looking for other characters.

BREAKING. Isidingo Talent Search auditions info.

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Yesterday I broke the news first and exclusively RIGHT HERE about the Isidingo Talent Search that will be looking for a new Isidingo star and now I have all the audition information first to share.

''Isidingo is looking for a new star. He is charismatic, smart, sexy and provocative. He’s the new bad boy staking his claim in Horizon Deep. If he's not breaking the rules, he's breaking hearts. If you're a black male between the ages of 25 and 35, got the talent to bring this character to life and determined to win the votes of Isidingo fans, we want to see you.''

The Isidingo Talent Search will be rolled out in 5 cities and here's the complete auditions information and where you have to be, just as I told you yesterday:

Bloemfontein, 8 Feb
SABC Offices, 08:00

Port Elizabeth, 10 Feb
SABC Offices, 08:00

Durban, 12 Feb
SABC Offices, 08:00

Cape Town, 15 Feb
SABC Offices, 08:00

Johannesburg, 18 & 19 Feb
SABC Offices, 08:00