SABC3 executives blindsided as Anele Mdoda abruptly quits Real Talk mid-season after the weekday talk show sinks in the ratings.

SABC executives have been blindsided by Anele Mdoda who decided to abrupt quit SABC3's s Real Talk mid-season, leaving the producers of the weekday talk show that's sinking in the ratings scrambling to find a possible replacement by 11 June for the 5 months remaining on the contract.

Although Real Talk with Anele is supposed to remain on-air until October, Anele Mdoda's final live on-air appearance will be next Friday 8 June with producers Cheeky Media that has no replacement and left the broadcaster's programming executives reeling.

For now SABC3 says the channel continues to support Real Talk that will have to be renamed.

There's no explanation yet for why Anele Mdoda abruptly decided to jump ship after less than two years as SABC3 talk show host. Following a sudden break in April with Azania Mosaka who filled in, Anele Mdoda says Real Talk is no longer part of her "career ambitions".

The show's ratings however tanked following huge damage to both Real Talk and Anele Mdoda's credibility, trust and brands after January's scandal in which it was revealed that payment was made for people to appear on the show, essentially turning it into an infomercial - something that was never disclosed to viewers.

The secret pay-for-play happening on Real Talk breached the SABC's editorial policies and the South African public broadcaster apologised and said it will implement changes to make sure that it doesn't happen again.

The damage to the show's credibility under viewers was however done and also reflected negatively on Anele Mdoda, who said she wasn't aware of payments being made and was just an employee. Viewers immediately started to tune out.

Despite a later timeslot move since February to 18:00 on weekdays when a larger potential viewing audience is available, Real Talk's viewership tanked.

While Real Talk still pulled a low 441 795 viewers for its most watched episode in January to claim the 13th place on SABC3's Top 20 most watched list for that month, the sinking show completely dropped out of the Top 20 list in the months since.

In a statement Anele Mdoda says "I feel, for my own growth, it is time to leave the show and to focus on my career ambitions and prospects. I would like to thank SABC3, the viewers and everyone behind the show for the opportunity they afforded me through the show."

With barely a week to find a replacement and scrambling to find a new face, executive producers Janez Vermeiren and Yusuf Stevens say "we are excited to launch the new face of Real Talk which will officially be announced in the near future."

"Anele has been an integral part of the show and an ideal personality for brand SABC3," says SABC3 channel head Aisha Mohamed, who says the channel for now will continue to support the show.

BREAKING. SABC admits scandalous Bathabile Dlamini pay-for-play interview on Real Talk on SABC3 contravened its editorial code, Anele Mdoda and Cheeky Media 'acted based on SABC's instructions'.

The SABC on Friday admitted that the South African public broadcaster contravened its own editorial policy with a scandalous pay-for-play interview for a politician - the minister of social development Bathabile Dlamini - on Real Talk with Anele on SABC3 and said the lapses were due to its policy not being properly "integrated" at the broadcaster's entertainment division.

The SABC said it would no longer be invoicing the social development department for R149 000.

The SABC didn't specify who is being held accountable and who would be fired, suspended or receive disciplinary warnings.

The SABC did say that talk show host Anele Mdoda and the production company of Real Talk with Anele, Cheeky Media and the executive producers of the show Yusuf Stevens and Janez Vermeiren, "acted based on SABC's instructions".

The SABC in a statement confirmed that the SABC board had met over the growing scandal that has seriously damaged the SABC's credibility, and admitted that "the SABC did not comply with its own editorial policies on sponsorship of programmes, which requires that the sponsor's association with the programme has to be stated clearly, both before and after the programme".

"In this case, this was not done," the SABC said.

The SABC said that "the SABC does not charge for interviews, and this was a breach of organisational practice", and that "there has been a breakdown in internal controls and processes in this specific instance".

In order to ensure that this does not happen again, the SABC says that "as part of the current SABC editorial policy review, we will ensure that any grey areas with respect to sponsorship of programming are clarified and strengthened".

"Secondly the board news and editorial committee has instructed management to immediately look at strengthening upward referrals, and ensure that measures are taken that staff across different genres, including entertainment, are well-versed and compliant with editorial policies and Icasa regulations".

"Thirdly, management will inform GCIS that the SABC will not be invoicing for the R149 000, which was to be paid for the interview".

"The SABC takes full responsibility for these lapses and breaches in editorial control and wishes to communicate that the presenter and production company of Real Talk with Anele acted based on the SABC's instructions".

"The SABC is conducting an ongoing review to ensure that our policies are complied with across the organisation. We are committed to cooperating with regulatory and other bodies to ensure that we remain complaint," says the SABC.

"The SABC remains committed to restoring the integrity of the public broadcaster and all its services, and will continue to act where there are breaches".

The SABC says the "lapses" were "as a result of our editorial policies not being sufficiently integrated in our entertainment division and that the breaches were not intentional. As stated, we will ensure that standards are lifted across divisions".

"The SABC News and current affairs division was in no way involved in this matter. We assure the public that our news and current affairs division adheres to our policy of journalistic integrity and editorial independence".

ALSO READ: After pay-for-play scandal, here what Anele Mdoda needs to do right now to save her show.

INTERVIEW. Siv Ngesi on M-Net's Wingin It, traveling the world, dealing with jetlag, what he's learnt - and yes - those bum pics.

Sivuyile Ngesi is South African television's undisputed Energiser bunny - a TV presenter with a six pack and unrivaled energy that sees him going, going and going.

Besides his island adventures in the Seychelles in the 7th season of Tropika Island of Treasure that just concluded on TV screens, Siv Ngesi is also one half of the intrepid and hilariously funny bro-bro traveling duo in the Wingin' It travel show with Janez Vermeiren on M-Net (DStv 101).

I spoke with Siv Ngesi who shared more about his Wingin' It traveling experiences,  his bum pics, his "bromance" with Janez, how the show changed his perspective, the authenticity the cameras captured and why he now feel just a little bit lonely.

What has been one of the best experiences of doing Wingin' It?
Siv Ngesi: Going to Cuba was just an unbelievable experience, just being able to go to a city that literally looks like its from 1959 - the cars, the people, the mindset.
I wasn't ready and it was just a mind-blowing experience to experience how they're literally from 1959 - everything looks exactly how it was before.

What did you learn from Janez Vermeiren as your co-presenter as you both traveled the world?
Siv Ngesi: One thing I've learnt is that Janez is a lot more social than me. I'm quite a personal kind of a person, I like my own space.
So I've learnt to socialise a lot more. No. Not socialise. To try and socialise a lot more. And to try and to learn as much information about a city as possible. I'm a lot more about the experience and the people. So I think putting the two of us together for Wingin' It really was a great mix.

And what didn't you like?
Siv Ngesi: I love travelling. What I hate is the travelling. I wish I could just get to the destination without flying.

What travel tip do you have for viewers?
Siv Ngesi: Never forget your passport, your smile, your self-respect, an open mind and a toothbrush.

I'm wondering how did you deal with the jetlag, you went and filmed in so many places in a very short space of time?
Siv Ngesi: We sleep on the plane, we juggled it very well on our watches. We're very good at going: "Okay I need to sleep now, I need to sleep that way." Your body knows what you need and adapts.

How would you say Wingin' It is different from the other TV you've done before?
Siv Ngesi: I would as modest as possible say this is one of South African television's best shows I've ever seen; one of South African television's best shows I've ever been part of.
Janez and I are genuine friends; genuine brothers, who both genuinely love travel; who even if the cameras weren't there, would still be doing the exact same things we're doing on camera.
So the authenticity is real.

And the bum pics?
Siv Ngesi: Wherever I go in the world, I try and take a bum pic somewhere. And Janez and I started doing it and it actually started becoming popular online, so we just carried on doing it.

You've been well-traveled before you started doing Wingin' It, but how did doing this show further broaden your own perspective about life and people and the world?
Siv Ngesi: The experience of Wingin' It is more travelling than most humans do in such a short period of time - so having to adapt to so many cultures in such a short time.
I can see everyone in the crew has become better humans, better versions of themselves. For instance Janez is talking about things that he's never talked about before Wingin' It started.

Even me - there's certain things that I'm open-minded to that I wasn't open-minded to before. I didn't care about history and because I went to places that's very history-related, Janez got me into the history of a city.
The conversation we had about South Africa made me love South Africa even more. It's made me have a great perspective of the world.

Impulsive is probably the wrong word, but watching Wingin' It, you're almost the one who pushes to try the new things and Janez seems a little bit more the reserved one. Did that play off of each other just grow and develop organically?
Siv Ngesi: Janez and I are very, very very, very, very adventurous. Janez and I are very competitive with each other, so everything formulated very naturally.

I don't think Wingin' It the way we're doing it would work out with anyone else. If Janez couldn't do it, I wouldn't be able to do it with anyone else, and vice versa. The show works because of the people we are, the dynamics we have. You could have put us a public toilet and we would have found a way to compete to see who can pee the longest!

You obviously don't just do this, you're very much a multimedia-man. How much planning had to go into given the time away and travelling and your other media commitments and diary?
Siv Ngesi: Wingin' It became my wife. If it was time to go, we went.
For the last six months Wingin' It really owned my life. I have come back home now and I feel that life has just moved on past me, you know what I mean? Like people have moved on. And it seems a bit lonely without the travel, you know what I mean?
I went six months with having Janez and the crew with me every single moment of my life and now I have just me.

When you said yes to do Wingin' It on M-Net, what was you preconceived notion of what it would be, and what of that became true, and not?
Siv Ngesi: To be honest, I never thought travelling would be so tiring. I've done a lot of travelling, I've always traveled and rested you know?

Travelling is tiring. I think because I've traveled so much, Janez and I easily adapted to the experience. I don't think anyone can just do what we did. We did crazy things but it was really tiring and there were moments where you didn't want to do anything but you had to do something.
So when people always talk about "opening up the industry" I feel like telling people "come travel for 6 months and see if you can really do it".
Everything else was just the most amazing experience of my life. I'm still trying to reminisce and trying to think back on this great experience that was just utterly amazing.


Wingin' It is on Sundays on M-Net (DStv 101) at 17:00, repeated Mondays 15:30, Tuesdays 15:00.

Janez Vermeiren and Siv Ngesi co-presenting new M-Net travel show, Wingin' It, from 29 January; produced by Cheeky Media.

Janez Vermeiren and Siv Ngesi will co-present a new locally-made travel show, Wingin' It, produced by Vermeiren's production company Cheeky Media for M-Net, in which the two who are friends in real life, jet-set across the world to exotic locations without a pre-planned itinerary.

Wingin' It will start on M-Net (DStv 101) on Sunday 29 January at 17:00, spending 48 hours in places ranging from Baku, Ho Chi Minh City, Bogota, La Paz and Kathmandu to lesser-seen sides of Istanbul, Bangkok, Tokyo, Mexico City, Havana and Reunion Island.

I'm told there's 12 30-minute episodes of Wingin' It, with Janez Vermeiren and Siv Ngesi travelling together and both appearing in each episode.

As one of the most well-travelled South African TV presenters of the past decade, Janez Vermeiren, together with Siv Ngesi, have been visiting some far-flung international destinations the past few weeks - especially Asia and Southeast Asia - the social media snaps of which some media over the past month interpreted as the two being on vacation.

It's the first TV production from Janez Vermeiren's Cheeky Media for M-Net, and will be the first time that the double-dipper producer and presenter will be fronting as an M-Net face after he's been known to SABC audiences for years.

After leaving SABC3's Top Billing two and a half years ago in mid-2014 after he also co-presented three seasons of the spin-off travel show, Top Travel, Janez Vermeiren produced and appeared in the Edgars advertiser-funded production (AFP) She’s the One reality show for e.tv.

That was followed by a flurry of shows that Cheeky Media - co-owned by Janez Vermeiren and Yusuf Stevens - did for SABC3 that included five seasons of The Man Cave that Janez Vermeiren co-presented with Siv Ngesi and Lunga Shabalala, and the ongoing weekday afternoon talker Real Talk with Anele Mdoda.

As part of its now depleted budget to up its local content ratio to 80% on SABC3, the SABC this year also commissioned Cheeky Media to do the local travel show Biting About with Dene Botha and Bridget Pike, the Johannesburg restaurants review show Biting About that Janez Vermeiren co-presented with Amanda du-Pont, and Jou Ma se Chef presented by Siv Ngesi.

Siv Ngesi who had previously appeared on M-Net's 2010 local soccer drama League of Glory, and Mzansi Magic's S.I.E.S, became very good friends with Janez Vermeiren during the production of Man Cave over the past two years.

M-Net describes Wingin' It as "a fast-paced plunge into the world's most fascinating and eclectic destinations seen through the eyes of two diverse and intrisically competitive best buddies".

"These heartthrobs certainly don't visit the world's run-of-the-mill travel brochure type of hot spots and tourist attractions," says Lani Lombard, M-Net's head of publicity.

"They land in cities you might never have thought of exploring, or even heard of, but which may just, after you've seen their mischievous adventures, end up on your bucket list. It's a great fun-filled show that will put a smile on your face - and awaken the explorer in you".

Other January local programming highlights on M-Net include the start of the second season of Sarah Graham's Food Safari on Monday 9 January at 18:00, and the second season of The Voice South Africa starting on Sunday 29 January at 17:30.

The 101 starting on Sunday 29 January at 16:30 will be a new weekly "TV guide show" to help viewers find new programmes and be informed about schedule changes across M-Net's channels on DStv.

SHOCKER. SABC3 entire new local content slate a TV ratings flop; ratings collapse in July as not a single new local programme finds favour with viewers.

The SABC's disastrous move to suddenly dump international content and flush the SABC3 schedule with cheap and badly produced local content from July has seen SABC3's ratings collapse, with viewership for all the new shows so low that not a single one of the new programmes managed to even make last month's top 20 most watched shows.

After an abrupt order for his plan of 90% local television by the SABC's controversial chief operating officer (COO) Hlaudi Motsoeneng that was hastily implemented in July, the plunging ratings for SABC3 spells disaster for August and beyond since some foreign films and the weekday soap Days of Our Lives that were still shown in July, largely propped up the SABC3 schedule for July.


ALSO READ: Viewership plunge for SABC shows in July after schedule moves; SABC2's 7de Laan sheds hundreds of thousands.


Not a single one of the flurry of new local shows on SABC3 rushed to production managed to become a viewership hit, nor got enough viewers to rate anywhere close to the top 20 most watched programmes on the channel in July.

Despite collectively costing the SABC a lot of money to produce, all the new local SABC3 shows are viewership flops according to South Africa's TAMS TV ratings.

With too low viewership to make the top 20, the local SABC3 TV flops range from the panned Divas of Jozi (replacing Survivor), Top Chef South Africa, The Sober Companion, Fun-Natix and Frontier Vets, to the new local weekday talk shows like Anele Mdoda's Real Talk, Jason Goliath's Larger Than Life and the panel talk show Trending.

Also viewership failures are Siv Ngesi's Jou Ma se Chef and the new weekend edition of Expresso.

The Janez Vermeiren produced The Man Cave eaked out a barely-there 20th spot in the ratings for July with a lowly 597 635 viewers (a 1.8 AR) - but that was for the last time it was broadcast in its Sunday evening slot before again being shunted yet again for a third time to its new timeslot on Friday nights where it doesn't rate at all.

Shockingly, existing local shows on SABC3 like the telenovela High Rollers that's meant to prop up the weekday schedule that ranked 10th in June, completely dropped out of the top 20.

The fact that not one of the new SABC3 local shows rate - meaning that very few viewers are watching these - means that the troubled SABC3 must adjust advertising rates for timeslots down due to the fewer viewers it's getting. That means less income.

By having replaced popular shows with local shows that has lower production values, higher income TV households - those that advertisers want to reach - have fled SABC3.

It also means that SABC3's overall ratings - it's combined audience figures for August - will be lower, a problem for SABC3 that is already struggling in the viewership race as the SABC's only commercial TV channel.

When the top 20 programmes list, now made up out of less of the more-watched international content, consists out of more lower-rated local shows that people don't want to see, it means that SABC3's combined viewership tally will be lower in August.

In early July ad agencies warned the SABC that the public broadcaster is going to experience huge losses in terms of advertising revenue if the sudden new slate of programmes don't manage to lure viewers and rate.

The American soap The Bold and the Beautiful - the type of content that Hlaudi Motsoeneng said the SABC will dump - is still by far the most watched programme on SABC3, number one in the channel's ratings in July with 1.55 million viewers (4.6 AR / 16.9 share).

It's followed by the Chinese science fiction comedy film, CJ7 in second place with 1.2 million viewers (3.6 AR / 12.2 share) and then the weekday local soap Isidingo remaining in 3rd place with 1.17 million viewers (3.5 AR / 10.1 share).

While Hlaudi Motsoeneng in June and again in July said that viewers don't watch Days of Our Lives, it remained a perennial solid performer in July for SABC until it was yanked from the schedule, with 1.07 million viewers in 7th place (3.2 AR / 17 share).

International movies in July helped to prop up the SABC3 schedule with Jinxed, A Knight's Tale, Click, The Sorcerer's Apprentice, Spanglish and Fired Up taking six places out of the top 20 most watched content on the channel above any of the new local shows.

One better performer on the SABC3 schedule after moved to a later afternoon timeslot from July was Afternoon Express, now ranking 13th and managing a place in the top 20 for the first time.

Here is the list of top 20 highest-rated programmes on SABC3 in July:

1.The Bold and the Beautiful   1.55 million       4.6 AR
2.CJ7                                        1.2 million         3.6 AR
3.Isidingo                                 1.17 million       3.5 AR
4.Jinxed                                    1.14 million       3.4 AR
5.Filler: Winter on Air              1.145 million    3.4 AR
6.Gourmet                                 1.142 million    3.3 AR
7.Days of Our Lives                 1.078 million     3.2 AR      
8.Places to Be                           1.071 million     3.2 AR
9.Places to Be (repeat)              976 406             2.9 AR
10.English news                        876 992             2.6 AR
11.Wildest Africa                      827 848            2.5 AR
12.A Knight's Tale                    820 983             2.4 AR
13.Afternoon Express               731 290             2.2 AR
14.Click                                     679 119             2 AR
15.The Sorcerer's Apprentice    675 510            2 AR
16.Spanglish                              633 039            1.9 AR
17.Top Billing                           621 536             1.8 AR
18.Fired Up                               612 356             1,8 AR
19.Filler                                     604 805            1.8 AR
20.The Man Cave                      597635             1.8 AR


ALSO READ: Viewership plunge for SABC shows in July after schedule moves; SABC2's 7de Laan sheds hundreds of thousands.

The Man Cave with Janez Vermeiren and Lunga Shabalala returns to SABC3 for a 4th season from 10 April on Sundays at 18:00.

The local magazine show The Man Cave is returning to SABC3 on 10 April in the new timeslot of Sundays at 18:00 as part of SABC3's new weekend timeslot targeting male viewers.

The new 4th season will include presenters Janez Vermeiren, Lunga Shabalala and Siv Ngesi taking a trip to Vietnam and Bangkok.

In a press release, The Man Cave says the three will move into a "sleek and stylish multi-million rand Man Cave all of their own" - presumably at insurance magnate Douw Steyn's Steyn City alluded to in the new season's publicity images.

"Don't be fooled though, there will be plenty of manly challenges along the way," says the show, "like getting their combat on in the quest to gain their Muay Thai certificates and indulging in fine Eastern delicacies" like  bats, scorpions and snakes.

The Man Cave says "the new season promises a suave, more refined experience but with the same healthy dose of adrenaline viewers have come to expect from the boys".

SABC2 fined R15 000 for showing 18SNVL movie; BCCSA slams e.tv and She's the One for putting the safety of vulnerable children at risk.

SABC2 was fined R15 000 after the public broadcaster's channel was found guilty of showing an 18SNVL movie during family time or before the so-called "watershed" time period.

Meanwhile e.tv and its Edgars advertiser-funded production (AFP), She’s the One also got rapped over the knuckles by the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa (BCCSA) for showing the faces and identifying

The BCCSA fined SABC2 R15 000 for showing the film Dead Fall for what it called a "serious contravention" by the SABC of South Africa's broadcasting code.

The SABC admitted that it knew it isn't supposed to broadcast such a film on a Saturday night at 20:30 during what is still known as the family viewing time period or before the so-called "watershed" time of 21:00 after which more risque TV programming is allowed.

SABC2 blamed the scheduling on a "new and inexperienced employee" and told the BCCSA that management "both in respect of training and day-to-day supervision of the employee had been lacking".

The SABC must pay the R15 000 before the end of December.

e.tv put safety of children at risk

Meanwhile e.tv and its Edgars She’s the One reality competition show produced by Janez Vermeiren's Cheeky Media production company was also reprimanded by the BCCSA following viewer complaints for not protecting the privacy of children.

An episode showed the faces of children at the Berea-Hillbrow Home of Hope where children in need of care and protection are being looked after.

E.tv denied that the children's identities were disclosed by She’s the One although the programme and channel showed their faces. The BCCSA ruled that merely showing their faces is sufficient identification and place them at risk.

According to the Children's Act of 2005, by showing the faces of children they could be placed at risk since some were the subjects of human trafficking and the victims of sexual exploitation and were removed from people who could possibly find out where a child is being kept now.

A lecturer in the department of social work at the University of the Witwatersrand complained about She’s the One and said that showing children’s faces on camera is "a huge child protection issue in terms of the safety risk of the children".

"Since some of the children have been removed from abusive homes and in some cases the perpetrator do not know the whereabouts of the the children, the faces of underage children [should not] be on national television".

The BCCSA said in its judgment that "it would not need a Sherlock Holmes to trace the address of this home and for any evil-minded person to abduct a child from this home. By showing the faces of the children, we are convinced that their safety and well-being were being put at risk".

e.tv wasn't fined for the transgression but got a reprimand.

Expresso presenter Ewan Strydom a dad again of second son Dominic; 'we were instantly smitten and can't wait to take him home with us'.

Expresso breakfast show presenter Ewan Strydom became a dad again this morning for the second time with the birth of his son Dominic in Cape Town.

Ewan Strydom and wife Adrienn who already have a 2-year old son Kean, welcomed their second child, a boy, this morning at 7:50 at the Panorama Mediclinic hospital through caesarean.

"We are absolutely ecstatic!" says Ewan Strydom. "As soon as baby Dominic made his appearance, we experienced first-hand how elastic love can be. We were instantly smitten and can't wait to take him home with us so we can all spend quality time together as a family".

Newborn Dominic weighed in at 2,87kg at birth and 47cm. Ewan Strydom was by his wife's side in the delivery room and says his wife and Dominic are "doing well" and enjoying their first few hours bonding with their new son.

"He is safe and sound in this world and he is gorgeous. We can't keep our eyes off him and we are thrilled that he is finally here with us."

"The deliver process was so effortless. The staff and doctors at Panorama Mediclinic were absolutely incredible and so professional. We are truly lucky and blessed that baby and Adrienn are both in good health".

Ewan Strydom however might have to return to the hospital soon. Who knows?

He is currently training for an upcoming celebrity boxing match in aid of charity to be held in Cape Town on 4 July. Ewan Strydom will be facing off against TV hunk Janez Vermeiren.

BREAKING. Another SABC3 schedule shake-up: channel rejigs primetime yet again from June as High Rollers is turned into a telenovela.

Yet another dramatic schedule shake-up is coming to the SABC's problem child channel, SABC3, to try and boost ratings for the public broadcaster's only commercial TV channel.

From June programming currently seen at 19:30 is moving half an hour later, while shows like stalwart Top Billing moves earlier. The former hour long drama High Rollers is also returning but is now being turned into a three day a week telenovela at 19:30, with half hour episodes set for Mondays to Wednesdays from 29 June.

SABC3's ratings has remained under pressure and several dramatic schedule changes the past two years have failed to move the viewership needle significantly.

June will see an influx of several new shows on SABC3 - the 8th season of Strictly Come Dancing South Africa, a 2nd season of the comedy Those Who Can't and a new season of the reality show Charly's Cake Angels.

The Cape Town based reality show produced by Cooked in Africa and set in the famous Charly's Bakery saw a first season in a bad afternoon timeslot after which a second season was shown on DStv's Food Network.

Charly's Cake Angels, which got critical praise, has been added back to the schedule and will now be moved to primetime at 21:00 on SABC3 from 18 June for a new season.

Meanwhile American dramas currently at 19:30 will move to 20:30 like the Monday comedies and series like Common Law, The Good Wife and Hostages.

The 21st season of The Amazing Race will start on SABC3 on 6 July at 20:30.

The 8th season of Strictly Come Dancing SA, produced by Rapid Blue, will start on 5 June at 19:30. The dance reality format show will no longer have an additional eviction show on Saturdays but will now eliminate contestants on the Friday programme to try and lift ratings, keep social media abuzz and viewers tuned in for longer as event television.

From 18 June the Tswelopele Productions produced Top Billing which has weathered many channel and timeslot changes over decades is moving yet again (God bless) to 19:30.

It will be followed by the second season of Man Cave, the Janez Vermeiren produced Cheeky Media magazine show geared towards a young male audience and which will see comedian Siv Ngesi joining the existing Lunga Shabalala and Janez Vermeiren as presenters.

The gambling drama High Rollers is turned into a telenovela as SABC3 jumps on the Uzalo, Ashes to Ashes and Isibaya local telenovela bandwagon.

The former hour long drama will be broadcast three times a week at 19:30 and cut down to half hour episodes like a soapie, revolving around three "brothers" - casino kingpin David, his flawed older brother Paul, and David's right-hand man Thato Mogale.

High Rollers will get a mid-morning repeat on SABC3 at 10:30

The local comedy set in the staff room of an elite private school, Those Who Can't will return for a second season on 29 June at 20:00.

While a woman would have been added to SABC3's recently launched new weekday afternoon variety magazine and talk show Afternoon Express which got a lukewarm reception from viewers and critics, it now looks as if one of the male contestants of the Presenter Search on 3 will be added to the trio of Bonang Matheba, Jeannie D and Bonnie Mbuli to try and lift ratings.

Two other contestants of the Presenter Search on 3 will join SABC3's breakfast show Expresso and Top Billing respectively.

Janez Vermeiren on his brand-new magazine show, The Man Cave, on SABC3: 'For the first time I can be myself. Be exactly who I am'.

The Man Cave, a brand-new local magazine show starting tonight on SABC3 at 20:00 marks the TV move of Janez Vermeiren from on-air talent (which he will remain) to a position behind the camera, as the beloved (and yes, often shirtless) Top Billing presenter moves to a role behind the lens as TV producer.

The Man Cave is the first TV offering from Janez Vermeiren's new TV production company Cheeky Media.

His new TV production venture is however also working on other TV shows in development: Tongue in Cheek, a local type of TV talk show similar to American TV talk show The Talk; another comedy type talk show, and he's also developing a travel and adventure TV series.

It's The Man Cave that will debut first however tonight on SABC3 with a 13 episode first season which Janez Vermeiren tells TV with Thinus, he hopes to see become a full TV series with many further future seasons.

The Man Cave will deliver a weekly dose of testosterone-driven content to men seeking a hefty helping of adventure. It will also give women the opportunity to try and understand what makes men tick.

Janez Vermeiren is not just working behind the scenes as executive producer on this high-gloss GQ-but-on-television type show, but is also co-presenting with Lunga Shabalala to help find answers to who the modern South African man is, and what he is about.

Janez Vermeiren whose son Matisse is already 9 years old, is waiting with baited breath for the birth of his second son with fiancee Juliana Vasconcelos.

"For the first time it's my show, so for the first time I can actually be myself. Be exactly who I am," Janez Vermeiren tells TV with Thinus.

"It's everything that men are interested in, are in to, want to know, and what women also want to know of them, and what men want to know about women".

"It's about cars, it's about adventure travel, it's about hanging out with successful women in the country, delving into the female psyche, it's about man food, it's about man fitness".

"The Man Cave is about everything that men love to do and know about, and also that women like to watch," says Janez Vermeiren.

Asked how much his shirt will be off, he says "over the years people have asked me so often how do I get into shape, what is my workout routine".

"So yes, there will be quite a bit of shirtless Janez. There will probably be even more shirtless Lunga Shabalala because he is in better shape than what I am to tell you the truth," he chuckles.

"It will be a shirtless Janez but for a reason. We're showcasing exactly how we get into shape, and the workouts we do to achieve it," says Janez Vermeiren.

About Lunga Shabalala who was chosen as his co-presenter he says "I know who I am and what I'm all about. And I'm leaning towards the older side these days. I was looking for a young South African guy who epitomises everything that a young South African male should aspire to".

"And the first guy that came to mind was Lunga Shabalala. He's a man's man. He's fit. He's good looking. He's intelligent. He's very witty. He's got a great personality"

"So we were very fortunate. The moment I thought of a co-host, he was the first guy who came to mind, and literally I called him, I told him all about it, and he agreed within minutes," says Janez Vermeiren.

Asked about how the journey and transition has been so far being and becoming more involved as a TV producer behind the scenes, Janez Vermeiren says that "it's something that I've always wanted to do".

"I've always wanted to do things - I wouldn't say better - but I know after so many years of being on television, what works and what doesn't work. So for the first time I can actually lead a show in a way that I want to without being guided by someone else. So it's been a fantastic experience".

"This move I've made away from Top Billing is probably the best move I've ever done," he says.

About his babba to be born imminently Janez Vermeiren says he's "so nervous".

"I'm shooting the show and my fiancee's in Cape Town. The moment I get that call I will be back in Cape Town".

"The Man Cave is not just a 13 episode series. We're going to continue this. I'd like it to eventually become an hour long show".

"I'd like it to become the guide book for what men need to know about men, and what women need to know about men. I want The Man Cave to be a reference for all men and all women," says Janez Vermeiren.

"I can guarantee you that I've put my heart and my soul into this soul," he says.

"What excites me the most is that on Top Billing I always had to be this guy that was single and sexy and I was never allowed to showcase my family life and my girlfriend. This time round I am who I am.What you see is what you see".

"I incorporate my son into the story. I'm going to speak about fatherhood".

"So for the first time I'm going to open up my real life and show them this is the real Janez. And the same for Lunga. He's not pretending to be something or someone - what you see is who he really is."

The Man Cave is on SABC3 on Wednesdays at 20:00

SABC3's Top Billing and Janez Vermeiren not at loggerheads as TV presenter starts his own production company.

SABC3's magazine show Top Billing and its one presenter Janez Vermeiren are not at loggerheads, with Janez Vermeiren who will continue to work and appear on South Africa's premier weekly entertainment magazine show, although he has started his own TV production company.

Janez Vermeiren will continue to appear in inserts on the longrunning and popular magazine show produced by Tswelopele Productions, but the presenter - often appearing shirtless and once again snagging the title of sexiest male TV presenter in South Africa - has started his own production company, CheekyMedia in which he is a co-owner, following his existing Full Circle Model Management company.

"Everyone is free to grow - this is his choice as a growth path - and we as Tswelopele wish him everything of the best with his new venture," Patience Stevens, who started Tswelopele Productions with Basetsana Kumalo and who is also co-executive producer of Top Billing tells TV with Thinus.

"Janez has started his own production company and is working on his new shows. This does not affect his position as a presenter on Top Billing," Patience Stevens tells me.

"Janez has worked on Top Billing for many years,and got his big break as a presenter on Top Billing because Basetsana and myself recognised his talent and potential - and motivated for him to become a part of the show".

"We have a very good relationship - and are still booking him as often as we can to work on Top Billing, but he does not have as much time as he had before, because he is focusing on his own business," says Patience Stevens.

"I've got huge respect for Patience Stevens as a TV producer," Janez Vermeiren tells TV with Thinus.

"I have started a production company, CheekyMedia, working on shows - I'm not going to say how many because it is a competitive industry," Janez Vermeiren tells me.

"Shows will be launching from my own production company that I've started in conjunction with Yusuf Stevens, he used to be a production manager on Top Billing, and we've got another business partner from Johannesburg."

Janez Vermeiren says he decided to start his own production company "because I've built up so many connections within the industry and because I'm passionate about the TV industry".

"I've learnt a lot from Patience Stevens. I've learnt a lot from a lot of people".

"Also, I was given a lot of freedom to express myself through Top Billing and Top Travel. I'm a business man, I've started my own modelling agency, built it into a success, and now I want to do the same with this TV production company".

"We've got many shows - all non-compete with Top Billing - so it's got nothing to do with Top Billing".

"It's all fresh, new concepts which have never been seen on South African television, they're creative concepts that we've came up with and we're basically producing them," says Janez Vermeiren.

About the show where he started out appearing in do-it-yourself inserts and quickly flourished to become one of the most-liked faces on South African television and a mainstay on the local celebrity circuit, Janez Vermeiren says "as long as Patience Stevens still wants me on Top Billing, I'm more than willing to do it".

"Obviously I can't do it as much as I would like to do it, because there is only so many hours in a day, but I'd like to continue doing it".

"At the end of the day its just me, growing as an individual I guess. I'm just growing myself," says Janez Vermeiren.

TV production travelling and packing for Top Travel and Top Billing not so glamorous at all, presenter Jeannie D explains.

The post-edit glamarama look is sumptuous glamour television personified, but the constant behind-the-scenes travel drama on South African shows with a heavy international showcasing element such as Top Billing and Top Travel is anything but.

The never-ending travel arrangements, travelling, packing, and lugging around of suitcases for short periods of times between international airports, connecting flights and cities all over the world is anything but glamorous for the production crews and presenters of shows such as Top Travel and Top Billing on SABC3.

Top Travel presenter Jeannie D said on Wednesday evening's Top Travel episode what viewers already know, that "Top Billing and Top Travel always look incredibly glamorous. In reality we travel with quite a hefty team of four people. Our luggage is a monstrosity."

"Twelve pieces of luggage. That's a lot. That's the reality. That's how we actually travel from place to place," said Janez Vermeiren.

"It really isn't easy to travel, not at the best of times. But to travel as a production team is very, very difficult," he said.

ALSO READ: Just get married already already - Janez Vermeiren and Jeannie D: South African television's most lovey-dovey on-screen couple.

JUST GET MARRIED ALREADY. Janez Vermeiren and Jeannie D - South African television's most lovey-dovey on-screen couple.

They're not married (yet) (or to each other) - but they probably should be: the Top Billing and Top Travel presenters Janez Vermeiren and Jeannie D  on SABC3.

The two jetsetting telenalities are not romantically linked (despite ongoing rumours over years) but they take every opportunity to smooch it up and hug it out with longing romantic looks and gazes when the cameras are rolling.

All the soft touches, the playful interactions, the canoodling, they eye-to-eye contact which makes them break out in smiles - yes ... it's nothing but true love, baby.

There's a certain way that happy people, romantically in love with each other, walking along the beach at sunset, look at each other - and any behavioural psychologist will instantly show you that Janez Vermeiren and Jeannie D are looking at each other in that way.

All these glances, longing, loving looks and kissing are from just one Top Travel episode on Wednesday evening on SABC3.

ALSO READ: Production travelling and packing for Top Travel and Top Billing not so glamorous at all, presenter Jeannie D explains.

Why an almost naked Janez Vermeiren of Top Travel ran through the streets of Stockholm in just underwear.

Janez Vermeiren, presenter of the second season of Top Travel currently on SABC3, ran through the streets of Stockholm in Sweden in just underwear, showing that the producers of Tswelopele Productions are definitely not beyond making their presenters go near-naked if it's going to help goose the ratings.

Visiting Stockholm for an episode of the second season of Top Travel, Janez Vermeiren who is also a Top Billing presenter produced by the same production company, paid the Bjorn Borg underwear store in the heart of the Swedish city a visit.

He decided to take to the streets of Stockholm in his tighties and green Bjorn Borg socks, as a play on a Swedish underwear TV commercial in which models do the same.

"Mine was a different take on their campaign," said Janez Vermeiren. "You've always got to be an individual. People were actually quite cool with it. I had a couple of glances. A couple of old ladies: 'What is he doing?' but most people were just: 'Ah there's a guy running around in his boxer shorts. Whatever. Cool."

"If you had to do that Cape Town ... a different story."

Top Travel on SABC3 back in production with Janez Vermeiren and Jeannie D for another new season of the global travelogue show.

Top Travel, the global travelogue show from Tswelopele Productions, is back in production for another new season with Top Billing presenters Jeannie D and Janez Vermeiren, I can now confirm.

I was slipped gossip two month ago from sources that Top Travel will return for a new season but SABC3 and everybody else was tight-lipped as the arduous visa applications, shooting logistics and the most arduous task of all - packing those overnights - once again geared up.

Top Travel which sees the presenters visit exotic locales across the glove has had two seasons on SABC3 so far in 2008 and 2009; the show was also sold and shown to the Travel Channel on DStv.

Top Billing presenters Janez and Jeannie D go shirtless (we'll sortof) as they bare their bods in support of the Boks.

SABC3's Top Billing presenters Janez Vermeiren and Jeannie D have both gone shirtless (sortof): Janez Vermeiren hardly ever wears a shirt so he's already been shirtless, and Jeannie D covers the D's with a bikini top.

Janez Vermeiren and Jeannie D are two of the local South African telenalities tossing the tops in a new marketing campaign awaiting the reveal on 12 April of the new Sprinbok jersey.

The two well-known television faces are part of the group "pledging" to go shirtless on so-called "Bokdays" until the new rugby jersey is revealed.

The half-naked Top Billing duo - often mocked for supposedly being a "real-life" romantic couple (although they're not) - did a little self-referential video in which they joke about the amount of skin often on display in their weekly glamarama lifestyle show.

A bare-chested Janez Vermeiren and a bikini clad Jeannie D are sitting on a couch doing a piece to camera in support of the Boks.

"In support of the boys in green and gold, we pledge to go shirtless on Bokdays until we get our new jersey," says Janez Vermeiren.

"But Janez ... you go shirtless most days," says a mockingly perplexed Jeannie D.

South Africans are now asked to go "tastefully" shirtless on Bokdays "in a place where being shirtless is unexpected".

JOKES. Top Billing's Janez Vermeiren on Jonathan Boynton-Lee: 'I'm bringing my A game. I have some competition now!'

The Top Billing presenter Janez Vermeiren who's been absent from viewers' TV screens on SABC3 the last few weeks while the limited-run My Top Billing Dream reality show ran with Jonathan Boynton-Lee (left) who won last night, had some choice words when I spoke with him last night: "I have some competition now!"

Janez Vermeiren told me that he's back doing Top Billing inserts "and I'm bringing my A game". "I'm back fully into it, I have to - I've got some competition now!"

It was a little joke of course, Janez Vermeiren told me he's been back at work "since last week. I had a little holiday for 7 weeks while this was going on."

The truth is that Janez Vermeiren had very nice things to say about Jonathan Boynton-Lee as the newest addition to the Top Billing presenters' team.

"You can see in his eyes that he's the kind of guy who wears his heart on his sleeve. He's not scared to be himself. He's not trying to copy anyone or trying to act like any of the other presenters. He allows his own personality to shine through and I think that's the most important thing about being a Top Billing presenter - you want to express emotion and show how you are feeling."


ALSO READ: What the Top Billing producers and Top Billing on-air talent have to say about Jonathan Boynton-Lee.
ALSO READ: Interview: Jonathan Boynton-Lee breaking up with his girlfriend, what winning means, and what he's looking forward to the most after winning the My Top Billing Dream.

ADVICE. Janez Vermeiren on what he looks for in contestants for My Top Billing Dream: 'Be natural, don't copy any of the current presenters.'

Janez Vermeiren, the globe-trotting and engaged Top Billing presenter (who sometimes actually does wear a shirt like last night when I ran into him at the Cosmo Jeans party) has some advice for the contestants of the brand-new My Top Billing Dream presenter search: be yourself!

Janez Vermeiren, as well as his co-presenters on the weekly SABC3 glamarama entertainment magazine show, will be the hard-to-please judges in the presenter search which is becoming a reality show on SABC3.

My Top Billing Dream will consist of several two hour TV specials and then the My Top Billing Dream reality show from July on SABC3 in which viewers will be able to follow the search behind-the-scenes as the wannabe presenters are put through their paces with difficult challenges.

The nationwide auditions for My Top Billing Dream are currently taking place with Bloemfontein which happened last weekend and Durban taking place this weekend.

"My biggest advice is not to copy any of the current presenters on Top Billing," Janez Vermeiren told me last night. "Try and bring your own personality through. The show isn't looking for the same kind of presenter as the people who are already on the show. Bring your own personality, your own talents, your own approach. Let your own character shine when you show who you are," he says.

Janez Vermeiren won't be at the Durban auditions - he tells me he's jetting off to Switzerland to film an insert - but he will be back for the rest - and he will be in the show. "I'm going to be at the My Top Billing Dream auditions for Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Johannesburg."

"What I look for is someone who is as natural as possible," he says. "Almost conversational."

"I'm not looking for someone who's going to deliver a link like a robot. I'm looking for someone who's going to deliver me something like they mean it and as if they understand it."


The Durban auditions for the My Top Billing Dream are taking place at the Protea Hotel Umhlanga Ridge on 18 and 19 May from 09:00.

After that Port Elizabeth gets a chance on 24 and 25 May at the Protea Hotel Marine from 09:00.

The show moves to Polokwane with auditions taking place on 28 May from 09:00 at the Protea Hotel Ranch Resort. Cape Town gets its chance from 1 - 3 June from 09:00 at the Protea Hotel Fire & Ice. Johannesburg auditions for the My Top Billing Dream will be held from 8 - 11 June from 09:00 at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium.

Contestants have to print a copy of the entry form and bring that along, with an ID and a photograph.

Two TV stars, Janez Vermeiren and Tyrone Keogh, make the list (and lose the shirts) on Cosmo's Sexiest SA Men 2012 Calendar.

© Cosmopolitan SA

Two telegenic South African TV presenters made the list in Cosmopolitan's Sexiest SA Men 2012 Calendar which is being sold with the January issue.

Janez Vermeiren from Top Billing (Tuesdays, SABC3, 20:00) and Tyrone Keogh (below) from The Wild (M-Net, Mondays to Thursdays, 18:00) both got their own months on the annual flesh baring almanack.

Readers can once again vote until 30 January for Cosmo's best shirtlessness which will then be crowned the ''Sexiest South African man'' at Cosmo's annual Sexiest SA Men Calendar party.

The parade of man flesh will once again be taking place in Johannesburg again this year, on 2 February.

© Cosmopolitan SA

Top Billing presenter Janez Vermeiren gets engaged to his Brazilian girlfriend of 3 years, Juliana Vasconcelos.

The Top Billing (SABC3, Tuesdays, 20:00) presenter Janez Vermeiren (33) and co-owner of the Full Circle modelling agency in Cape Town with Paul Coetzee, got engaged to his Brazilian girlfriend of 3 years, Juliana Vasconcelos on Christmas Day.

The often-shirtless presenter has a 7 year old son Matisse from a previous relationship. He and Juliana Vasconcelos got engaged on 25 December 2011 on Table Mountain.