Today's interesting TV stories to read from TV with Thinus - 15 September 2015

SABC fires Sammy Sosa.
"Sick" Sammy secretly used her time to film Vuzu AMP (DStv 114)'s hip-hop reality show The Hustle.


India gripped by murder mystery of the TV executive who allegedly murdered her sister - who was actually her daughter!
India's numerous 24-hour TV news channels are all going insane with lurid live coverage, panel shows, discussions, gripping satire and commentary of TV executive Indrani Mukerjea, Indian's first TV mogul, who allegedly strangled her sister Sheena Bora to death ...
... only for the shock revelation that Sheena Bora was actually ... her daughter!
... with the irony that her husband was a pioneer of satellite TV 24-hour TV news!
... going from setting up 24-hour TV news, to be covered by it incessantly!
... who now claims his domineering wife abused him!
... viewers across India are gripped - just like South Africa's Oscar Pistorius trial, by the surreal, real-life crime drama about rich and famous people engulfed by murder, hidden identities and a body burnt in a forest!
... it's a sensational TV news moral fable about materialism, media and motherhood.


Tumultuous exodus underway at Bloomberg Television (DStv 411).
A dramatic string of TV executives are out at the business news TV channel. Also went through one of its biggest firings last week when 80 Bloomberg editorial staffers globally were shown the door.



M-Net South Africa CEO Yolisa Phahle shares her story.
M-Net top executive who was raised in Britain with South African parents, tells CliffCentral how she got to the position and her music history in a wide-ranging 54 minute interview.
The relevant M-Net part starts at minute 22 until minute 46 where she talks about Mzansi Magic, reveals she was worried and panicked about the Channel O youth day mock-up ad, talks hit shows and scandals, transformation, reveals she was involved in casting the judges for The Voice South Africa and that they've been chosen and says M-Net wants to make "TV that people will talk about".


John Oliver forced to shut down his fake church.
After exposing some unscrupulous televangelist practices by starting his Our Lady of Perpetual Exemption "church", the Last Week Tonight with John Oliver host on M-Net (DStv 101) decided to shut down his church - because people mailed him sperm. It comes after he asked viewers to send him their seed (meaning money).


Isha Sesay is doing NewsCenter from Los Angeles
since she and John Vause will soon be doing a new, simulcast show on CNN International (DStv 401) and CNN.

Can Uzalo on SABC1 just bring Gxabhashe back already?
The character that was "killed off" is set to return (and fake, unsourced tabloid stories that there was friction between the actor and the production wasn't true).

Doctor Who needs a lot more kissing
Says Peter Capaldi.

A must-watch sneak peek at the The Unauthorised Beverly Hills, 90210 Story.
The Lifetime channel's unauthorised biographical film about the hit 90s teen drama is absolutely spot on.

Vanity Fair looks at why American late-night television is "better than ever".
But sadly completely excludes women and female comedians. It's "Manity Fair" and such a great unintended example of a "boy's club".


On Digital Media (ODM) and director and consultant Eddie Mbalo's fight continues in licence and shares battle.
Eddie Mbalo says its impossible to place a value on a company that was near liquidation.

The X Factor UK has long ago lost all credibility says Graham Norton.
The ITV star seen in South Africa on BBC First attacks the reality competition show seen on M-Net and says he "hasn't watched in years".

Public pressure group SOS Coalition slams parliament over the SABC.
Vacant positions for the SABC board remains unfilled and vacant.

Four key elements for over-the-top (OTT) television to survive and flourish.
The same elements hold true for South Africa's growing number of video-on-demand (VOD) players like Naspers' ShowMax, Times Media Group's VIDI, MTN's FrontRow and others.

e.tv has started moving to its new high-definition (HD) Cape Town building.

Orange plans to start a video-on-demand (VOD) service in South Africa.
Orange Horizons wants to launch it in 2016 and want to partner with a local player under the name Orange VoD.

Jon Farrar at BBC Worldwide explains new BBC channels
Is responsible for the programming and acquisition strategy for BBC Worldwide's new channels BBC Earth, BBC Brit and BBC First. He explains how the channels are different, what they're looking for and more context to the channels' alignment.

M-Net's ex boss in Africa starts her Grooming for Greatness project.
Former managing director of M-Net Africa Biola Alabi is starting a leadership development initiative.

Comedy Central (DStv 122) is taking a "multi-platform" ad approach to market Trevor Noah.

The real history of The Golden Girls theme song.
Which has traveled down the road and back again and is now 30 years old.

Q&A: BBC Worldwide's Jon Farrar on the BBC channels' portfolio in South Africa: Downton, Dine With Me, and catching up with the Doctor.

After the recent BBC Worldwide channels winter upfront for South Africa for 2013 I asked Jon Farrar, the head of branded services for Western Europe and global editorial strategy at BBC Worldwide Channels more about the BBC channels seen in South Africa.

Jon Farrar spoke about Come Dine with Me South Africa, The Fall and others, BBC Knowledge staying on brand, BBC Lifestyle's trip to the spa, the possibility of more South African produced shows for the BBC channels, closing the broadcasting window gap - and why there's been the delay with Downton Abbey which started its third series in South Africa yesterday.

Recently in the news were the comments that BBC Worldwide will be looking at ending its so-called "non-performing" international channels. What is the future of BBC Entertainment, BBC Knowledge, BBC Lifestyle and CBeebies in South Africa?  Are they strong TV channels and brands and will they remain ongoing channels in South Africa?
Jon Farrar: The international channel portfolio that BBC Channels Worldwide (BBCWW) owns and distributes reaches over 356 million homes across every habitale continent. We'll always be looking at our channels' brands within the portfolio, but all our channels in South Africa are strong performers and with our new season line-up we are confident that they will continue to grow.

Downton Abbey's 3rd series starts in South Africa very late after it was shown elsewhere globally and comparatively longer after the second series which was shown in South Africa, compared to when that series was shown globally. The 4th series of Downton Abbey will start early in 2014 in America. 
Might the 4th series also be on BBC Entertainment, and would the gap be smaller, or how does the roll-out of this series works?
Jon Farrar: We saved Downton Abbey's third series so we could launch it as the lead into Mr Selfridge later this year, offering drama lovers two of the biggest British period dramas of the last decade every Sunday night from August, one after the other.
We're not ready to talk about series four yet, but we will keep you posted.

With the proliferation in the number of channels and within this genre of lifestyle television, how do you feel about the performance and growth of BBC Lifestyle and what gives this channels its edge?
Jon Farrar: BBC Lifestyle has had a trip to the spa and has come back refreshed and invigorated. It is still the number one lifestyle channel in South Africa with a big lead in primetime over its nearest competitor.
The schedule is packed full of sumptuous food programming which the viewers in South Africa continue to live and enjoy.
The success of the channel is down to the viewers coming back day in and day out to shows like MasterChef UK, Gordon Ramsay's Ultimate Cookery, The Great British Bake Off and Come Dine With Me. We try and bring the best of the British food programming to South Africa like Food Glorious Food.


Doctor Who and Graham Norton and other shows have definitely helped to turn BBC Entertainment into a much more vibrant and current channel with episodes of several shows now so close to the UK broadcasting date. How difficult was or is that to achieve and what has been the response from viewers on this narrowing of the gap of when shows are seen on BBC Entertainment?
Jon Farrar: The overall response to this has been positive. With the latest series of Doctor Who we were able to go within 24 hours of the BBC showing it in the United Kingdom. Each show has its own challenges but the ambition is to get closer to the UK broadcasting dates with as many shows as possible. Top Gear for instance is ten days after the United Kingdom broadcasting date.

I was asked would The Fall [hugely buzz and attention getting and critically acclaimed new British drama series] be on BBC Entertainment soon. Is that new show a possibility for a channel such as BBC Entertainment or is that not a property viewers should have hopes to see on BBC Entertainment?
Jon Farrar: We haven't made a decision over The Fall, but the latest series of our biggest crime franchises - Sherlock and Luther - are coming back to BBC Entertainment soon, so we certainly look at bringing the best of original British drama to our South African audiences.

BBC Knowledge is really the most "cleverest" channel on television available in South Africa. It has remained cerebral and didn't dilute its offering and been "dumbed down" or moved away from its original channel positioning. 
With many other channels in the factual and documentary genre and game, how challenging or difficult or intricate is it to remain true to the ethos of what BBC Knowledge is? Where does all the programming come from to constantly be able to package and programme a vast array of high quality documentaries without losing the channel's focus?
Jon Farrar: The challenge for BBC Knowledge is still to stay true to its brand without becoming a niche channel.
We want to be broad and mainsteam with intelligent programming. Fortunately there is a fantastic supply of programming from our public service parents that covers an exciting, diverse range of subjects, from the stunning natural history of Polar Bear Family and Me, to the jaw-dropping real life stories of Unsafe Sex and the City, and the brilliantly intimate portrait of the world's most famous woman in Our Queen.


With the huge success of Come Dine with Me South Africa and such great production values, could BBC Worldwide possibly commission another type of format show or type of series made specifically for or within South Africa, or will Come Dine with Me SA remain the singular focus production wise?

Jon Farrar: Come Dine with Me South Africa has been a huge success in South Africa and one that we are very proud to be part of. We have started commissioning more content for our global portfolio of channels - Million Dollar Intern and Best in Town will be airing later this year and the ambition is that some of these could graduate to South African formats with South African talent.
Come Dine with Me South Africa's third series starts in September but the hope is that it doesn't just end there.

2013 BBC Winter upfront: Mr Selfridge to BBC Entertainment, Polar Bears and unsafe sex on BBC Knowledge.

BBC Worldwide Channels which runs BBC Entertainment (DStv 120), BBC Lifestyle (DStv 174), BBC Knowledge (DStv 184) and CBeebies (DStv 306) on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform unveiled its upcoming programming across the channels to ad buyers, TV critics and ad sales executives at its 2013 BBC South Africa Winter Upfront which was only done in Johannesburg.

"We know that viewers have a personal relationship with the programmes they love," said Joel Churcher, the  account director for BBC Worldwide Channels for the Central Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEMA) region about the BBC's four channels "each of which is specifically tailored, shaped and fine-tuned to suit South African tastes".

"Our aim is to grow each of our BBC channel brands and we remain committed to bringing the very best of British programming to South Africa to attract a quality audience," said Joel Churcher.

"We're living through a golden age of British creativity," said Jon Farrar, the head of branded services for Western Europe & Global editorial strategy. "British TV is fizzing with brilliant ideas, captivating talent and dizzying ambition and I'm thrilled that we are able to bring the best of this to our channels in South Africa."

BBC Worldwide announced that the new drama Mr Selfridge is coming to BBC Entertainment about a man setting up London's most famous department store a century ago. The Chase is a new gameshow, and on the factual side there is Polar Bear - My Family and Me.

BBC Lifestyle has the United Kingdom's latest food competition Food Glorious Food coming to South African screens and the channel is adding Bill's Kitchen: Notting Hill to the line-up in which Bill Granger cooks his trademarkvibrant flavours in London's most fashionable neighbourhood.

Two further factual entertainment series coming to South Africa include Best in Town and Million Dollar Intern. "They are themed around the workplace, but it's the characters, conflict, and moments of unbelievable drama that will have viewers coming back each week. We're still in production on them, but early cuts are hugely exciting," said Jon Farrar.

"They are packed with the same sort of jaw-dropping moments that made Come Dine with Me SA such a hit." He said Come Dine with Me SA which will return for a third season to BBC Entertainment "is guaranteed to be the biggest topic of conversation on Monday nights from September".


Here's the BBC channels' upcoming programming:

BBC Entertainment
Mr Selfridge, coming soon
An ITVStudios co-production with Masterpiece distributed by BBC Worldwide. Jeremy Piven is Harry Selfridge setting up a department store in London in 1909.

The Chase, starts Thursday 11 July at 21:00
Bradley Walsh is the presenter of this new quiz show game show.

Glastonbury festival, Sunday 30 June at 18:00
Open air and performing arts festival coverage.

Come Dine with Me South Africa III, starts in September
12-part third season of the show in which four strangers take turns to host a dinner evening and all get graded to find a winner during snark filled dinner parties.

Endeavour, coming soon
A gripping prequel drama series to Inspector Morse. Four new mysteries follow Endeavour Morse (Shaun Evans), whose early days as a detective constable with the Oxford City Police see him risk everything to solve mysteries.

Fool Brittania, coming soon
Dom Joly unleashing pranks, tricks and hidden camera set-ups on the unsuspecting British public.

BBC Lifestyle
Food Glorious Food, started Thursday 6 June at 20:00
A competition for budding cooks.

Marbella Mansions, starts Sunday 14 July at 18:00
An insider's view of the multimillion dollar mansions on the Southern Spanish coast, following estate agents, interior designers and property managers working in the top end of Marbella's housing market.

Bill's Kitchen, coming soon
10-part series in which Bill Granger creates delicious dishes with just a few ingredients.

BBC Knowledge
Top Gear Week, coming soon
A televisual treat for petrolheads everywhere with Top Gear 41, Top Gear Festival, Top Gear: The Worst Car in the History of the World and Top Gear: Top Fails.

Unsafe Sex in the City, starts Wednesday 28 August at 21:00
An honest and unflinching look at the dangers of unprotected sex looking at the sexual health of Britain's youth as seen through an STD treatment clinic in Manchester.

Polar Bear - My Family and Me, coming soon
A BBC/Animal Planet co-production in which wildlife cameraman Gordon Buchanan gains the trust of a family of polar bears to observe a year in the life of these animals.

Penguins - Spy in the Huddle, coming soon
A BBC and Discovery Channel production in which animatronic cameras disguised as penguins infiltrate a colony of emperor penguins in Antarctica.

CBeebies
Old Jack's Boat, starts Monday 5 August at 17:50
Sarah & Duck, coming soon

Doctor Who on BBC Entertainment on DStv in South Africa to show episodes from now on only one day behind the United Kingdom broadcast.

Fixing problems in time really is possible: After years of being far behind, the Doctor intervened - South African viewers will henceforth now see episodes of Doctor Who virtually at the same time as it's being shown in the United Kingdom.

South African viewers will see episodes of Doctor Who from the end of March on BBC Entertainment (DStv 120) just one day after it is shown on the BBC in Britain.

When the second part of series seven of Doctor Who consisting of 8 episodes start in the United Kingdom on 30 March, South African viewers will start to see it from the very next day on BBC Entertainment on 31 March thanks to BBC Worldwide Channels which manages the BBC's portfolio of international TV channels.

Cutting the lag period of this long-running cult science fiction British drama to now make it extremely current and aligning British pop culture ever closer with that of South Africa where viewers will now be able to join in real-time on social media, is a huge improvement for BBC Entertainment.

"It's a very important part of our programming strategy to bring acquired content to air as close to its UK transmission as possible," says Jon Farrar, the vice president for programming for the Europe, Middle East and Africa region (EMEA) for BBC Worldwide Channels about finally closing the international broadcasting delay cap of the iconic Doctor Who.

"Doctor Who is a hugely popular programme and I'm delighted we are able to bring the Doctor's latest adventures to South African audiences just one day after the United Kingdom premiere transmission," says Jon Farrar.

Doctor Who will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in November this year which makes the alignment even more noteworthy and apt.

BBC Worldwide Channels grows the viewership of the BBC channels seen in South Africa on DStv by 5,7% in 2012 compared to a year ago.

BBC Worldwide Channels says its portfolio of channels available and seen in South Africa increased its share of commercial viewing year-on-year by 5,7% in 2012, marking the highest commercial share (4,5%) out of all international broadcasters according to DStv-i tracking data.

BBC Worldwide Channels runs the TV channels BBC Entertainment, BBC Lifestyle, BBC Knowledge and CBeebies on MultiChoice's DStv platform in South Africa.

Calling 2012 a "great year for the BBC channels portfolio in South Africa in an ever competitive market," Jon Farrar, the vice president for programming for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region for BBC Worldwide Channels says "a growing audience have enjoyed the diversity, quality and depth of programming which our BBC channels have to offer".

"Our viewers will have even more to look forward to in 2013 as we continue our commitment to bringing the very best of British television and on-screen talent, original and exclusive commissions and global TV viewing events to our South African audiences."

According to BBC Worldwide Channels, the BBC Lifestyle (DStv 174) channel consistently ranks as the number one lifestyle TV channel on DStv despite tough competition.

The channel's viewership was helped in 2012 by The Great British Bake Off which increased the timeslot average viewership by 62% on the channel compared to the previous 3 months and averaging 80 000 viewers for the semi-final as well as Big Fat Gypsy Weddings which reached 1,4 million viewers over the course of the series.

According to BBC Worldwide Channels, BBC Entertainment (DStv 120) rankeda s the number 2 international TV channel under DStv Premium subscribers in 2012 despite fierce competition thanks to shows such as Top Gear, Downton Abbey and Come Dine with Me South Africa.

Downton Abbey boosted BBC Entertainment viewership by a whopping 270% during its timeslot making BBC Entertainment the number 1 international general entertainment TV channel on DStv in South Africa.

Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee increased viewership by 216% on BBC Knowledge (DStv 184) compared to the channel's average viewership.

BBC Entertainment in 2013 will have more Top Gear for viewers (series 19), the next third series of Downton Abbey and the critically acclaimed new drama Call The Midwife.

BBC Lifestyle will continue to deliver exclusive access to some of the best British talent around with shows such as Ramsay’s Ultimate Cookery, the return of The Great British Bake Off for a second series, as well as original commissions including Food and Drink.

BBC Knowledge in 2013 will have new original commissions such as Stargazing and Dara O’Briain’s Science Club along with the beautifully shot wildlife documentary Africa narrated by Sir David Attenborough.

BBC SUMMER SHOWCASE: BBC Knowledge's upcoming South African programming includes crocodiles; the history of Britain and the world.

BBC Worldwide Channels which runs the TV channels BBC Entertainment, BBC Knowledge, BBC Lifestyle and CBeebies on MultiChoice's DStv in South Africa unveiled it's upcoming summer programming at its next BBC Showcase upfront held this past Tuesday in Johannesburg.

Jon Farrar, the vice president for programming for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region for BBC Worldwide Channels, took attendees through the various channel's upcoming line-up. The Downton Abbey stars Robert James Collier (Thomas) and Sophie McShera (Daisy) visiting South Africa were present during the showcase.

The BBC Showcase was only for Johannesburg press, TV critics from Cape Town and Durban were neither invited, nor in advance told about it.


ALSO READ: BBC Summer Showcase SA 2013: BBC Entertainment
ALSO READ: BBC Summer Showcase SA 2013: BBC Lifestyle

BBC Worldwide Channels and Jon Farrar unveiled new programming for BBC Knowledge (DStv 184) for the upcoming few months:


The British, coming soon
An epic adventure through the ages. Gripping drama reconstruction, the latest CGI, stunning cinematography, amazing time-lapse and aerial footage offer a fresh take on how Britain took shape. The British is a big, ambitious and gripping series about the history of the British Isles from Stonehenge to World War Two, the Roman occupation to the discovery of penicillin. This seven part series is both popular and important. It's content-rich enough to satisfy the most passionate history buffs, enticing for those who are interested in British history but don't know that much about it, and dramatically exciting for a generation used to feature films and computer games. This is a new approach to the story of Britain: energetic and bold, modern, inclusive and, above all, surprising. A new kind of landmark television: adventurous and pleasurable, and crammed with astonishing facts and new ideas.

A Nutopia production for Sky Atlantic Distributed by BBC Worldwide


Africa,coming soon
A landmark new five-part series from the BBC's world-renowned Natural History Unit. From exploding insects to lizards that hunt on the back of lions, the series will reveal never before seen impressions of the world's wildest continent and celebrates the extraordinary wildlife and majestic landscapes of the great continent of Africa. Narrated by the world's best known natural history film-maker Sir David Attenborough, the series uses the latest in filming technology to explore previously unseen landscapes – from Angola to Mozambique and Libya to Sudan. From hidden jungles and ice-blue glaciers to erupting volcanoes and lakes of poison, the team explores an astonishing array of previously unknown places and discovers bizarre new creatures and behaviours.

A BBC Natural History Unit Production for BBC


Embarrassing Bodies, series 2, January 2013

This innovative medical series attempts to raise health awareness and de-stigmatise "embarrassing" body parts and medical conditions. The UK-based doctors Christian Jessen and Pixie McKenna leave their surgeries and take to the road with doctor Priya Manickavasagar and leading cosmetic dentist Dr James Russell in a bid to rid the British public of their niggling health concerns.
A Maverick Television Production


The Dark Charisma of Adolf Hitler, coming soon

Changing the world through war and suffering, how did a man such as Hitler dominate a nation of people?Historian Laurence Rees reveals the reasons behind "the great dictator's unlikely appeal in this fascinating film series The Dark Charisma of Adolf Hitler: Leading Millions into the Abyss.


Reagan, Tuesday, 6 November, 21:00

This fascinating feature-length film examines the astonishing career of the former screen idol and US president who is now considered one of the architects of the modern world – Ronald Reagan. Reagan takes a definitive look at America's 40thpresident and traces his meteoric rise from B-movie actor to General Electric salesman to California Governor to the most powerful man in the world. With unique access to those who worked with him and knew him best including former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
A Charlotte Street Films production for BBC and HBO


History of the World, coming soon

The definitive account of human civilisation, filmed on location in South Africa and covering the crucial turning points in human history. This series brings 70 000 years of human history to life, telling the big stories of history. It is a human story of people, their civilisations, cultures, successes and crashing failures, a story that charts progress and development and change through the centuries. From the early settlers in Mesopotamia to the wonders of Babylon and Egypt, and from the French Revolution to the Industrial Revolution, viewers can step within history; shoulder to shoulder with the people who have shaped the world as we know it today.
A BBC/Discovery Channel/Open University co-production


Secret Life of Crocodiles with Ben Fogle, Sunday, 9 December, 19:00
In this documentary, viewers can follow passionate environmentalist and wildlife ambassador Ben as he joins groundbreaking researchers who swim with crocodiles in Africa and Australia, to get a remarkable insight into their underwater world.
A Spun Gold production for BBC



BBC Knowledge also has the following new seasons of returning TV shows:

Secret Millionaire UK S7/USA S3
Undercover Boss S4
World's Most Dangerous Road S2
Richard Hammond's Crash Course S2
Bang Goes The Theory S5
New Louis Theroux

BBC SUMMER SHOWCASE: BBC Entertainment's upcoming SA programming includes Downton Abbey, Call the Midwife, The Cube.

BBC Worldwide Channels which runs the TV channels BBC Entertainment, BBC Knowledge, BBC Lifestyle and CBeebies on MultiChoice's DStv in South Africa unveiled it's upcoming summer programming at its next BBC Showcase upfront held this past Tuesday in Johannesburg.

Jon Farrar, the vice president for programming for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region for BBC Worldwide Channels, took attendees through the various channel's upcoming line-up. The Downton Abbey stars Robert James Collier (Thomas) and Sophie McShera (Daisy) visiting South Africa were present during the showcase.

The BBC Showcase was only for Johannesburg press, TV critics from Cape Town and Durban were neither invited, nor in advance told about it.


ALSO READ: BBC Summer Showcase SA 2013: BBC Knowledge
ALSO READ: BBC Summer Showcase SA 2013: BBC Lifestyle

BBC Worldwide Channels and Jon Farrar unveiled new programming for BBC Entertainment (DStv 120) for the upcoming few months:


Downton Abbey, presumably April 2013

I wasn't there to ask, and when I made a media enquiry I was told "early in 2013" but the third series of Downton Abbey will presumably start in April on BBC Entertainment in South Africa. In the third series it's the 1920s and the inhabitants of Downton Abbey are attempting to get back to normal life after the horrors of the First World War. But the household is soon thrown into turmoil when an unwise investment threatens the entire family fortune. Meanwhile Mary and Matthew are finding that the course of true love rarely runs smoothly and the Dowager Countess of Grantham finds her long-held values questioned by Cora's feisty American mother.
A Carnival/Masterpiece co-production

Death in Paradise, coming soon

The quintessentially British cop DI Richard Poole (Ben Miller) is sent to solve impossible murders on a beautiful Caribbean Island in this new, light-hearted drama series. He'd be the perfect man for the job - if only he didn't hate sun, sea and sand… Sent to the tiny island of Saint-Marie to solve a mysterious murder Detective Inspector Richard Poole is a total fish out of water. Richard's team, though, have their own way of doing things. His new partner, feisty DS Camille Bordey is instinctive, wild, exotic and brilliant in her own way. Police Officer Dwayne Myers is a little too cosy with criminals for Richard's liking and Fidel Best is honest as the day is long – at times frustrating, at times the key to an impenetrable mystery.
Red Planet Pictures and Atlantique Productions in association with BBC Worldwide and Kudos Film and TV for BBC and France Télévisions, produced with support from the region of Guadeloupe.


Ramsay's Hotel Hell, January 2013

Gordon Ramsay turns his perfectionist eye to the hotel trade as he travels across America attempting to fix horrid hotels, awful inns and bad bed & breakfasts in Hotel Hell. He fixes his gaze on some of America's horror hotels, in which you wouldn't want to sleep and definitely wouldn't want to eat. Ramsay endures hotels at their very worst. From dirty bedrooms and mould-ridden bathrooms to incompetent staff and careless customer service, Ramsay works with the hotel owners and employees to turn these hapless establishments around.
An Optomen /One Potato Two Potato production


The Cube, coming soon

The UK TV presenter Phillip Schofield presents this hugely successful family entertainment series which tests contestants' ability, nerve and determination to win. The British public is challenged to attempt deceivingly simple tasks in a giant Perspex cube. Once inside, there is nowhere to hide, as their entire journey is captured from all angles by over 90 slow-motion cameras. With each task worth a large cash prize, the contestant will have to keep their nerve in this high pressure game of skill and strategy to move closer to the top prize of £250,000. Each player starts with nine lives and has to complete seven tasks to win the jackpot. 

Produced by Objective Productions.

Sun, Sex & Suspicious Parents, coming soon

The ultimate rite of passage for the average British teenager - the first ever summer holiday abroad without their parents. But what these teenagers couldn’t possibly have guessed is that whilst they enjoy their first taste of freedom, with all its temptations and excesses, they are being secretly watched... by their parents. As Sun, Sex and Suspicous Parents follows the action from Europe's partying hotspots it will be an eye-opening experience, but will it bring the families closer together or drive them further apart?
A Zodiak Media Group production


Life's Too Short, Sunday 21 October, 20:30

A new comedy series with Warwick Davis as a fictionalised version of himself, and a galaxy of international stars in guest roles including Liam Neeson, Steve Carell, Sting, Helena Bonham Carter and Johnny Depp, Life’s Too Short is a fake documentary following the life of a struggling actor (Davis) who's been forced to live out his life in the glare of the cameras.
With his career on the slide, a massive tax bill caused by his useless accountant and a wife who's divorcing him, showbiz dwarf Warwick has no choice but to open his doors to a film crew 24/7.
A BBC and HBO Co-Production


Call the Midwife, coming soon

The highest rated new BBC drama which was just recently commissioned for a second series. A true story of London's East End in the 1950s. Call The Midwife is a moving, intimate, funny and true-to-life look at the colourful tales of midwifery and families in the Fifties, based on the best-selling memoirs of the late Jennifer Worth. The cast is packed full of both established and new British acting talent including Miranda Hart, Jenny Agutter and Pam Ferris. When Jenny Lee (Raine) first arrives in London’s East End, she knows nothing about hardship, poverty or indeed, life itself. Raised in the wealthy English countryside, she's previously spent time in Paris and could have been anything. But she chose to become a nurse and now, as a newly qualified midwife, Jenny has come to work in the poorest area of the city.
A Neal Street production for BBC


BBC Entertainment also has the following new seasons of returning TV shows:

Graham Norton S12
Top Gear S19
Strictly Come Dancing S9
Hell's Kitchen USA S6
QI S7
Rev S2
Total Wipeout S6

BBC SUMMER SHOWCASE: BBC Lifestyle's upcoming SA programming includes a Paris kitchen, more Gordon Ramsay and Nigella Lawson.

BBC Worldwide Channels which runs the TV channels BBC Entertainment, BBC Knowledge, BBC Lifestyle and CBeebies on MultiChoice's DStv in South Africa unveiled it's upcoming summer programming at its next BBC Showcase upfront held this past Tuesday in Johannesburg.

Jon Farrar, the vice president for programming for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region for BBC Worldwide Channels, took attendees through the various channel's upcoming line-up. The Downton Abbey stars Robert James Collier (Thomas) and Sophie McShera (Daisy) visiting South Africa were present during the showcase.

The BBC Showcase was only for Johannesburg press, TV critics from Cape Town and Durban were neither invited, nor in advance told about it.


ALSO READ: BBC Summer Showcase SA 2013: BBC Knowledge
ALSO READ: BBC Summer Showcase SA 2013: BBC Entertainment

BBC Worldwide Channels and Jon Farrar unveiled new programming for BBC Lifestyle (DStv 174) for the upcoming few months:

The Little Paris Kitchen: Cooking with Rachel Khoo, December 2012

French cooking with a twist. Rachel Khoo believes that delicious French food is no longer the preserve of fancy Michelin starred restaurants. This unconventional Cordon Bleu-trained cook and writer runs the smallest restaurant in Paris from her tiny flat. With only enough room to serve four guests, it is here that she has perfected her special twists on classic French dishes. In this series, Rachel invites you to sample her own distinctive ‘Parisian Cookbook’. Over six episodes, Rachel produces everything from simple suppers to sumptuous patisserie and beautiful gourmet dinners.
A Plum Pictures production for BBC


The Fabulous Baker Brothers, February 2013

Brothers Tom, a baker, and Henry, a chef who runs the butcher's shop next door, transport viewers into the heart of their empire in the beautiful English county of Gloucestershire in The Fabulous Baker Brothers. With five generations of baking tradition behind them, Tom and Henry take viewers right into the heart of their artisan kitchen and unlock the trade secrets of baking, which have been honed through years of practice and passion.
A Betty TV production


 Home Cooking Made Easy, coming soon

The BBC's latest star chef Lorraine Pascale spreads her culinary wings as she shares her recipes, secrets, passion and know-how in a new feel-good series, Home Cooking Made Easy. During the series Lorraine mixes recipes from all areas of home cooking for every imaginable occasion, from snappy suppers to impressive delicious celebration dishes.
A Pacific production


Gordon's Ultimate Cookery Course, coming soon

Gordon Ramsay strips cooking back to its basics to teach viewers the tried and tested tricks of his trade in Gordon’s Ultimate Cookery Course. In this new series he strips away all the complexity and shows how to make amazing food with ease. Each episode will concentrate on a different area of cooking essential for the modern cook. The show is full of delicious recipes, invaluable tips and lashings of Gordon's trademark cheeky wit.
A Optomen/One Potato Two Potato production


Nigellissima, January 2013

 In her mouth-watering new, six-part series, Nigellissima, Nigella Lawson demonstrates how easy it is to bring the spirit of Italy into the kitchen and onto the plate using ingredients readily available in supermarkets. While Nigella is true to the spirit of Italian cooking, her recipes are always quick and easy, designed to elevate everyday eating into no-fuss feasts.
A BBC Production


Nice Day for a Greek Wedding, Sunday 4 November, 18:00

Greece has become the destination of choice for the 50 000 Brits who want to get married abroad every year. But those couples expecting the gorgeous weather to banish all their pre-wedding stresses and logistical problems are in for the shock of their lives. Hosting a Greek wedding might look good on paper, but making it happen is another thing entirely. From moody donkeys to temperamental priests and scorching weather, Nice Day For A Greek Wedding, follows couples-to-be, plus a full cast of wedding planners, as they try to create their dream Greek wedding day. They’re imagining wonderful sunsets, candlelit cliff-side churches and azure sea views but instead they're faced with hostile priests, language barriers and a whole new attitude to time-keeping.
A RDF Television Production


BBC Lifestyle also has the following new seasons of returning TV shows:

Come Dine With Me UK S6
Extreme Makeover S2
Four Weddings S3
MasterChef: The Professionals S3
Great British Bake Off S2
Dinner Date S3

ICING ON THE CAKE. BBC Lifestyle launches Love Baking season on the channel with delectable new TV shows.

BBC Lifestyle (DStv 180) is launching a "Love Baking" season with a cake and bake programming extravaganza for viewers including new shows such as The Great British Bake Off (described as MasterChef meets British cake cornucopia), the delectable new cooking show Baking Made Easy and the documentary series Choccywoccydoodah.


Besides Jamie Oliver's new show on BBC Lifestyle the channel is premiering the have-to-watch The Great British Bake Off with kitchen drama and extreme cake baking activity as British amateur cake makers and bakers try to outdo each other with their over creations.

The hot new Lorraine Pascale (right) is also making her exclusive debut appearance on South African television in Baking Made Easy.  Having left the modelling world to become a qualified chef, baker and pâtissier, the glamour girlshares delicious sweet and savoury recipes with her audiences. From quick and easy to daring, dazzling and inspiring dishes with a real wow factor, Baking Made Easy offers helpful shortcuts and professional kitchen secrets whilst offering large slices of glamour and baking know-how.

"I am thrilled to announce the launch of the new Love Baking season on BBC Lifestyle, and to continue to offer our viewers exclusive access to some of the best British talent and programming around," says Jon Farrar, the vice president for programming for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region for BBC Worldwide Channels.

"Baking is currently one of the hottest global cooking trends, and as well as serving up some of the freshest new talent and television from Lorraine Pascale and The Great British Bake Off, we are delighted to offer our viewers the opportunity to get involved themselves by entering the Love Baking competition."

The Master Pâtissier Eric Lanlard.will be judging the Love Baking competition BBC Lifestyle will be running.

In The Great British Bake Off 10 British bakers have their baking skills put to the test through a series of challenges judged by Britain's finest professional bakers. Each week The Great British Bake Off will test the contestants on different baking disciplines and will head out on a nationwide tour of Britain to do it.  The bakers will see their cake, biscuit, bread and pastry skills carefully scrutinised to see if they've got what it takes to be crowned ''Great British Bake Off’s Best Amateur Baker".


The quirky 10 part documentary series Choccywoccydoodah will start on Sunday 18 June at 20:00 on BBC Lifestyle. The series takes audiences behind the scenes of this internationally acclaimed Brighton based cake shop and provides access to the talented staff responsible for creating some of the most ambitious and technically demanding chocolate masterpieces ever seen.  With cakes ranging from £9 000 and a client base that boasts A list celebrities such as Madonna and Kylie, viewers will be kept captivated by the Choccywoccydoodah team and their spectacular creations.

BREAKING. BBC Entertainment snags the cool British reality show The Only Way is Essex; vajazzling set to start in June.

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Time to vajazzle! I can be first to reveal the news that BBC Entertainment (DStv 120) is continuing the trend of suddenly being the hottest general entertainment TV channel to be found in South Africa having secured the rights to the have-to-watch British reality show The Only Way is Essex which I can reveal will start in June on BBC Entertainment.

BBC Entertainment has suddenly popped as the hottest general entertainment TV channel in South Africa with the delightful Downton Abbey drama on Sundays at 20:30, and having scored the rights to the new Titanic mini-series coming in April. Negotiations are also underway for a 2nd season of the critically praised and popularly loved South African version of Come Dine with Me South Africa that was shown at the end of last year on BBC Entertainment.

Now BBC Entertainment grabbed The Only Way is Essex - a The Hills and Jersey Shore type British reality show following a group of 20somethings and which should land on the schedule sometime in June and which is narrated by the Essex born actress Denise van Outen.

The first season of The Only Way is Essex is a trashi-lovely delight. Get ready for boxing (yes, between the people in the show) a club that burns down, relationship jealousy, two people sleeping together behind the other one's back and enough reali-trash to fill a dump truck.

''The Only Way is Essex has been the stand-out success in the reality TV genre in recent years. Brilliantly produced by Lime Pictures, viewers in the United Kingdom just can't seem to get enough of the tears, tans and drama in the characters' lives and I'm sure that our viewers in South Africa will be just as hooked,'' says Jon Farrar, the vice president for programming for the Europe, Middle East and Africa region (EMEA) for BBC Worldwide Channels.

Programming note: Special episode of Come Dine With Me South Africa on 14 December on BBC Entertainment filled with stars.

A star-filled episode of Come Dine With Me South Africa will be broadcast on BBC Entertainment (DStv 120) on Wednesday 14 December at 21:00, with DJ Samantha Cowen, SuperSport presenter Neil Andrews, presenter Shashi Naidoo and M-Net presenter Ashley Hayden competing with round-table dinners in an attempt to win money for charities.

''We will be finishing this fantastic first season of Come Dine With Me South Africa in spectacular fashion – with a celebrity special,'' says Jon Farrar, the vice president for programming for the Europe, Midde East and Africa (EMEA) region for BBC Worldwide Channels who also has an executive producer title for Come Dine With Me South Africa.

''It's going to be a lot of fun seeing how Samantha Cowen, Neil Andrews, Shashi Naidoo, and Ashley Hayden get on trying to outdo each other to host the perfect dinner party,'' says Jon Farrar.

BREAKING. BBC Lifestyle survey: 63% of South Africans don't like cooking; 86% like to watch cooking shows on television.

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I can tell that BBC Lifestyle (DStv 180) is set to reveal today a special BBC Lifestyle survey by Toluna that will show that nearly two-thirds (63%) of South Africans polled, don't have enough time to cook - but when they do, they like to watch cooking shows on television for inspiration.

The BBC Lifestyle survey polled more than a thousands South Africans older than 16. The BBC Lifestyle survey was commissioned ahead of the premiere of Jamie's 30 Minute Meals starting on the lifestyle TV channel.

The BBC Lifestyle survey will reveal that 63% of South Africans say they don't have enough time to cook, with over a half (54%) spending less than one hour cooking a day. Those who don't cook are prevented by not enough time (73%), a lack of inspiration (10%) and no confidence in their cooking abilities (7%).

Yet a whopping 86% people in the BBC Lifestyle survey said they are inspired by cookery shows and that television is the number one cooking inspiration (55% of people surveyed), ahead of experimenting in the kitchen (52%), family (47%), books (41%) and friends (34%).

''The pressures of modern life are clearly impacting on the home lives of South African people, as nearly two thirds of people surveyed don’t have enough time to cook,'' says Jon Farrar, the vice president of programming for the Europe Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region for BBC Worldwide.

''That's why we are sure that Jamie's 30 Minute Meals – the latest show from the world-renowned chef Jamie Oliver – will be such a hit with South African audiences. It will inspire them with some amazing recipes and will help time-strapped South Africans to keep cooking.''

Jamie's 30 Minute Meals is on Tuesdays at 20:25 on BBC Lifestyle.

BBC Worldwide's summer schedule upfront: ''We are very ambitious. We want a rich and diverse portfolio able to reach different groups.''

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''In terms of our plans going forward we are very ambitious,'' says Jon Farrar, vice president of programming for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region for BBC Worldwide, speaking at the BBC's Summer schedule upfront for BBC Worldwide's portfolio of BBC channels in South Africa.

''We want to have the absolute biggest brands on our channels. We want a rich and diverse portfolio able to reach different audience groups. This is what we're doing channel by channel, taking us from November 2011 to February 2011. . .

For a run-down of the various tentpole programming on the various BBC channels' line-up between November 2010 and February 2011, click on READ MORE below.

BBC Worldwide: CBeebies now the 3rd biggest kids channel on DStv in South Africa after having overtaken Nickelodeon and Boomerang.

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The BBC Worldwide kids channel CBeebies (DStv 306) is now the third largest kids channel on DStv in South Africa, moving up from 5th to 3rd place, having overtaken Nickelodeon (DStv 305) and Boomerang (DStv 302) the past year.

So says Jon Farrar, vice president of programming for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region for BBC Worldwide. ''CBeebies is growing at a really fast rate. Twelve months ago we were the 5th most watched kids channel in South Africa on DStv, we're now third, having overtaken Nickelodeon and Boomerang.''

''One thing on which we've carved out our niche is that we provide a safe environment for kids to learn and to be entertained. Some of the key shows on CBeebies that's helped us do that is Mister Maker, Tractor Tom and The Large Family.'' New shows coming up on CBeebies include ZingZillas (pictured), Let's Celebrate and Dirtgirlworld.

''BBC Lifestyle is still the number one lifestyle TV channel in South Africa on DStv,'' says BBC Worldwide.

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''BBC Lifestyle (DStv 180) is still the number one lifestyle TV channel in South Africa on DStv,'' says Jon Farrar, vice president of programming for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region for BBC Worldwide.

''BBC Lifestyle is comfortably ahead of The Style Network, then the Home Channel,'' he says. ''I think the reason for this is that BBC Lifestyle is the home of some of the biggest brands – both of the United Kingdom and globally. We've got some of the biggest chefs and we've got some of the hottest new chefs coming up, getting exposure on the BBC Lifestyle.''

''The other aspect which has been working brilliantly for us in the UK and we're starting to see it work fantastically in South Africa, is the reality aspect of food programming: Come Dine with Me, Masterchef, The Restaurant, and its working really well on BBC Lifestyle. But we're more than just food, we have some of the biggest lifestyle brands like Extreme Makeover: Home Edition being one of the biggest.''