KB Motsilanye replaces Kelly Khumalo as title star in BET's Dream: The Lebo Mathosa Story bio-series.

Actress KB Motsilanyane has replaced Kelly Khumalo who exited for as-yet-unknown reasons as the title star of BET's (DStv 129) Dream: The Lebo Matosha Story that will start airing on the channel and Showmax from Wednesday 6 November at 21:30.

After a public casting call earlier this year the Ochre Moving Pictures production settled initially roped in Kelly Khumalo, as well as the reality star Bahumi Madisakwane, but after Khumalo dropped out, producers scrambled to replace her with KB Motsilanyane to portray the legendary singer.

The two will depict different stages of the kwaito star's meteoric life that ended in tragedy.

KB Motsilanyane will portray the adult Lebo as she experiences the highs and lows of the music industry, which placed her as a music icon on a global stage, while Bahumi Madisakwane will depict the youthful Mathosa as she traverses the journey of finding her feet and realising her dream.

"It’s not an easy journey to play this character because it’s beyond imagination, larger than life and every single thing is a new experience. Walking in Lebo’s shoes is definitely one of the greatest things I have ever done,” said KB Motsilanyane in a supplied statement from Viacom Africa on Tuesday.

Bahumi Madisakwane said "The fondest memory I have of Lebo Mathosa was from when I was five or six and we went to the Rand Easter Show, a show where she and my father were performing.  I remember she was this amazing powerhouse on stage… and was always so maternal and protective over me and I think that is why I really want to tell her sincere, humble and emotional side.”

Dream: The Lebo Matosha Story is a co-production between BET Africa and Ochre Moving Pictures. and the  project is co-funded by the department of trade and industry, the Gauteng Film Commission (GFC)  and Showmax, supported by The Lebo Mathosa Foundation.

After Dream: The Lebo Mathosa Story premieres on Wednesday, 6 November on BET Africa episodes will become available on MultiChoice's video streaming service, Showmax, the following day.

Backstage drama at e.tv soap Rhythm City as unhappy cast refuse to sign contracts? e.tv says there's no 'unhappiness'.

Backstage drama has apparently been brewing behind-the-scenes at the e.tv weekday soap Rhythm City with cast members refusing to sign new contracts - although e.tv tells TV with Thinus that the free-to-air channel and soap is not aware of any "unhappiness".

Following a contract stand-off and months' long stay-away between Generations' cast members who banded together in the latter part of 2013 against producers and soap creator Mfundi Vundla for better contracts, e.tv's Rhythm City is now the soap where actors are apparently unhappy over the treatment they've been getting from producers.

It could see main actors like KB Motsilanyane (who plays Lucilla), Peter Sepuma (who plays Miles) and others perhaps walk away from the soapproduced by Quizzical Pictures.

TV with Thinus asked e.tv's publicity department earlier this week if e.tv can confirm that main member Rhythm City actors like KB Motsilanyane and Peter Sephuma have not yet signed new contracts.

TV with Thinus asked e.tv how many actors on the weekday soap have not yet renewed their contracts, and if there is anything e.tv wants to say about Rhythm City and the negotiation process regarding contract renewals.

e.tv declined to answer the specific questions and e.tv's head of publicty Matla Ragoasha, responded with a general statement, saying that e.tv "cannot divulge information regarding individual contracts in public".

According to Matla Ragoasha "the Rhythm City production has had open relationships with all talent" over the years. "We host regular forums for talent to express any concerns. All matters are discussed and resolved between the casts' agents, the production company, e.tv and talent".

TV with Thinus again asked e.tv  if the channel can answer the specific questions not related to Rhythm City contracts.

Asked whether e.tv is knowledgeable about actors on Rhythm City who are unhappy and if there is a tense atmosphere on set and whether e.tv has any comment on this and what attributed to this situation, the channel said "no actor has brought forward any specific issues of unhappiness".

Asked if e.tv can confirm that there has been fights in public at the studios between producers and actors at Rhythm City, e.tv says "there have never been fights between producers and actors".