New e.tv local drama series, Heist, inspired by the real-life Justin Bieber concert cash heist in 2013 as e.tv says it wants to bring 'more action, edge' to the channel.

e.tv's new series, Heist, set to start on Tuesday 9 February at 21:30 is a ripped-from-the-headlines drama taking its inspiration from the May 2013 Justin Bieber concert cash heist when robbers staged a daring smash and grab and stole millions after a carefully planned break-in at the FNB Stadium.

Heist, produced by Matatiele production company Branded Soul with director Rolie Nikiwe, is filmed in the Alexandra township and the new series is inspired by the shocking and daring cash heist that took place near Soweto in 2013.

Heist, described by e.tv as an action thriller and starring actors Jerry Mofokeng, Jody Abrahams, Wright Ngubeni, Meshack Mavuso, Kenneth Nkosi, Warren Masemola and Mbali Ka Ngwenya, will portray the social and economic challenges faced by South Africans and will replace Z'bondiwe in the 21:30 timeslot from 9 February.

Although dealing with poverty and South Africa's societal challenges, e.tv says Heist won't be glamourising violence or crime.

What eventually happens is that the various characters who decide to pull off a heist immediately after a concert at a stadium, eventually turn on each other as the pursuit of money change them, proving that a life of crime never pays off.

Heist starts when an old man, Talent (Jerry Mofokeng) gets fired from his job as stadium grass cutter of more than 20 years, triggering anger and revenge. He then forms a gang of five men and one woman to pull of the daring heist.

"e.tv will continue to ensure that our viewers are kept entertained," says Monde Twala, managing director of e.tv's channels division about Heist.

"Local story telling is a key pillar for our prime time line-up and we are committed to deliver an innovative mix of programming able to resonate well within our broad audience base. Our viewers are in for a fascinating 2016 prime time line-up," says Monde Twala.

"In 2016 our viewers will enjoy more innovative and diverse local content. We want to bring more action, edge and thrill to the channel".

INTERVIEW. Class Act presenter Kenneth Nkosi: ''I wanted to lose weight for this second season... Right. So let's forget about that.''

You're reading it here first.

The very funny Kenneth Nkosi, back as presenter of the second season of Class Act on SABC1 reveals exclusively to TV with Thinus that he wanted to lose weight for the show - but is losing the battle of the bulge.

Instead Kenneth Nkosi telle me he'll concentrate on being even more funny and bring more humour and shenanigans to Class Act that kicked off its nationwide audition process today in Cape Town and will start on SABC1 on 23 April.

''What I wanted to do preparing for the second season of Class Act was to lose weight. Ha ha. Right. So let's forget about that. It's not happening, it's not happening!'' he says. ''That is not happening. So what I'm thinking now is to be even more funny and be present and help to make the second season of Class Act even more exciting for viewers. I'll also be a buddy for all of the budding and beautiful actors who are going to be going on this journey.''

Kenneth Noksi says the big difference about the second season of Class Act is that girls will also get their chance to shine since both a man and a woman will be chosen to become action stars. ''This time we have girls as well. Just today we had a lot of girls who showed up to audition for Class Act and they're great! They are determined; they were here early in the morning and the addition of looking for a female action star is taking the show to a new level. I hope that viewers will get even more excited about the show - and not just watching and voting but that they will come and enter Class Act,'' he says.

I asked him what his advice would be for contestants having seen who made it further and who dropped out during the first season. ''Number one: there is no excuse in the world for coming to Class Act - for coming to any TV or movie production and not being prepared,'' Kenneth Nkosi tells me. ''So the number one big thing for contestants are to be ready; to carefully prepare. Think about what you want to wear. Think about how you want to perform. Even if you're nervous, if you are prepared, you can just shine. If you don't prepare, you are going to be dropped. Prepare! Prepare! Prepare!''

Regarding the physical demands and the gruelling pace of this show he says ''people saw it last year - I mean, Class Act is not a joke. You need to be fit. You need a mindset that you're not going to quit. One thing that people don't get is that our bodies - like a guitar - are our instruments of action. You're instrument needs to be ready and needs to be prepared. Whether you're a man or a woman.''

ALSO READ: First look! Class Act kicks off its second season nationwide audition process in Cape Town.
ALSO READ: SABC1's Class Act adds Generations executive producer Mfundi Vundla as a judge for the second season.

FIRST LOOK! SABC1's Class Act reality show (literally) kicks off its 2nd season auditions in Cape Town to find a new action hero star.

You're seeing it here first.

With dreams of tomb raiding, fire jumping, building leaping, kickboxing and mostly just with stars in their eyes they came in the hope to conquer as contestants showed up today as the nationwide audition process for the second season of SABC1's reality show Class Act literally kicked off in Cape Town.

The reality show looking to find an action movie star - actually make that two movie stars this year - has adapted the format to allow girls this year as well. From early this morning - from beefy and brawny to lean and scrawny - contestants queued to try and impress the judges with their muscles, moves and ... makeup.

Class Act, produced by Curious Pictures, will start on SABC1 on 23 April and will once again be looking for a leading man who will get to star in a South African made action movie, but also a leading lady who will also get a movie role. The second season will add another additional Class Act weekly episode, a Monday night elimination episode at 19:00 from 30 May.

I'm told that the TV audience will get to vote for the Class Act favourites from after the episodes on a Saturday night until 18:30 on a Monday night. Thereafter the votes will be tallied in half an hour and guys and girls will start to get the boot. The first 4 episodes will concentrate on the nationwide Class Act audition process. ''It's about more entertainment,'' says Donovan Marsh, Class Act creator about the second season that became a surprise hit show for SABC1.

After the Cape Town Class Act auditions taking place today and tomorrow, the show moves to Durban on 12 March, Pretoria on 19 March and Johannesburg on 2 and 3 April. Kenneth Nkosi is the presenter again and super agent Moonleenn Yee and Rapulana Seiphemo are both back as judges. Mfundi Vundla, Generations creator and executive producer is joining the Class Act juding panel from this second season.

ALSO READ: SABC1's Class Act adds Generations creator and executive producer Mfundi Vundla as judge.

SABC1's Class Act adds Generations' creator and executive producer Mfundi Vundla as one of the judges.

Mfundi Vundla, creator and executive producer of SABC1's Generations is joining the channel's reality show Class Act as one of the judges for the upcoming second season that's currently in production.

Moonyeenn Lee and Rapulana Seiphemo are back as judges in Class Act with Mfundi Vundla joining them. Kenneth Nkosi is also back as the presenter.

Class Act auditions start this Saturday, 5 March at the Artscape Theatre, then 12 March at the Playhouse Theatre in Durban, 19 March at the State Theatre in Pretoria and 2 and 3 April at Shine Studios in Braamfontein, Johannesburg. Auditions times are from 09:00 to 17:00. Contestants need to bring their ID or driver's licence to register.

TOLDJA! Class Act returning to SABC1 for a second season; adding women as contestants and field presenters.

I broke the news at the beginning of the month RIGHT HERE that the SABC1 reality show Class Act will be back for a second season in April and it was just confirmed by the broadcaster, that will be adding female contestants as well to have a male and female ''action star'' winner. What they're not telling yet, but that I will is that field presenters will also be added.

The Curious Pictures production that is a beer sponsored advertiser funded show (AFP) for SABC1 is trying to up the female viewership in this male skewing show this year by allowing women to enter as well and having one man as well as one woman as winner. The second season of Class Act will start on 23 April on SABC1 and from 30 May add another weekly half hour elimination episode that will be broadcast live at 19:00. Kenneth Nkosi will once again be the main presenter.

''In re-envisioning Class Act for the second season we had a simple mandate: more entertainment, more eyes on the screen,'' says Donovan Marsh, show creator about Class Act deciding to add women as contestants to the show.

Main auditions will take place in Cape Town (5 March, Artscape Theatre), Durban (12 March, Playhouse Theatre), Pretoria (19 March, State Theatre) and Johannesburg (2 and 3 April, Shine Studios at the corner of Smit and Henri Streets in Braamfontein.)

FIRST LOOK! Cape Town auditions of SABC1's new Class Act reality show.

You're seeing it here first.

SABC1's new Class Act reality show that I broke the news on and wrote about first RIGHT HERE had their Cape Town auditions this past weekend. Of course I set off to Milnerton - not to enter - but to talk to presenter Kenneth Nkosi (look out for that interview soon) about his role in this new reality show looking for an action hero.

Click on READ MORE below for some more photos and goss on the show.