It's 'I do' for wedding shows on SA television as new M-Net reality series, The Wedding Bashers, gets ready to judge South African weddings.

M-Net is getting in on the wedding wonderful craze sweeping South African television with its new reality show, The Wedding Bashers that's gearing up to film - and judge - various South African weddings with the show set for broadcast during September.

It's definitely a case of "I do" when it comes wedding shows on South African television.

While viewers simply can't get enough of the lavish South African celebrity weddings that continue to be featured on Top Billing on SABC3 and the buzz-worthy, spectacle prone reality series Our Perfect Wedding on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161), TV channels are ramping up their wedding programming for 2017.

Despite criticism that it's cheapening the act of getting marriage, A+E Networks UK will debut Married at First Sight South Africa on 3 February on Lifetime (DStv 131), while kykNET (DStv 144) is working on Ons Sprokiesbruilof.

M-Net is now countering with The Wedding Bashers, produced by [sic] entertainment and Gavin Wratten also responsible for Idols, in which South Africans can win big by having their weddings judged by a party of celebrity wedding crashers who will weigh in on all aspects of weddings ranging from R20 000 to over R1 million.

For The Wedding Bashers M-Net and [sic] entertainment are using someone old, someone new, someone borrowed and someone blue: former Survivor South Africa host Mark Bayly as the "best man" presenter, socialite and V-Entertainment presenter Denise Zimba, Food Network chef Siba Mtongana, fashionista and former Miss South Africa Cindy Nell-Roberts, and former Survivor SA Champions star and wedding planner Zavion Kotze who also has a show on VIA (DStv 147).

The Wedding Bashers - in a cross between Come Dine with Me SA and Four Weddings South Africa - will see Denise Zimba snark over the wedding entertainment, Siba Mtongana judge the food, Cindy Nell-Roberts weigh in on the fashion, with Zavion Kotze, who recently got married as well, who will be giving his view about the decor.

People getting married have until Valentine's Day - 14 February - to enter their wedding to be judged.

'The whole idea behind The Wedding Bashers is that we've all been to weddings," said Gavin Wratten.

"We all have sat with a bunch of people that we may or may nor like. We all sit and mind our p's and q's while the wedding is on, but then when we get in the car on the way home and we go: 'Oh my goodness, did you see what she was wearing?"

"So our wedding bashers are going to be going to weddings and judging each wedding. And while the show is called Wedding Bashers, it's actually The Wedding Bash. We're not really really there to try and rip everybody's wedding apart," said Gavin Wratten.

"They're going to be honest - and they're going to love some moments of the weddings but they're also going to comment on parts of some weddings they find questionable."

Mark Bayly on his (actually awesome) hair for television: ''The first thing I would change about myself would be my hair.''

Mark Bayly just left M-Net's All Access where he was a presenter for the past 2 years and is now venturing into radio as well with his own weekly radioshow on 2oceansvibe radio on Wednesdays starting today. But of course Mark Bayly has absolutely great TV hair for a man - although he denies it.

''You know something. The first thing I would change about myself would be my hair. Followed by my nose and chin. I hate my hair,'' Mark Bayly laughs when I specifically asked him about his fantastic follicles for TV.

''When I started as the presenter of Survivor SA I begged them for a hat. First of all because you're outside the whole time in the sun in harsh filming conditions and pretty much have to try and wear a hat. But for two seasons I with my terrible hair couldn't wear a hat. Then Nico Panagio who has great hair wears a hat all the time. And I just don't understand why they were picking on me like that!'' Mark Bayly laughs. ''My hair is one of my greatest frustrations, so I'm not sure how to respond to your question,'' he told me.

But there must be ways how he gets the mane to look like it does. So i persisted. ''When I filmed inserts I generally washed it the day before so that it's slightly dirtier and stiffer,'' Mark Bayly laughed right in my ear. ''And it's product. It's product. I use a tea tree hair product. It just keeps it under control for the brief periods that we're filming. It's surprising that you pick my hair because I think it's my worst thing.''

Mark Bayly is now on radio on 2oceansvibe radio on Wednesdays between 15:00 and 18:00 in the drivetime slot.

ALSO READ: ''It's sad.'' Mark Bayly on the end of All Access on M-Net, parting ways with his TV family and what he's doing next.

AFTER ALL ACCESS: ''It's sad.'' Mark Bayly on the end of All Access on M-Net, parting ways with his TV family, and what he's doing next.

With All Access ending its run on the M-Net channel tonight after exactly two years on the air (it will continue later, retooled and shortened on the Mzansi Magic channel), presenter Mark Bayly tells TV with Thinus that it's unfortunate, that he feels sad and that he's disappointed that an entertainment magazine show such as All Access couldn't continue on the M-Net channel. But the suave Capetonian and a married dad of two is moving on.

''I think it's unfortunate. It was a show that had a dedicated audience,'' Mark Bayly tells me. ''I get that it was a business decision and I'm not privy to all the machinations that go on at the top level. I think it was a nice alternative and quite a fresh show. I'm not sure how much it's going to change. It's becoming a smaller show and no longer has a place for me so I'm moving on,'' he says.

I asked Mark Bayly what he enjoyed the most about his two years as part of the presenters' team of the show that won a Safta award last month as the best entertainment magazine show on South African television. ''I like the variety. I got to meet a lot of different people from different backgrounds - different lines of work from actors to events, to people working behind the scenes. That's what I really liked about the show. It wasn't all about the celebrities upfront. It wasn't always so directly celebrity focused and I really liked meeting and talking to and showing the real people behind the scenes who are ultimately responsible for how things look.'' Also he says ''I had a really, really great team of people that I worked with besides the other presenters. We had great camera men and sound guys and directors. We really were like a family for a couple of years. So it's sad. It's always sad when you part ways. You just stay confident that you'll meet up again in future and work on other projects.''

On what he's doing next after leaving All Access, Mark Bayly who was the first Survivor SA presenter says he's been working on a travel show idea. ''I've been working on a travel show idea, that I've pitched to a company and they're very keen about it but they're also very busy at the moment. I'm starting my DJ career this coming Wednesday in fact on 2oceansvibe radio. I'll be doing the Wednesdays drivetime 15:00 to 18:00 slot. I'm looking forward to be unrestrained and just being myself on air. I'll start off with one day a week and then see how that goes.''

''My MC'ing work is continuing and I'm doing a lot of that and I absolutely love it. And I've got my feelers out there. The thing with M-Net and their marketing strategy is I don't think they've even put it out there yet to the public that All Access is leaving the M-Net channel so there might be people who are planning stuff and might be interested in using me but might think I'm not available because I'm on All Access. Hopefully now they'll know that I am available. So as much as I've got my own feelers out I'm always interested in hearing from people.''

He tells me he's ''surprised and a little disappointed that a show like that didn't stay on''. ''Whether I would have continued to stay on is another thing. I kind of feel like my time on the show would have come to an end soon anyway, regardless of the move. I do think its unfortunate that that kind of quality of show – that wins a Safta award for best magazine show in the country… well I'd like to see a show like that continue. I probably would have been moving on within a few months anyway.''

Mark Bayly says he wishes them well. ''It's going to be interesting, I will tune in and see how it changes and the kinds of things that they will be covering which the remaining – well, everybody much besides me and Koula – will be doing. And I wish them well.''

ALSO READ: A look back at All Access as it ends on M-Net - The numerous changes the show went through during 2 years.
ALSO READ: All Access cut to half an hour; revamped for a black audience as it moves to Mzansi Magic when it restarts at the end of April.
ALSO READ: Mark Bayly adds radio to his repertoire.

AFTER ALL ACCESS: Mark Bayly adds radio to his repertoire; starting his new radio show on 2oceansvibe radio this coming Wednesday.

With Mark Bayly no longer with the entertainment magazine show All Access that's broadcasting its last episode on M-Net tonight, I can reveal that Mark Bayly is starting his radio career as a DJ (amongst other things) next Wednesday on the Cape Town radio station 2oceansvibe radio.

''I'm starting my DJ'ing career; this coming Wednesday in fact,'' the always suave and funny Mark Bayly tells me. Radio listeners will now be able to hear Mark Bayly on radio.
''I'm doing the Wednesdays drivetime 15:00 to 18:00 slot. I'm very excited about it,'' he says about the radio station broadcasting in Cape Town (or if you listen on the web, everywhere).

''It doesn't have the top heavy structures that normal radio broadcasters have. It's very maverick. So I'm quite looking forward to be unrestrained and be myself on air. I'm starting off with one day a week on air and we'll then see how that goes.''

ALSO READ: ''It's sad.'' Mark Bayly on All Access ending on M-Net and parting ways with his TV family.

INTERVIEW. Mark Bayly on All Access turning one: ''The show's given me more scope to be myself.''

You're reading it here first.

Over the course of more than a decade covering the South African television industry, if you were to ask me what on screen talent I like the most personally, I will tell you Mark Bayly from M-Net's All Access. Number one coolest guy when it comes to being famous - yet he's completely unpretentious, super funny, clever and just normal (in a mostly not normal environment). Just a guy's guy who does his work and smiles.

I spoke with the ever gracious Mark Bayly at the first birthday party of All Access when M-Net's weekly entertainment magazine show celebrated their first anniversary this past Friday in Johannesburg. Mark Bayly told me about ''the warmest, most heartfelt'' interview he's had the past year, why he's proud of being a part of All Access and who he'd still like to sit down with in the future.

See what he tells me that he now gets to do more, what side of him you won't/don't really see a lot of in the show and what he says about the huge growth curve of All Access.

For my full interview with Mark Bayly of M-Net's All Access click on READ MORE below.

MUST READ! Mark Bayly in Vrouekeur on his hopes and dreams for his beautiful boy Cooper.

Photo: Robert Hamblin, courtesy of Vrouekeur

The brand-new issue of Vrouekeur of 18 June 2010 that is out right now features the handsome Mark Bayly on the cover with his beautiful boy Cooper in a must, must, must-read cover story - with beautiful father and son photos inside you just have to see.

I first met Mark Bayly a few years ago when the current All Access host was the Survivor SA host and we both sat in a little boat being taken to an island off the coast of Panama. Since then Mark Bayly has gotten married to the beautful Gabi and became a dad of Cooper (which I call his ''Mini Cooper'' and is now 20 months old). Mark Bayly is really just one of the most decent, down-to-earth and really funny guys in our local TV and entertainment industry. Oh - and he really has good hair. Whenever I ask him about his son, his face always lights up.

In really one of the best articles I've read in a long time, Vrouekeur journalist Alita Vorster has written a simply wonderful feature in the current issue of the magazine, in which Mark Bayly opens up about Cooper, being a dad, the wisdom of fatherhood, as well as his wishes, dreams and hopes for his beautiful boy. You just HAVE to read it.

I have another beautiful photo of Mark Bayly and his boy Cooper if you click on READ MORE below - but to see and read it all go get a copy of the current Vrouekeur right now. You'll want to read what Mark Bayly has to share.

BREAKING. Parental guidance is advised: M-Net's sexy All Access gets hot at the Calvin Klein underwear launch as Ewan Strydom strips down.

You're seeing it here first.

Its all CK and PG tonight at 19:30 on M-Net's All Access tonight as M-Net's weekly entertainment magazine show turns up the heat by several degrees when it covers (or is that uncover!) the super sexy Calvin Klein underwear launch in Cape Town.

I have your first sneak peak at the sexy hunks and babes modelling Calvin Klein underwear this evening in All Access with the show's Ewan Strydom himself who will be showing some . . . uhm, well, you'll just have to tune in and see for yourself! Mark Bayly and Ewan Strydom are the hosts of tonight's episode at 19:30 on the pay channel. Ewan Strydom attended the launch of Calvin Klein underwear in the Mother City and as you can see, it's going to be hot, hot, hot with some beautiful bodies strutting their stuff in the latest Calvin Klein underwear designs. The saucy segment this evening delivers the first All Access insert (since the show started almost a year ago) that comes with an age restriction of at least PG13!

Other All Access inserts in this evening's episode at 19:30 include Jason Greer chatting to Carrie and the rest of the girls of the Sex and the City II movie at the Londen premiere and Tammy-Anne Fortuin is in Paris with soccer player Aaron Mokoena.

BREAKING. All Access ditches studio permanently, co-anchor Pabi Moloi temporarily, as the M-Net entertainment show revamps for Fridays.

You're reading it here first.

I can reveal the brand-new All Access logo: Gone is the dramatic bright red and black logo of All Access (now on Fridays at 19:30 on M-Net) replaced with sunset soft tones. The opening theme song is also brand-new and less dramatic as well, with a more subdued ditty that's more temperate (yet tonally still rhythmic).

I was FIRST RIGHT here last week to tell you that All Access is shaking up the production. I broke the news in February that All Access would be moving to Fridays in April. Then I was first to reveal earlier this week that Bruce Dennill and Louise Saint-Claire will be joining All Access in a new movie slot.

Another gonner with the new Friday revamp is All Access co-host Pabi Moloi (although just temporarily). Co-host Mark Bayly was joined in Cape Town by Tammy-Anne Fortuin, both suitably dressed in pitch black . . . as if to mourn Pabi Moloi's on location absence. The first episode of All Access in its new Friday night berth started with an extremely akward looking and feeling introduction to explain all the changes.

''As from this week, All Access goes au natural as we venture out of studio and into some of the most beautiful spaces in our country,'' said Tammy-Anne Fortuin.

''I don't have my usual sidekick beside me,'' explained Mark Bayly. ''Because we're coming to you from beautiful Cape Town, who better to have as a co-host than one of Cape Town's most beautiful daughters, the lovely Tammy-Anne Fortuin . . .''

BREAKING. All Access on M-Net is moving out . . .

You're reading it here first.

M-Net's weekly entertainment magazine show All Acess with Mark Bayly and Pabi Moloi is moving out . . . to Fridays.

I broke that news exclusively at the beginning of February right here which M-Net eventually confirmed, and on Thursday I was first right here to tell you about the show also moving out of the M-Net studio from this Friday. Yesterday a source close to the show told me exactly how All Access will change when it makes it debut on the new night of the week on Friday (still in the same 19:30 timeslot), and yesterday I also got that info confirmed from another source.

I've decided not to spoil the surprises and the nice reveal that All Access has planned for Friday, so make sure you tune in and see it for yourself. I will talk about the All Access changes right after the show on Friday night.

BREAKING. M-Net's All Access moving studios, getting a new set, new look.

You're reading it here first.

All Access on M-Net is not just moving to a new day, it's moving house.

The high gloss weekly entertainment show on the pay broadcaster is moving to Fridays on the M-Net schedule and is set to unveil a brand-new look and studio set in its first new Friday night berth. Viewers will see it when All Access debuts next Friday, 2 April at 19:30.

In August last year I was first to reveal the awe inspiring Michael Gill set first RIGHT HERE. I still consider the utterly magnificent All Access set to be the singularly, best TV studio set in existence in all of the South African television broadcasting industry. The Michael Gill creation has since its debut last year continue to set a brilliant new standard for innovative and truly beautiful, yet immersive and functional TV set design, dazzling even under the stringent standards of high definition (HD) filming requirements.

Now the studio production is moving. It's still unclear whether - or how much - of the terrific current All Access set will remain when the show is done from the new studio next week. ''This is our last time in this studio,'' All Access co-anchor Mark Bayly told viewers earlier tonight. The show will originate from a new studio next Friday. ''With a whole new look and everything,'' chirped his co-anchor Pabi Moloi.

BREAKING. Top Billing loses Martha Stewart to All Access.

You're reading it here first.

Martha, Martha Martha. In the perpetual battle between weekly entertainment shows, I can exclusively reveal first that it now seems as if Top Billing on SABC3 has lost a Martha Stewart TV interview to All Access on M-Net.

Top Billing was first to tout an interview with the American domestic diva currently in South Africa, only for M-Net's All Access to swoop in and now claim exclusivity.

Mark Bayly from All Access had a sit-down with Martha Stewart in Cape Town and will most likely run that interview this coming Thursday 4 March at 19:30. Meanwhile Top Billing who also had a Martha Stewart interview scheduled for exactly the same date on SABC3, has suddenly went mum about Martha and now longer touts any such interview insert.

EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK! All Access is working on SOMETHING BIG . . .

You're seeing and reading about it here first.

I'm not going to spill everything just yet (but check back next Thursday, 31 December on the evening it gets broadcast and I promise more beautiful pictures) but All Access on Thursdays at 19:30 on M-Net has something special in store.

Episode 28 of M-Net's weekly entertainment magazine show All Access, - going out next Thursday, 31 December at 19:30 on M-Net, is ''going to be awesome'', I'm told.  

The very special episode (with bubbly on the set to toast in the new year!) is filled with the biggest local music stars from Heinz Winckler to Watershed who all came in to make some noise on New Year's Eve. All the presenters (Bridget Masinga, Jason Greer, Tammy-Anne Fortuin, Ewan Strydom, Koula, Mark Bayly and Pabi Moloi) dressed up to the nines and are all together on the All Access set for this special TV event.

Later next Thursday night, 31 December at 22:30 on M-Net you can also catch the annual Royal Variety Performance.

BREAKING. Mark is voted off the island!

Sad. It wasn't necessary to count the votes, he just kinda got blindsided.

Mark Bayly won't be the host of the third season of Survivor SA.

With a new 3rd season of Survivor SA in the works that will be a celebrity driven version (the Famous running around on an exotic island in the Indian Ocean, filmed during November and December), Mark won't be there to snuff out any overinflated ego's and torches.

It's sad. I've always liked him in that Jeff Probst-y role for our local version.

Of course Mark has changed his muddy boots for some studio makeup and switched the khaki's for some tuxedo's as the co-host of the glam cam magazine show All Access.

According to M-Net that now makes him basically persona non grata to go and hang around on the island.

''Because Mark Bayly is now the anchor presenter of All Access and it's problematic to have the same presenter at the same time as the face of two main shows on a channel, M-Net has to explore other options.''

Yes.

That is of course true of Tyra Banks hosting America's Next Top Model and her own Tyra show, both on the same channel.

That is of course true of Ryan Seacrest hosting E! News daily as well as American Idol.

That is of course true of Gareth Cliff talking on radio and TV in M-Net's very own Gareth Cliff Show at the very same time. And things probably changed since Shaleen Surtie Richards played Nenna in Egoli on M-Net and hosted her own talk show Shaleen on M-Net as well, and Zuraida Jardine fronted Big Brother and had her own show on M-Net's sister channel GO and on and on.

SABC3 has no problem with having Jeannie D and Janez Vermeiren BOTH in Top Billing and Top Travel at the same time.

Unsophisticated (South African) TV audiences get confused so easily these days.
Luckily our TV channels are there to protect them.

I really don't see a problem with an on-air talent doing double duty. When they're actually good at what they do and can fit it in, why not get more out of them?

BREAKING. M-Net brings Survivor SA back - with a celebrity season!

What i CANNOT say is that you're reading it here first. M-Net told me they'd leave me on a deserted island if I break the news before midnight.

M-Net is bringing back Survivor South Africa (Survivor SA) for a third season of the international format that the pay channel adapted into a local series. Endemol SA will produce the 3rd season which will be a ''celebrity edition'' with local stars stranded on an exotic island in the Indian Ocean. (The previous two seasons took place in Panama and Malaysia).

The channel will quickly sift through applicants (the Famous can now apply. The Famous can tell M-Net they want to enter by emailing M-Net - or getting your people to email their people - at celeb@mnet.co.za) and then film the latest island reality adventure in November and December to broadcast it very early next year.

Some other BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG M-Net announcements also IMMINENT and COMING SOON (and totally NOT connected to Survivor SA) but as I said I have to keep the trap shut. For now.

But back to Survivor SA:
1. Will Mark Bayly be available to host again and get time out from his presenting duties on M-Net glam cam show All Access? As soon as I know you'll read it here.

2.According to Helen Smit, head of local content at M-Net the format will remain the same and not be changed. ''We're not planning to change to format to make it easier for our celebs.''

3.Total Drama Island might be the title of a show on The Cartoon Network, but it could soon be the subtitle of Survivor SA! ''It will be interesting to see which celebs are whisked off to the island,'' says Helen. ''It's important to have a mix of personalities and entertainers who will stir the pot and create unforgettable Survivor intrigue.''

4.The Famous will also be screened. (The Famous are known for their fragile, yet otherwise inflated ego's, temper tantrums and sense of entitlement. Ooh. Awesomeness awaits if M-Net does this right.)
''All potential candidates will also have to undergo the Survivor medical and psychological tests," says Helen.

Now Famous, get your people onto their people immediately.