BREAKING. A second season of MasterChef South Africa coming soon for M-Net - sources.

You're reading it here first. 

I've been told by insiders that a second season of MasterChef South Africa is on the cards for pay-TV operator M-Net.

"Definitely going ahead," an insider familiar with the matter told me. MasterChef SA - despite controversy towards the end - held in the viewership for M-Net especially towards the end when viewership grew, prompting the decision for a second season of the reality show.

Some MasterChef SA episodes, viewership wise, even outperformed Carte Blanche and Idols during some weeks earlier this year which are perenially the most watched shows on the channel.

According to sources, an official announcement should be made soon, after which another new call to enter for amateur chefs in South Africa would commence. Plans for a MasterChef SA Celebrity Edition which were mulled over in May and to be shot during August isn't going ahead.

I asked M-Net Friday morning about what I've heard and a looming second season for MasterChef South Africa. The pay-operator didn't immediately respond with comment.

BREAKING. Masterchef South Africa coming to M-Net; pay broadcaster looking to do a local version of the hit reality food show.

You might have seen the news I exclusively got to break last month that the BBC's reality food show Come Dine with Me will be filming a few episodes right here in South Africa. Now I can reveal that the TV diet is going to get even better:
M-Net is planning on doing a brand-new local version - and a whole season - of MasterChef, entitled MasterChef South Africa.

MasterChef South Africa - similar to MasterChef Australia currently on M-Net - will see South African wannabe chefs doing soufflés and saki (or is it maybe potjiekos and putu pap?) whilst racing against that killer clock going tick-tock...

This news also solves THIS riddle when, back in April, I asked M-Net channel head Pierre Cloete what's behind the strategy of the new daily episodes of MasterChef Australia on M-Net.  Pierre Cloete told me there's a ''very specific reason''. And now we know: MasterChef South Africa! Start practising goggo's secret recipes people!

M-Net tells TV with Thinus that ''M-Net will definitely embark on another reality series this year'' when i asked - after I've heard production industry rumblings about MasterChef South Africa.
''It is true that M-Net has approached 14 production companies to pitch for a possible local version of MasterChef,'' the pay broadcaster tells me.

Want more? What is the latest with The X Factor, that other big buzz reality show? Sources are telling me M-Net definitely plans to show the American version of Simon Cowell's new reality show after it starts in a few months' time in America. The jury is still out on a local South African version, I'm told, which has to do with expensive rights' issues.

Regarding The X Factor M-Net is only saying, ''we are still looking at a number of possbilities, including The X Factor. M-Net has become the home of top mainstream reality shows and we are constantly evaluating possibilities.''