Strictly Come Dancing back on BBC Brit for season 19 featuring 3 professional South African dancers as well as first same-sex dancing couple.

by Thinus Ferreira

The 19th season of Strictly Come Dancing starts on BBC Brit (DStv 120) on Sunday 26 September at 19:00 with three South African dancers - Oti Mabuse, Johannes Radebe and Cameron Lombard - with the season also including the show's first same-sex dancing couple.

For the first time, three South African professional dancers are part of the glitter dancing format competition show.

The Pretoria born Oti Mabuse, who is the current Strictly Come Dancing title holder for 2019 and 2020; Johannes Radebe who was raised in Sasolburg and who has won numerous dance titles including two-time Professional South African Latin Champion and three-time South African Amateur Latin Champion; as well as the newcomer Cameron Lombard, are the three South African professional dancers viewers will see in this season.

Strictly Come Dancing is also making history with the first same-sex dancing couple. 

The Great British Bake Off winner John Whaite (32) is dancing with Johannes Radebe as his dancing partner.

Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman rare back as the co-hosts this season.

British celebrities participating in this year's competition range from the competitive swimmer Adam Peaty, to TV presenters AJ Odudu, Tilly Ramsey and Rhys Stephenson; journalist and presenter Dan Walker, as well as actors Greg Wise, Nina Wadia, Katie McGlynn and Eastenders regular Rose Ayling-Ellis.  

The celebrity baker John Whaite joins comedians Judi Love and Robert Webb as well as businesswoman, entrepreneur and TV personality Sara Davies, musician Tom Fletcher and sports pundit and former Rugby Union player Ugo Monye to make up the contenders for this season.

The "Queen of Latin" Shirley Ballas returns as head judge and joins the legendary judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke as they cast their eyes on the season 19 hopefuls and score them weekly on their performances.

South African dancer Motsi Mabuse joins the judging panel of Britain's Strictly Come Dancing glitter dance-reality show.

The South African dancer Motsi Mabuse is replacing Darcey Bussell as a judge on the panel of the British version of Strictly Come Dancing from the new upcoming season that will start in late-2019, with the show that is seen in South Africa on BBC Brit (DStv 120) on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service.

Motsi Mabuse (38) is the older sister of Oti Mabuse. Oti Mabuse has been part of three seasons of the British version of Strictly Come Dancing as a dancer, with South Africa's Johannes Radebe who joined the British version last year.

Motsi Mabuse won the South African and German Latin championships in 2009 and 2010 consecutively, and have been a judge on the panel of Let’s Dance in Germany since 2011.

Motsi Mabuse in a statement said she's overjoyed to join the Strictly Come Dancing judges Bruno Tonioli, Craig Revel Horwood and Shirley Ballas. "I have so much respect and admiration for the other three judges and hope to add my own bit of sparkle to the show. I can't wait to get started!"

On her social media she quoted from the Erin Hanson poem, repeating "There is freedom waiting for you, on the breezes of the sky, and you ask, 'What if I fall?' Oh, but my darling, what if you fly?"

Charlotte Moore, the BBC’s director of content, said in a statement that "Motsi is a brilliant addition to the show".

"She is a wonderful dancer in her own right and already has years of experience as a judge under her belt. We're all looking forward to welcoming her to the Strictly Come Dancing family."

Sarah James, the Strictly Come Dancing executive producer says "I am incredibly excited that Motsi Mabuse is joining the show. Motsi’s natural warmth, energy and passion for dance makes her the perfect addition to our esteemed judging panel."

BBC Worldwide Africa continues to beef up BBC Brit by broadening the channel; moving EastEnders and Strictly Come Dancing over to BBC Brit.

As part of the ongoing process to beef up the offering and to lift ratings of the male-skewed BBC Brit (DStv 120), BBC Worldwide will now be adding female-focused programming from other BBC channels.

The British soap EastEnders is being moved from BBC First (DStv 119) to BBC Brit from 19 June, to 18:30 on weeknights, while Strictly Come Dancing is being moved from BBC Lifestyle (DStv 174) to BBC Brit.

While DStv subscribers lose EastEnders as a high definition (HD) show since BBC First is an HD channel, BBC First is adding the medical drama Holby City from 19 June at 19:00 on weeknights that is "back by popular demand" for the 18th season.

BBC Worldwide Africa says it's broadening BBC Brit. DStv subscribers have been vocal in complaints about too many repeats and too little new programming on the channel, something the BBC has been addressing the past few months.

The movement of BBC channels content means that DStv Extra and DStv Compact subscribers will get access to EastEnders and more newer shows.

BBC Worldwide Africa says BBC Brit will continue to be the channel for series like Top Gear and The Graham Norton Show, but will now also see Strictly Come Dancing moved to BBC Brit, as well as new drama and comedy series like Michael McIntyre's Big Show.

"We know our African audiences have an insatiable appetite for entertaining British soaps," says Kully Kaur-Bains, BBC Worldwide's head of programming for Africa.

"We are excited to introduce the scandals, romances and family dramas of EastEnders to even more DStv viewers on BBC Brit. In addition, firm favourite Holby City is back with a bang and will have our BBC First audiences hooked."

"South Africa is the only market in the world to host BBC Worldwide's fullsuite of channels and over the past 6 months we have seen record viewing figures and an impressive 17% uplift in share, proving that we are the ones to watch," says Kully Kaur-Bains.

South Africa's biggest reality TV showdown: Battle of the exes start as an avalanche of reality shows fight for viewer attention at the same time.

As The X Factor South Africa on SABC1 gets ready to take on M-Net's Idols X from tonight, an unprecedented avalanche of local format reality television programming is set to be unleased on South African viewers who are going to find it extremely difficult to watch and keep track of it all with multiple shows, episodes, and contestants desperately vying for viewer attention.

Never in the history of South African television has so many hit local reality format TV show aired concurrently, placing a huge demand on the available TV time, concentration and attention viewers will be able to devote to trying to watch and follow it all.

The first season of The X Factor SA starts on SABC1 this evening at 18:00, as Strictly Come Dancing South Africa's 7th season has episodes on Fridays at 20:00 and elimination episodes on Saturdays at 19:00 on SABC3.

Meanwhile the 5th season of SA's Got Talent starts this evening as well on e.tv at 18:05, with the 10th season of Idols on M-Net and DStv's Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) on Sundays at 17:30. As if it's not enough, there's the third season of MasterChef South Africa on M-Net on Thursday at 19:30, with the third season of Ultimate Braai Master starting on e.tv this Thursday at 20:30.

Big Brother Africa Hotspots would also have started on AfricaMagic Showcase (DStv 150) and two dedicated DStv channels this Sunday at 19:00 if it wasn't that a devastating fire destroyed the Endemol South Africa camera house at Sasani Studios on Tuesday.

Spread out, most of the popular localised format reality shows are ratings juggernauts, delivering big audiences, buzz and reams of press attention about the nouveau contestants of a specific season when there's little other local reality shows to compete.

South African commissioning editors, channel heads and TV executives who plan their annual schedules mostly independently, however didn't bargain on their top tentpole productions all being up against each other at the same time of the year - let alone during the same primetime timeslots over especially weekends.

Now as even DStv PVR decoders will have a hard time keeping up with recording it all - in several instances hours of shows running on different TV channels at the same time - viewers and South African TV critics will battle to do their homework and watch it all.

TV with Thinus is aware of several fretting TV executives who were privately shocked when TV channels started to reveal their big reality shows and startling starting dates - and are now keeping a close watch on viewership numbers, press attention and social media to see which shows will not only break through and connect with viewers, but maintain momentum and viewer engagement.


Shows all require a high demand of viewer love
"In another year any of these shows on SABC1, e.tv, M-Net and SABC3 would almost guarantee a big chunk of excited viewers, advertising money and a lot of attention," said a longtime South African producer speaking on condition of anonymity so as to not impact on existing production relationships with several broadcasters.

"The irony is that all of the shows are now up against each other, dividing the potential audience share. They're fighting for eyeballs and the same viewers who will have a difficult time to keep up with the high demand and viewer love these shows require".

"There's different judges, different formats and different contestants you have to get to know before you choose your favourites and which ones you want to support. And now it's all at the same time for the next couple of months. We might see viewer fatigue because of overload," cautioned the producer.


Who's who in the reality zoo
On MasterChef South Africa on M-Net the top 12 contestants have now been revealed with the heightened kitchen drama and elimination now in full gear with new judge Reuben Riffel who joined the show - and a celebrity edition awaits in January 2015.

Ultimate Braai Master on e.tv also has a new judge - chef Petrus Madutlela,with 13 braai teams throwing a "vleisie" and whatever else they're challenged with, on the coals.

Meanwhile The X Factor South Africa on SABC1 is bound to make a splash with viewers - at least intially. Viewers will be tuning in to see the first local version and how it looks after having followed the British and American versions.

It remains to be seen whether judges Arno Carstens, Zonke, Oskido and presenter Andile Ncube will be able to connect with viewers and deliver big ratings.

Strictly Come Dancing SA on SABC3 is set to ramp up the drama in the ongoing two episodes per week as the celebrity contestants dwindle, while the new season of SA's Got Talent on e.tv also starts with the first few episodes covering the nationwide auditions with new judges in the form of DJ Fresh and Lalla Hirayama who join the returning Shado Twala.

The 10th season of Idols on M-Net adopted the "X" as in Idols X - presumably due to The X Factor SA on SABC1. The show also underwent a big tweak this season with the contestants now being eliminated during the Sunday live spectacular performances instead of separate Tuesday episodes to up the ante for viewer attention.


Eating into Generations' lead?
The big loser could end up being none other than SABC1 and Generations - South Africa's most watched TV show and soap. "With so much to watch and courting viewers, some of the Generations viewers might be lured away and never return when the soap runs out of episodes," quips a TV biz insider.

The Generations actors went on strike demanding promised three year contracts and better pay rates and were promptly fired by the SABC.

"When viewers end the habit of watching what they used to tune in from October when there's no further Generations to show and sample some of the new exciting shows, some of them might never return".

BREAKING. Strictly Come Dancing contestant John Mametsa out of Friday's episode of Strictly Come Dancing after the death of his mother.

The Strictly Come Dancing contestant John Mametsa will not be appearing on Friday night's episode of the 7th season of Strictly Come Dancing on SABC3, following the death of his mother.

It's the second time that the death of a contestant's mother caused a celebrity contestant to drop out of Strictly Come Dancing.

Exactly a year ago Connie Ferguson skipped the Rapid Blue produced live show on SABC3 following the death of her mother who actually attended the first episode of the 6th season of Strictly Come Dancing.

There's been no word from SABC3 or the production yet.

BREAKING. Roxy Burger, Katlegoe Maboe Strictly Come Dancing's new presenters' duo for the upcoming 7th season on SABC3.

You're reading it here first.

I can break the news and exclusively reveal that Roxy Burger and Katlegoe Maboe of morning show Expresso, will be the new presenters' duo of the popular ballroom dancing floor format show Strictly Come Dancing's upcoming 7th season on SABC3.

The 7th season of Strictly Come Dancing, produced by Rapid Blue, will start on SABC3 on Friday 18 July at 20:30 for 10 episodes of two hours each.

The reality dancing show was successfully revived last year by SABC3, which is looking to build upon the new momentum.

The reality show - one of the few broadcasts outside of news and sport the SABC still does live - helped to not only lift SABC3 ratings but also helped SABC3 in a new metric measure of success: online and social media buzz, where viewers engaged and talked about the show and the contestants.

According to various TV with Thinus sources the new 7th season of Strictly Come Dancing has Roxy Burger and Katlegoe Maboe as presenters. The various celebrity dancers and the professional dancers they're paired up will be announced tonight in Johannesburg at the VSP Lounge in Sandton.

Roxy Burger is still on honeymoon in France and not in South Africa.

"We've spent a lot of time on who our presenters will be, who the celebrity dancers will be, what kind of music will be selected for the show, what kind of sets we're looking for, the kind of artists that are performing in-between, simply because we want to set a tone" says Aisha Mohamed, SABC3's new channel head.

"We simply want to bring Strictly Come Dancing back to what it was, which is a really beautiful show".

Strictly Come Dancing returns to SABC3 for a new 7th season on Friday nights from 18 July, with a new presenter.

Strictly Come Dancing is returning to SABC3 for a 7th season, with a new South African season of the ballroom dancing competition format show set to start on Friday, 18 July at 20:30 - with a new presenter.

There will be 10 episodes in the new season of Strictly Come Dancing which will be announced next week. The show is once again being produced by Rapid Blue.

The reality dancing show was successfully revived last year by SABC3 but instead of two seasons this year, there will however only be one.

The 6th season of the show last year - which saw its episodes broadcast live from Auckland Park - not only helped to lift SABC3's ratings which has been struggling with viewership numbers, but also gave SABC3 some much-needed buzz, since the format show has proven to be perfect for live viewer interaction given the rise of social media use under South African consumers.

A new presenter and the celebrity contestants of the upcoming 7th season will be announced next week, but the scheduling of the 2 hour long dance extravaganza episodes is already raising eyebrows.

Where previous seasons of Strictly Come Dancing took place mid-week, the new season will play out on SABC3 on Friday nights - traditionally one of the least watched evenings of the week when most potential viewers will not be home to watch.

INTERVIEW. 'I like people to dance beautifully', says Craig Revel Horwood, judge on Strictly Come Dancing on BBC Entertainment.

The 11th season of the British Strictly Come Dancing is on BBC Entertainment (DStv 120) on Sundays at 19:19 and recently I spoke with one of the charismatic judges, Craig Revel Horwood whose been with the dancing floor format show since the very first series.

I asked him about his recent hip operation he underwent in October, and Craig Revel Horwood told me why dancing is an "adventure". He reveals what he thinks Strictly Come Dancing has meant for the world so far, that he has paddles for scoring from 1 to 10 and that he likes using from 1 to 10 - and what the true beauty of the show is.


What do you enjoy the most about being a part of Strictly Come Dancing?
What I enjoy the most is the dancing obviously because I come from a dance background. I started and trained as a dancer for 15 years professionally and then I became a director and choreographer and that's how I then became a judge on Strictly Come Dancing.

That of course was 11 series ago which is absolutely incredible. When we first started the series Len Goodman  -who is head judge - and myself, really gave it three weeks. And how wrong we were. This has gone on to literally 49 countries worldwide now and is the most produced television show format in the world. Its in the Guinness Book of World Records for that very reason. Incredible.

The enjoyment not only I get but I think the audience, is incredible.It has changed the hearts and minds of certainly this nation and nations all around the world.

Dance is one of those things that humanity finds necessary. You can go back thousands of years and people were dancing. So Strictly Come Dancing has brought a bit of that dance passion back to the world.

It has changed my life considerably and it certainly changed the life of many people in the audience due to the fact that they're now inspired to want to go and learn to dance. It has become a trend. Its amazing. And every years I get more and more enjoyment out of it.


Craig it actually leads me into my next question. We see your version, we just saw a new South African season of Strictly Come Dancing. We see the American version. 
How do you think the awareness of dancing has changed and is there a particular dance style that people are more exposed or more willing to try?
The world has taken dance to its heart most definitely because of Strictly Come Dancing. It shows people that you can have two left feet and can still do 30 seconds of great dancing. We've had some terrible, terrible dancers on the show with the celebrities that people love to watch.

That in itself inspires normal people at home who've never done it to want to get up and try it. My favourite dance I suppose has to be the tango because its a little bit more improvised than the ballroom. It also is a close contact hold and also has fantastic music.

Of course music plays an enormous part in people's lives. If you want to dance as well its just a wonderful thing to do. You get fantastic exercise which is great for your heart and health and you're also having fun. I think that's why people have gone on to learn and dance.

Most people I speak to in the streets absolutely love the show and have started dancing because of it. So that can only be a good thing.

Are there parts of the show that - I mean from a viewer's perspective its all glitz and glam - that's actually deceptively more difficult in real life to produce?
Strictly Come Dancing has taught many nations the rules and regulations of dance. That in a waltz you have three steps. And that the timing is in three four. So people have learnt all of that. So I think That is significant in itself.

I really think the beauty of this particular programme is that people can consider a life of dance. And you don't have to be a good dancer to do it. Yes, its a lot more involved, obviously, that the viewer may realise, but it shouldn't put anyone off from learning.

The celebrities who come on the show haven't dance before. We've had boxers, we've had people who are famous for running or rugby players who have never danced before, but you can see their journey from beginning to end. You can see them learn and the enjoyment they get out of it.

And after three weeks most of the celebs can pull a routine together and put the one foot in front of the other, which is amazing.

Obviously we've had people, like politicians, who many people said just polished the floor with their backside, which is amusing and great fun. Anybody who is willing can do it. If you can walk you can dance. Its just a matter of timing which people sometimes find difficult.

Dance is an adventure because you don't have to get it right all the time and you can put a bit of self expression into it. You're telling a story, you're having a great time.


I wanted to ask you  - last year my dad had a hip replacement - and I think you had one very recently but were almost back on your feet the next day, which is out of the ordinary. Do you have any advice from your personal experience for other people going through that?
The thing to do is, number one, have it done and not be scared to have it done because it will change your life.

Not to be nervous about it because hip replacements - so many people have it done, they do so many a day. Don't put it off. That's why I had mine done. You have to look after yourself. Because I'm a professional dancer, of course I have a lot more at stake.

So they wanted me on my feet as soon as possible. So I literally had the operation and two hours after the operation I was standing. And then 5 hours after the operation I was doing exercises. It is an incredible procedure. Its a huge operation but its nothing to be nervous about. And it will change your life.

I'm walking without anything, doing hydrotherapy. Its the muscle which is the difficult thing to repair and which is why it takes up to 6 weeks to repair but of course I've got to dance so I have to make sure all the muscles are strong.

You have to treat yourself professionally and treat yourself like a sports person in order to keep it there and keep it solid. I'm very lucky to have an amazing surgeon and an incredible team behind me supporting me and that includes friends and family. Its the best thing I could have done in my life.

I see a Doctor Who poster behind you on the wall, and forgive me, I know its not your show, but I want to ask are you a fan of Doctor Who which we also see here in South Africa on BBC Entertainment?
Doctor Who! I don't watch Doctor Who but I used to watch it as a child. I remember one Doctor Who and that is Tom Baker. Its amazing that the show has a 50th anniversary and ratings are soaring and there are millions and million and millions of Doctor Who fans out there.


Do you have a second voice, or have you by now switched that off, when you have to hand out your criticism? Is there a second voice that keeps you back of harshness or level of praise? How do you decide how far and how honest and how truthful you can be?

Scoring is really important. I have paddles ranging from 1 to 10 and I like using from 1 to 10.

Some judges only like using between 6 and 10 who will remain nameless ... Len Goodman.

Ha ha ha.

I find it very easy to see what's wrong with a dance. I think its very important that the celebrity knows what's wrong in order that they can fix it for the next week.

I think it would be terrible to tell someone they're fantastic and not be honest with them and tell the truth.

Otherwise they will go away and repeat the same mistakes over and over again. I generally go on about the hands because I don't like nasty, spastulistic hands.

Ha ha.

I like them to be shaped. I like people to dance beautifully. And in order to dance beautifully you need to know what's wrong with you. Like any teacher, if you go to a dance school, the teacher will not be saying "oh that's wonderful" because you will never work as a professional dancer if you're not pushed and you have to be corrected.

I think of them as just directions. Obviously, some celebrities take that personally. Usually the actors and actresses because they're highly emotional.

Sports people take correction in a proper professional fashion and they take that idea of what what is wrong with their dancing and they usually fix it the following week and then you see improvement.

That's the only reason why I'm so critical I suppose. Do I have two voices? Yes. But one is a judge voice and one is me as a person. If I'm out and about with celebs I'm not going to be judging them. But I put a judge's hat on when I judge and that is the critical one.

And then when I'm at the BBC bar I'm as lovely ...

Ha ha ha.

... and as nice a person as you will ever meet. All loving, all giving, all embracing. Because when I am judging I think its important to be honest and to give them a mark out of 10 that they deserve.

Craig, I know exactly what you mean and you say it so succinctly. 
Thank you so very much for your time.


Strictly Come Dancing UK XI is on Sundays on BBC Entertainment (DStv 120) at 19:19

BREAKING. Strictly Come Dancing to see a 7th season on SABC3 'very soon' following successful revival of the dance floor format show.

You're reading it here first.

Strictly Come Dancing will be back for a 7th season on SABC3 very soon.

A 7th season of Strictly Come Dancing on SABC3 will be announced very soon following the successful revival of the international dance floor format show on South African television after the on-screen comeback of the Rapid Blue produced show which jumped from SABC2 to SABC3 for a 6th season.

The 6th season which just concluded with Zakeeya Patel and Ryan Hammond taking the glitter ball home, saw real-life love blossom between two pairs of contestants: the winning couple Zakeeya Patel and Ryan Hammond who are very much in love, as well as Expresso presenter Graeme Richards and dance instructor Lindsey Muckle who also found love on the dance floor.

"Season seven of Strictly Come Dancing is coming soon," says Risuna Mayimele, SABC3's marketing manager. "This is the first year for the show on SABC3."

Risuna Mayimele says Strictly Come Dancing will "come back very soon". "I know that it was around five years where there was no Strictly Come Dancing [on South African television] but it will be back very soon because it has been very successful for the channel."

"From the reaction from viewers we've clearly been sorely missed and I'm so glad to be back on air. And I hope to be back on air with a new 7th season soon," said Kee-Leen Irvine, the managing director of Rapid Blue and the executive producer of Strictly Come Dancing.

Besides Strictly revived on SABC3, Rapid Blue is responsible for new seasons of TV hits SA's Got Talent on e.tv as well as Come Dine with Me South Africa on DStv's BBC Entertainment channel.

At SABC3's Strictly Come Dancing afterparty held on Thursday night at Kong in Rosebank, contestant Damon Kalvari trashed the amateur new 24-hour TV channel ANN7 (DStv 405) in his speech, saying he was approach by an ANN7 presenter and camera team "calling me Mister De Niro" and imploring "GuptaTV", as the mistake-riddled news channel on DStv has become known, "to please continue to make us laugh".

Following her dazzling win, Zakeeya Patel immediately fell in on set with her new on-screen role in SABC1's new political TV drama series End Game which will broadcast from October for 13 episodes. Ryan Hammond isn't sleeping in either.

"I'm starting a new show in Durban in the Playhouse called Shall We Dance?, there's 80 in the cast and its for 11 days. Then I'll be teaching at our studio in Pretoria and that's what I usually do - I teach a lot of couples for their weddings and young champions to be professionals, and doing some corporate work."

The happy dance couple both had advice for contestants of the upcoming 7th season of Strictly Come Dancing on SABC3.

"I would say to the professionals make sure you have a good team behind you," says Ryan Hammond. "The team is important. Don't be scared to ask and don't be too proud to ask other people for assistance and advice."

"You need the support of your family and your team. To the celebrities I would say you really need to trust your professional partner. That was the secret of Zakeeya's success. She allowed me to put my vision into practice and she trusted me with everything and you need to trust your professional partner," says Ryan Hammond.

Zakeeya Patel's advice to celebrities forming part of the new season is "work hard. Keep your head down and your eye on the prize and it's yours."

Strictly Come Dancing on SABC3's worldwide record for the 6th season: injuries, accidents, mishaps and sadness.

Strictly Come Dancing on SABC3 which just concluded its 6th season on SABC3 produced by Rapid Blue and which saw winners Zakeeya Patel and Ryan Hammond take the glitter ball home, broke a global record: the most accidents, mishaps and sadness for a single season anywhere in the world of this dance floor format reality show.

"Strictly Come Dancing started with Graeme Richards in a car accident on his way to the very first rehearsal," says Kee-Leen Irvine, Rapid Blue's managing director and executive producer of Strictly Come Dancing.

"Then Grant Esterhuizen had an accident. Then Jay Anstey hurt her back. Then Connie Ferguson's mom passed away. Then Mpho Popps got food poisoning - and I'm sure one of the other dancers had something to do with that," Kee-Lee Irvine joked.

"L'Vovo sprained his ankle, Kuli Roberts was running a fever that was higher than her number of followers on Twitter. So we've decided that the theme song for this season of Strictly Come Dancing is "I'm a Survivor",' Kee-Leen Irvine said.

BREAKING. Zakeeya Patel and Ryan Hammond wins the 6th season of Strictly Come Dancing on SABC3.

As unexpected real-life love blossomed between two on-screen couples and as two divas threw backstage tantrums week after week unbeknownst to the public, Zakeeya Patel and Ryan Hammond were crowned the winning couple of the dance floor Wednesday night in the finale of Strictly Come Dancing on SABC3.

While off the record Graeme Richards remained the critics'darling and their favourite to win, and Lalla Hirayama was expected to win after his elimination, it was Zakeeya Patel and Ryan Hammond who danced to victory in the two hour 6th season finale of the format floor reality show on SABC3.

Thapelo Mokoena and Hayley Bennet as the third remaining couple was first to be eliminated in Wednesday evening's finale, following the judges request for "passion" and "commitment" on the final night.

The format floor show again successfully produced by Rapid Blue has proved a surprising viewership success for SABC3, after Strictly Come Dancing shifted from sister channel SABC2 for its television revival and the 6th season.

BREAKING. Dueling drama as two South African reality show finales force all TV critics to choose between MasterChef and Strictly.

Dueling drama endured on Wednesday behind the scenes as South Africa's TV critics, journalists covering TV, and editors of frothy gossip mags dispatching their minions, were all split between attending the finale of SABC3's Strictly Come Dancing reality show or the finale of M-Net's MasterChef South Africa - both broadcasting their finales and announcing winners on the same night.

South Africa's fickle flock of entertainment and TV hacks - from editors to junior writers - pondered and in whispers buzzed among themselves since Monday about where to go and what to attend: MasterChef South Africa in Sandton or Strictly Come Dancing at Auckland Park.

Nobody wants to have missed the better story the next day; even more of them don't want to miss the better goodie swag bag who care more about what they are personally going to score than actually covering news.

Thus the dueling reality show finales presented the biggest conundrum in conflicting South African television events since the night of 28 October 2010 when the SA's Got Talent finale on SABC2 took place on the same night as MultiChoice's press and media event in a hired Houghton mansion.

(Guess which one won then because the bulk of the press decided to endure a rainy night for possible expensive presents instead of covering news. Yes, go look at the number of press clippings on 29 October and see the winner - and loser.)

On Wednesday evening both SABC3's Strictly Come Dancing and M-Net's MasterChef South Africa lured an even group of editors and journalists to their respective television events.

With corporate downsizing and ongoing skeletal looking editorial staff at dailies, weeklies, fortnightlies and even monthlies one of the entertainment publishing industry's big secrets in South Africa is that there's no longer multiple journalists and TV critics on standby to cover multiple simultaneous events.

An ever diminishing number of magazines and newspapers in South Africa are able to send journalists to cover both or multiple events within a genre such as music, film or television on the same day and at the same time - which results in some difficult decisions and choices from time to time.

Press and TV critics flying in from Durban, Cape Town and elsewhere in the country to Johannesburg also had a hard choice to make similar to colleagues at rival publications based in Johannesburg - strictly Dancing or strictly MasterChef.

Interestingly, looking at the split of veteran TV critics and longtime journalists covering the TV and entertainment industry and looking at who preferred to attend which event - both drew about an even number of longtime rival journalists with some going to Strictly Come Dancing and some going to MasterChef South Africa.

With a celebrity fashion show event on Wednesday evening also in the mix as a third attention-seeking "pick me" function taking place, journalists who briefly did show at the TV show-and-tells, actually absconded early, making arrangements to get copy and juicy titbits from freelance journalists and other attendees, as they rushed to try and cover the third event.

M-Net sent out its press release announcing the winner of MasterChef South Africa at 21:02; SABC3 issued its press statement at 22:40 as journalists at both event took to twitter, their iPads and laptops to make the late night deadlines for Thursday publications.

A stilted Marc Lottering tells SABC3 viewers about 'Strictly Come Back Dancing'; seems ill-prepared as a presenter for the dance reality show.

A stilted Marc Lottering, co-host on SABC3's dance reality show Strictly Come Dancing comes across as extremely ill-prepared and even got the show's name wrong on Wednesday night in the second episode, calling it "Strictly Come Back Dancing" before apologising.

Marc Lottering who keeps reading with his head down a lot from his cue cards, and even then struggles to read fluently and correctly, comes across as unprepared, unprofessional, anxious, and at times out of his depth on the dance floor format show where graceful movement and flow is supposed to be the hallmark of the programme.

Strictly Come Dancing co-presenter Pabi Moloi is left time and again as the "I will laugh it away for both of us" foil as Marc Lottering has trouble keeping eye contact with the camera and the viewer, and constantly reads almost everything off his cue cards - and even then not doing a good job of it.

Marc Lottering even called the current 6th season of Strictly Come Dancing "Strictly Come Back Dancing" on Wednesday night while he was reading it all (along with big and inappropriate hand gestures) in his biggest gaffe of Wednesday's live show.

"But before all of that ladies and gentlemen," read Marc Lottering, "please put your hands together and welcome to the Strictly Come Back Dancing"... when Pabi Moloi quickly and appropriately jumped in and corrected him.

"I'm so excited!" squealed Marc Lottering. "Let me try that again."

TV presenters get the gig over so-called normal people because they supposedly have on-air rapport and exude a warm personal connection with viewers.

They're able to juggle multiple voices in their ear pieces, put in the hard work and homework preparing beforehand late at night, and because they are able to carry on and make technical snafu's behind-the-scenes almost invisible by continuing a conversation as if nothing has gone wrong.

Marc Lottering on Wednesday night on Strictly Come Dancing on SABC3 was cringeworthy, his presentation style inept, and will seriously need to put more work hours and preparation time into his latest presentation gig.

If you present a show, present it and don't read it. Don't ham up with humour to such a large degree where it ends up coming across as a panacea for not having prepared or not knowing the structure and segments and what and who will be happening next, off by heart.

Less wildly erratic and large arm and hand movements will keep the attention where it belong: on the contestants and the dancing. This isn't a one-man stand-up comedy routine but an ensemble reality dance show.

Everybody on television - especially live television - is allowed a mistake or two. But too many ongoing inappropriate mistakes on-air after a while end up becoming a tell-tale sign of unpreparedness.

As a dance reality show, viewers tune in to Strictly Come Dancing to watch the celebrity contestants maybe miss a step or a turn. The presenters steering this two hour tele-extravaganza week after week, however should never miss a beat when it comes to eloquence, poise and precision.

And at the moment it feels as if Marc Lottering is missing too many of those have-to-get-it-right steps.

BREAKING. Revealed! Strictly Come Dancing's 10 South African stars who will strut their stuff in the 6th season on SABC3 from 10 July.

You're reading it here first.

Connie Ferguson, Graeme Richards, Kuli Roberts, Lalla, Jay Anstey, Zakeeya Patel, Damon Kalvari, Mpho Popps Modikoane, L'Vovo and Thapelo Mokoena are the 10 South African celebrities who will be dancing in the 6th season of the floor format dance reality show Strictly Come Dancing starting in less than three weeks on SABC3 on 10 July at 20:00 TV with Thinus can be first to reveal.

The biggest battle for the ballroom floor awaits as the dance reality show shifts from SABC2 to SABC3 for the 6th season.

There's been no response from the broadcaster as to why Strictly Come Dancing is shifting channels. The 6th season of the popular live entertainment reality show was originally planned for the latter part of last year but was then shifted to 2013.

Strictly Come Dancing's 6th season will run for 10 weeks from the SABC's Renaissance Centre in Auckland Park on Wednesday nights between 20:00 to 22:00 as the dance couples compete against each other trying to impress a panel of judges and viewers who get to vote for who they want to help keep in the show.

Dance pairs will start to be cut from Strictly Come Dancing from the third episode.

Strictly Come Dancing is once again produced for the SABC by the format show powerhouse Rapid Blue, the production company behind reality entertainment shows which has already seen multiple seasons on South African television ranging from SA's Got Talent on e.tv and Come Dine with SA on BBC Entertainment, to The Bar-One Manhunt on SABC1.

The South African celebrities who will be stepping into their dancing shoes range from the darling TV soap queen Connie Ferguson currently on the Mzansi Magic channel in her own TV drama series and the socialite Kuli Roberts, to SABC3's fit morning breakfast show presenter Graeme Richards who can be seen on Expresso.

Lalla Hirayama, the Vuzu TV channel presenter who has a dance history, actress and reality star Jay Anstey, the Indian actress Zakeeya Patel seen in the SABC3 drama High Rollers and the comedian Mpho Popps Modikoane are also onboard the 6th season of Strictly Come Dancing.

The radioman Damon Kalvari from 5FM, musician L'Vovo Derrango and the actor and presenter Thapelo Mokoena round out the top 10 stars who are all paired with dance professionals and who will be dancing live in front of a studio audience as viewers watch at home.

With less than three weeks to go before Strictly Come Dancing starts on SABC3, the channel and its PR company has so far declined to release any names or photos.

While news about the upcoming season and the show's return to SABC3 has been known for quite a while now, SABC3's PR company only officially confirmed the show's return to the schedule late yesterday afternoon with an official announcement which including no celebrity contestants' names.

SABC3 said that the channel is in no doubt that the 6th season of Strictly Come Dancing will become the programme of choice on Wednesday evenings.

"Full of warmth, joy and the 'wow'-factor, we are thrilled to be bringing back Strictly Come Dancing, the most glamorous entertainment show in the world, for its 6th season," said Kee-Leen Irvine, the managing director of Rapid Blue and the executive producer of the show in the issued statement. "It's war on the dance floor and we can't wait to see this year's celebrities in action."

BREAKING. Strictly Come Dancing returning to the SABC for a 6th season - but this time SABC3 - from 10 July at 20:00 for 10 episodes.

Strictly Come Dancing, the popular gloss floor format show which has seen several seasons on SABC2 is set to return on Wednesday 10 July at 20:00 - but this time the reality dancing show is waltzing over to sister channel SABC3.

In August last year TV with Thinus broke the news and reported that a new 6th season for Strictly Come Dancing is on the cards and that the format show will be moving to SABC3.

The show - a big tentpole local production - which was planned for the latter part of 2012, was then postponed to 2013 as I reported.

Now Strictly Come Dancing is back on as a winter showpiece with 10 episodes of two hours each which will see a new crop of South African celebs dance it out. The reality dancefloor caper is once again being produced by Rapid Blue.

BREAKING. Strictly Come Dancing returning for a new 6th season to South African television - but this time it will be on SABC3.

You're reading it here first. 

I can exclusively break the news and reveal that Strictly Come Dancing will hopefully be back on South African TV screens for a new local 6th season - but with one catch: the show is ditching SABC2 for SABC3 as the new TV channel.

This "floor format show" as it's called in the biz is the second big tentpole reality show SABC2 is losing after SA's Got Talent (which is starting next week Thursday) jumped ship to e.tv.

"It's a new and local season. It will only be going out hopefully early next year," insider sources are telling exclusively.

In April I exclusively revealed that insiders told me that SA's Got Talent, So You Think You Can Dance and Stricly Come Dancing would all be back with further new local seasons on South African television - but not necessarily on the TV channels where viewers saw them last.

I was then told that all 3 shows are in development for further new seasonsfor this year. Now Strictly Come Dancing, based on the British format of the same name, has been moved to possibly early 2013, but is definitely switching from SABC2 to SABC3.

BREAKING. SA's Got Talent, So You Think You Can Dance and Strictly Come Dancing will all be back for new seasons this year.

I can reveal that the ''floor shows'' as the trade calls it - SA's Got Talent, So You Think You Can Dance? and Strictly Come Dancing will all be back this year with new further seasons - there's one catch though - don't necessarily expect these reality shows to remain on the channel's you've seen them on previously.

I was told that all 3 shows are in development for further seasons on South African television.

ALSO READ: SABC2 loses SA's Got Talent reality show as the show moves to e.tv for a new season set to start in September.

BREAKING. Darren Rajbal wins first ever SA's Got Talent.

You're reading it here first. Darren Rajbal (19) from Mayville, Durban became the first ever winner of SABC2's reality show SA's Got Talent earlier this evening.

The solo hip hop dancer who used a sign-language interpreter during and after his performances in the show, received the most votes from viewers to win the title in the live broadcast of the finale on Thursday evening.

SA's Got Talent suffered in my opinion as a new TV property, it being a new TV format for local audiences that neither SABC2 nor the producers did any favours by a fast paced scheduling blitz. The show also suffered some technical glitches earlier this week during voting and simply had no big Susan Boyle-worthy break-out buzz building around a specific star to thrust the show into the popular consciousness. The foreign scheduling system that saw the show culminate in four live consecutive shows since Monday to build up to the final also detracted from what the show could have been. Much more could have been done to tell the viewing public how the show will end and what is required of them. Otherwise the live shows should simply have played out with one episode per week.

I've asked widely and TV experts agree that the show lacked real talent and break-out stars, which the producers could possibly improve on during a possible second season (and beyond) by allowing potential contestants (1) a longer time period to enter as well as (2) employing more devices to canvass wider for possible contestants.

Personally the one redeeming quality of the show was the producers' brilliant choice of pairing up Anele Mdoda and Rob van Vuuren as co-hosts. Their combined chemistry on-screen shined and the production company and SABC2 would be well advised to not just make use of them, but reign them in for even more potential TV work as well as other possible marketing opportunities for the channel. Ian von Memerty also deserves recognition for his smooth transition as Strictly Come Dancing host to TV judge. He did well.

I wrote some stories about acts who tried to enter but couldn't, and that after the producers promised that every entry would get a chance to audition. They should try again, should there be a second season. SA's Got Talent has talent, the TV show just needs to finetune and improve on what it can do and be, and showcase it better.