Viacom Africa commissions a new reality wedding dress show, 2 Families and a Wedding Dress, for BET with presenter Thembisa Mdoda starting 24 July.

Viacom Africa has commissioned a new local South African wedding dress reality show, 2 Families and a Wedding Dress, that will start on BET (DStv 129) on Wednesday 24 July at 21:30.

Similar to the long-running show Say Yes to the Dress on Discovery Inc.'s TLC channel,  the 13-episode 2 Families and a Wedding Dress will have presenter Thembisa Mdoda helping 13 prospective brides to choose a wedding dress worth up to R30 000 per episode.

2 Families and a Wedding Dress, aimed at black viewers, follows the Afrikaans series My droom-trourok (My dream wedding dress) on VIA as series looking to grab a slice of the ratings bonanza that is part of the ongoing trend of popular wedding reality programming.

South African and African viewers continue to be enthralled by locally-produced wedding-themed reality shows ranging from Our Perfect Wedding on Mzansi Magic with the format that has successfully been localised in other African countries, to Wedding Bashers on M-Net and several others.  

In 2 Families and a Wedding Dress presenter Thembisa Mdoda takes two families and the bride on a journey to select a beautiful and lavish wedding gowns. The reality twist is that both sides of the bride's families - her own and the soon-to-be in-laws - have the last word on the bride's final look, since they have to agree on the ultimate wedding dress. 

Viacom Africa says "viewers can expect a sensational mix of drama, entertainment and fashion".

"BET Africa prides itself in bringing authentic stories and engaging content that Africans can truly relate to on screens," says Monde Twala, vice president for youth, music and BET at Viacom International Media Networks Africa (VIMN Africa). 

"2 Families and a Wedding Dress encapsulates this intimate and most memorable journey with Thembisa Mdoda, the ideal fit for this new local reality format. BET Africa audiences can expect to be entertained and thrilled with this fresh season of content."

INTERVIEW. Thembisa Mdoda on exiting Dancing with the Stars SA on M-Net: 'I'm really at peace'.

Last night Thembisa Mdoda and her professional dancing partner Devon Snell became the second dancing couple voted off Dancing with the Stars SA on M-Net (DStv 101) when their combined score from the judges and viewers was the lowest.

Thembisa Mdoda tells TVwithThinus she's really at peace with leaving, had a great time dancing, love the judges and want them to be her friends, and why Dancing with the Stars SA was like a rough diamond to her.


Is there anything you think you could have done differently?
No. Not at all. [ha ha.] I mean I had an incredible, a beautiful journey. I had amazing support. I think when the time is right it's time to move on and this is my time.

What has the experience been like for you?
It's been a beautiful experience because it's like a rough diamond. It's beautiful, it requires work, it's heavy. All in all its just heart, it's passion, it's been incredible. I had the utmost fun on this production. With the injuries and the fatigue and everything that stood in our way, we overcame everything and we put on an incredible show. I can only be happy.

What did you think of the judges?
I love them. [ha ha.] You know, I actually want them to be my best friends [ha ha]. I love them. They are trained dancers. They are looking at and judging something they have loved all their lives, so they're passionate about it, and they'll be detailed about it, and they'll tell you where to work and what to do. So I love them, they were incredible. And I could see on their faces that they were shocked [that I'm leaving] but I was like "It is okay". I will forever be grateful for their guidance.

What was the hardest for you?
I think the hardest was the time. I was juggling a lot with work and doing this production. A lot of people take a sabbatical and I didn't. So it was a lot just trying to make sure everything fits into the schedule.

What did you not expect about this journey?
I didn't expect to make so many relationships and connections - ones that will be long lasting. I know that even after this competition the family and the contestants we will remain friends which is incredible.

What did you learn about yourself and how do you think you've changed?
I think a lot changed for me, from my body to my mindset to my heart and to my soul. I think personally I've gained a lot of myself, which is something that I always appreciate.

How do you feel about being voted out and did you expect it?
I don't know how to - if I say I'm happy then [ha ha] people are going to go "Hey what do you mean?" I'm really happy! And I'm really at peace. I feel that everything I came to do on this show I did and God is closing this door, and opens another. That is exactly how I feel.

Singer Connell Cruise one of the 12 dancing celebrities taking part in M-Net's Dancing with the Stars SA starting 4 February 2018.

Singer Connell Cruise will be one of the 12 dancing celebrities in the glitzy dance floor format show Dancing with the Stars SA that will start on 4 February 2018 on M-Net (DStv 101).

Dancing with the Stars South Africa is produced by Rapid Blue with Chris Jaftha and Tracey Lange as the co-presenters.

Connell Cruise who moved to New York will be back in South Africa and joins the so-far-announced TV presenter Thembisa Mdoda; comedian-actor Frank Opperman; actress Juanita du Plessis; the former Miss South Africa and radio presenter Liesl Laurie; Odessa Swarts who is Wayde van Niekerk's mom; and TV star Zola Nombona.

"I'm equal parts totally excited and slightly terrified about what's to come for me on Dancing with the Stars SA!," says Connell Cruise.

"I'm truly thrilled and honoured to be part of this incredible show and I'll be doing my best to make my wife and all my fans in the country proud."

M-Net reveals Thembisa Mdoda and Frank Opperman as the first 2 of 12 celebrities who will take part in Dancing with the Stars SA from February 2018.

M-Net has announced the former Our Perfect Wedding presenter Thembisa Mdoda on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) and the veteran drama and comedy actor actor Frank Opperman appearing on kykNET (DStv 144) as the first 2 of 12 celebrities who will be taking part in Dancing with the Stars SA.

Dancing with the Stars SA will start in 2018 on M-Net (DStv 101) and is retitled from the longrunning Strictly Come Dancing SA show that was on SABC3 but discontinued due to a lack of money at the SABC.

The pay-TV broadcaster also announced the starting date for Dancing with the Stars SA, with the glitter floor format show produced by Rapid Blue that will be starting on M-Net on Sunday 4 February 2018.

M-Net licensed the Dancing with the Stars SA format show from BBC Worldwide.

Tracey Lange from kykNET's glamour magazine show Bravo! and Chris Jaftha from SABC3's glamour magazine show Top Billing are the presenters of Dancing with the Stars South Africa.

"I have always wanted to be part of Dancing With The Stars," says Thembisa Mdoda who won the title of Best TV Presenter at the 2017 DStv Mzansi Viewers' Choice Awards.

"In the past, I’d watch the show, practice the steps and give myself 10 out of 10s! I am so excited and can't wait to make new memories."

"Mostly, I'm eager to learn some new steps and to have fun."

Frank Opperman says "some people climb Everest for fun. Some walk to the South Pole for kicks, some people swim the seven oceans for pleasure and some people dance with the stars because they have gone insane!"

Rapid Blue and M-Net chose 12 stars to assemble an eclectic group of celebrity dancing stars all from various different backgrounds who will come from the worlds of acting, comedy and sport.

All 12 are already taking dancing lessons and are practising for the show.

Thembisa Mdoda wins Ultimate Viewers' Choice award at Mzansi Magic's inaugural DStv Mzansi Viewers' Choice Awards 2017; full list of winners.

Outgoing Our Perfect Wedding presenter Thembisa Mdoda on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) won the Ultimate Viewers' Choice award on Saturday night after she earlier also won the Favourite Presenter category at the inaugural and first DStv Mzansi Viewers' Choice Awards 2017 that was broadcast live on the channel.

Over 1 million votes were cast for 50 nominees in 10 categories, as South Africans voted for the various categories, with Bonang Matheba, brilliant as host, who held sway at the Sandton Convention Centre from where SuperSport's outside broadcast unit helped with the live broadcast on the channel carried on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform.

TV executives and producers, on-air talent, publicists, government officials, fashionistas, musicians, sport stars, comedians and the media turned up for the first DStv Mzansi Viewers' Choice Awards 2017.

The legendary jazz musician, Hugh Masekela, was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award handed to him by M-Net CEO, Yolisa Phahle.

Community worker Anna Dithane was awarded the life changer category winner.

Musical acts and stars who performed live at the DStv Mzansi Viewers' Choice Awards 2017 included Lady Zamar, Zodwa Wabantu, Thandiswa Mazwai, Lebo Sekgobela and Gqom, along with DJ Cleo, Winnie Khumalo, Busiswa, Cassper Nyovest and Tshedi Mholi as a special surprise guest.


Winners:
SONG OF THE YEAR: Prince Kaybee – Charlotte
TV PRESENTER: Thembisa Mdods
COMEDIAN: Summay
RISING STAR: Sjava
RADIO PERSONALITY: B2Cada
ACTOR: Themba Ndaba
ACTRESS: Vatiswa Ndara
MUSIC ARTIST/GROUP: Kwesta
DJ: Black Coffee
SPORT PERSONALITY: Caster Semenya
ULTIMATE VIEWERS' CHOICE: Thembisa Mdoda

Thembisa Mdoda out as presenter of Our Perfect Wedding; Mzansi Magic to hold a presenter search competition to find a replacement.

Thembisa Mdoda is out as presenter of Our Perfect Wedding on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) and will be replaced through a presenter search competition.

There's been no announcement from M-Net's Mzansi Magic on Thembisa Mdoda's exit yet but her contract with the top-rated show has not been renewed.

Thembisa Mdoda joined Our Perfect Wedding in late 2015 from the 6th season of the show.

With her catchphrase of "Sifike! Sabona! Satshatisa!", Our Perfect Wedding is not just the most watched programme on Mzansi Magic but the most watched show on all of MultiChoice's DStv pay-TV offering, attracting around 1.84 million viewers per episode.

Thembisa Mdoda, a mother of twin boys, left Our Perfect Wedding for a few weeks earlier in 2017 for undisclosed reasons and were replaced by Nomsa Buthelezi. She returned in July.

UPDATE Wednesday 23 August 2017 17:19 - There's now a statement from Mzansi Magic.

"After 7 successful seasons of the popular reality show, Our Perfect Wedding is switching gears with a presenter search open to the public," says Mzansi Magic in a statement issued late on Wednesday afternoon.

"With three seasons under her belt ushering couples to the altar, Thembisa Mdoda is bidding farewell to the show."

"Thembisa Mdoda’s contract has come to an end. We thank her for her commitment and contribution to the success of OPW," says Nondumiso Mabece, head of publicity at M-Net local entertainment channels.

"We are looking forward to the exciting journey the show will be taking, opening up the platform for a hidden gem, a new face with untapped talent. This is an opportunity not to be missed."

Nomsa Buthelezi is employed as the temporary Our Perfect Wedding presenter.

"The new presenter will need to have a warm personality to match and the ability to connect with the viewers," says Nondumiso Mabece.

Here is what's needed for the Our Perfect Wedding presenter search auditions:

Contestants must be 25 years old and upwards, should be South African citizens with a valid South African ID. 

The potential presenter will be auditioned by the producers and shortlisted for a second round of auditions. A panel of judges will select the contestants that will battle it out for the public vote in the final phase. 

Here is the audition dates and venues:

East London

Premier Hotel Regent

2 September 2017

Durban

Protea Hotel – Marriott Edward

9 September 2017

Johannesburg

The Pyramid

16 September 2017

Doors open at 08:00 – 18:00.

More information visit www.mzansimagici.tv /opw Or call 010 594 5127