BBC reinvests in South Africa with new TV shows mooted

From left; MC Bunny Mejaja, Commercial Director of BBC Studios Africa Pierre Cloete, Executive Head Business Enablement DSTV Media Sales Nosipho Mabuza, Advertising account Director of BBC Studios Africa Sarah- Jane Harling, at the 2023 BBC Africa Upfront event. Picture: Showworks creative

From left; MC Bunny Mejaja, Commercial Director of BBC Studios Africa Pierre Cloete, Executive Head Business Enablement DSTV Media Sales Nosipho Mabuza, Advertising account Director of BBC Studios Africa Sarah- Jane Harling, at the 2023 BBC Africa Upfront event. Picture: Showworks creative

Published Aug 28, 2024

Share

BBC Studios has unveiled its list of returning shows for the South African market, including household favourites like the Come Dine With Me SA cooking competition.

The British TV production company has indicated that it will be bringing new shows to the SA market, but they remain tight-lipped about those shows for now.

The returning and new shows in the BBC stable include lifestyle shows Gary Barlow Wining & Dining in South Africa, Ultimate Braai Master and Listing Cape Town, as well as family shows Come Dine With Me SA and Home Grown Tastes.

BBC Studios hosted agencies and the media to an exclusive BBC Africa Upfront event at the Four Seasons Westcliff Hotel to take them on an experience around the world.

The theme of the event was ‘taking you places’ completed with the panel speakers wearing pilot and flight attendant uniforms. The theme explores taking flights and travelling all around the world through TV screens.

In the panel was socialite and radio presenter Bunny Mejaja, commercial director of BBC Studios Africa Pierre Cloete, Advertising account Director of BBC Studios Africa Sarah- Jane Harlingand Senior Sales Manager: Third party channels DSTV Media sales, Lerato Sekhoanyane.

BBC Studios has six channels on DSTV, BBC Brit, BBC UKTV, BBC Lifestyle, BBC Earth, BBC News and BBC CBeebies .

These channels offer a variety of programmes ranging from local content shows, news, entertainment, cartoons, game shows, dramas, travel, wild life, cooking and lifestyle shows.

“Over the past 25 years we have built an incredible partnership with Multichoice and now have six BBC channels taking viewers on incredible journeys around the globe,” said Cloete.

While the BBC may be originally British, their channels also include South African local content that South Africans can look forward to. Some shows are new to the screens and some are favourites returning for new seasons.

All the avid braai masters will be delighted to hear that the Ultimate Braai Master is back for a seventh season.

Host Justin Bonello and judges, Pete Goffe-Wood and Benny Masekwameng are all back, and will be challenging a new group of contents.

Come Dine With Me SA is coming back for its 10th season narrated by Dave Lamb with a whole new group of candidates compete to be named the ultimate dinner party host, complete with dinner parties and culinary pleasures and disasters. All hoping to be the winner of a grand cash prize.

Listing Cape Town comes back for season three. Taking viewers into homes across the Atlantic Seaboard, Green Point, Sea Point, Bantry Bay, Fresnaye, Clifton, Camps Bay, Llandudno, De Waterkant, Cape Town City, Bishopscourt as well as inland properties in and around Franschhoek, Val de Vie and Pearl Valley.

From manicured stud farms in and around the Cape winelands, to beach bungalows, Listing Cape Town will feature some of the Mother City’s most opulent and over the top properties.

Home Grown Tastes South Africa comes back for season two, Lorna Maseko gives viewers a closer look and visits the farms, vineyards and fishing fleets that produce South Africa’s export quality food.

IOL