Reality TV is undoubtedly one of the most loved genres in South Africa, occupying six places in Showmax’s Top 20 currently. While This Body Works For Me is still giving Outlaws a run for its money at the top of the Showmax charts, here’s a roundup of the latest reality TV shows everyone is talking about:
JUST LAUNCHED:
Bae Beyond Borders | Showmax Original | New episodes on Mondays
Bae Beyond Borders follows four South African women who are eager to find themselves a Nigerian man to date and hopefully marry.
As they embark on this unique journey to find love, the women have their pick of 12 Nigerian bachelors from different walks of life. Through online speed dating, they collectively choose eight men who’ve impressed them the most. They then travel to Nigeria to meet them face to face and pick their favourites. Then they’ll head back to South Africa with them – and into a gorgeous villa in Cape Town, to see if they want to move forward together as a couple.
Bae Beyond Borders is executive produced by Zinzi Velelo Alake from POP24, who also produced the record-breaking Showmax Original reality show The Mommy Club. “I created this show because I found love beyond borders myself,” says Zinzi. “I am a South African woman who fell in love with a Nigerian man, and blending our cultures has been life-changing.”
Love Triangle Australia S1 | First on Showmax | New episodes on Wednesdays
From the producers of Married At First Sight, Love Triangle challenges a group of singles to relinquish their grasp on what they think their perfect partner should look like, and instead choose someone, sight unseen, based on a deeper connection.
MamaMia calls this “your next reality TV obsession” with “some of the funniest and most cringe-worthy moments in reality TV history.”
The Real Housewives of Lagos Season 2 | Showmax Original | New episodes on Fridays
The Real Housewives of Lagos (RHOLagos) returns for an exciting second season that broke first-day streaming records on Showmax in Nigeria.
The first season followed the glamorous lives of six opulent Lagos women who set trends: businesswoman Carolyna Hutchings, influencer Laura Ikeji-Kanu, lawyer and luxury hair brand owner Chioma Ikokwu, celebrity stylist Toyin Lawani Adebayo, Nollywood actress Iyabo Ojo and PR expert Mariam Timmer as they dealt with personality clashes while navigating their businesses, families, sisterhood and personal lives.
Season 2 sees the return of Chioma, Laura, Iyabo, Mariam, and Toyin, and also introduces two brand-new cast members – fashion entrepreneur Tania Omotayo and former model and socialite Faith Morey.
BINGE NOW:
Die Real Housewives van die Wynlande S1 | Binge now
The second Afrikaans language edition of The Real Housewives franchise is set among the villas and vineyards of the Cape winelands with a cast of strong, independent women who are not afraid to speak their minds. Viewers can’t seem to enough of the opulence, sisterhood and drama as the show is currently in the Top 20 most watched shows on Showmax.
Join entrepreneur and former Miss South Africa Amy Kleinhans-Curd, stock trader Mariska Thorpe, businesswoman Karen Schwendtke, singer and marketing manager Candice Bester, aesthetic doctor Michelle van Zyl and former teacher Anita Lloyd as they open the doors of their luxurious houses, their hearts, and their lives to viewers.
NBCUniversal’s hit The Real Housewives franchise started in March 2006 with The Real Housewives of Orange County. Since then, 11 different series have been made in the US and NBCUniversal Formats have introduced 22 international versions, including recent adaptations in Cape Town, Durban, Gqeberha, Johannesburg, Lagos, Nairobi and Pretoria, which marked the first Afrikaans series.
Koortjies Met Jonathan Rubain S4 | Binge now
Musician and presenter Jonathan Rubain was named Personality of the Year at the Silwerskerm Festival in August, and you can now catch Season 4 of his popular gospel music and talk show Koortjies Met Jonathan Rubain, which celebrates faith and song while discussing everyday matters that are close to our hearts.
In addition to a line-up of the best local gospel music talents, the show also interviews a variety of guests, from community role models and faith leaders to local celebrities, exploring the power of faith to carry us through hard times and how to be a true neighbour in the community.
Wie Word ‘n Miljoenêr? S3 | Binge now
Fresh from earning host Rian van Heerden the award for Best Presenter in a Game Show at the Silwerskerm awards, Wie Word ‘n Miljoener? returns for its third season.
As with the original, megahit Who Wants To Be A Millionaire format, kykNET’s popular Afrikaans edition sees participants answering 15 multiple-choice questions to advance to the final round, where R1 million can be won.
Season 3’s celebrity contestants include Altus Theart (Getroud Met Rugby’s Fafa), Zetske van Pletzen (Bloedbroers, Spoorloos), and comedian Melt Sieberhagen, who’s gunning to raise a whopping stash of cash for Gift of The Givers.
Makoti, Are You The One? S2 | Binge now
Mzansi Magic’s ground-breaking social experiment reality series Makoti, Are You the One? returns for a second season, to give us a front-row seat as families journey through the cultural practice referred to as ukukotiza, that sees prospective wives move into the homes of their potential in-laws in the hopes of receiving the family’s blessing to marry their son.
We’ll meet four new couples from vastly different backgrounds who are hoping to take their relationship to the ultimate step: marriage. But will their ideological, religious, socioeconomic and cultural differences get in the way of their happiness?
This season follows Refiloe, Pinky, Sophie and Wendy, whose hopefully-soon-to-be in-laws all have strong opinions about their sons’ plans to marry, and want to make sure the women are the right fit for their families. It won’t all be plain sailing, because the prospective grooms come with their own baggage – one has damages to take care of, while another one’s family is hung up on his ex. It’s a lot.
COMING SOON:
I Blew It S5 | Binge from Monday, 30 October
Mzansi Magic’s popular reality series I Blew It follows the fortunes and misfortunes of ordinary South Africans who struck gold with an unexpected payday or good fortune, but then lost it all just as quickly.
This season’s subjects include reality TV star and musician Bongani Fassie; Petrus “Small Ma Million” Masumbuka, who blew his R1.8 million pay-out from the Road Accident Fund on expensive hotel living and nightlife; and Tim Brien, who spent his R3 million inheritance on buying love from family and friends and making bad investments.
Our Perfect Wedding (Kenya) S16 | Saturdays from 28 October
Hosted by Angie Mlay, Our Perfect Wedding gives viewers a front-row seat to the intimate lives of real couples as they plan their big day, including backstories on how the couples started dating and the surprise proposals that made them say “Yes”. In between, we also get to experience the different cultures of the bride and groom and how these tie into the ceremony. Sometimes, it can get dramatic, but despite it all, in the end, OPW delivers a perfect wedding ceremony, giving the couples the happy endings they deserve.
OPW is produced by Eugene Mbugua’s D&R Studios, the production company behind The Real Housewives of Nairobi and Kyallo Kulture.
THIS MONTH’S FINALE
Abo Auntie S1 | First on Showmax | Binge from Monday, 30 October
Showmax and Moja Love’s third collaboration, Abo Auntie, is a 13-part reality show that tackles the complex relationship dynamics between domestic workers and their employers.
Being a confrontation-based show, both parties voice their unresolved issues with hosts Bashimane Nhlapo and Galaletsang Koffman, hoping to improve their relationships. Two domestic workers are featured per episode, with the hosts then swapping their workplace families so they can see if the grass really is greener on another lawn.
In episode 9, former The Real Housewives of Johannesburg reality star Brinette Seopela wrote into the show because she and her helper Brenda Nchicko were not seeing eye to eye. Brenda has been working for Brinette for close to a year. During the episode, it was revealed that the pair have communication issues after Brenda had resigned via SMS after she felt that working for the reality star was too much pressure for her. At the end of the episode, you will find out if the pair managed to fix their issues or if they are going to go their separate ways.
Image Courtesy: Supplied