Meet the South African “Gogglebox’ families
A number of specially selected South African households look set to become the country’s latest reality stars when Gogglebox South Africa premiers on Thursday, 3 March 2016 at 21:00, on the Sony Channel (DStv channel 127).
A diverse mix of South African’s will be represented on the show where we are invited into ordinary people’s living rooms. Introducing some of Gogglebox’s households:
• Portuguese married couple Travis and Giselle, both share the same professional interest as online content producers. This couple is bold and entertaining. Their strong connection as a couple will be tested as this couple don’t always see eye-to-eye.
• Valentine and Melissa enjoy spending their time doing the simple things in life as a couple – having dinner and drinks in front of the TV. Valentine a make-up sales rep and Melissa a home executive share their time with their three year old son.
• Best friends, Eslina and Mirriam have been by each other’s side since the age of 15. Eslina is a home executive, while Mirriam is a domestic worker. They are entertaining, open and honest, with the best sense of humour.
• Sisters Tamzin and Adele describe themselves as fun, loud and opinionated. Tamzin is a dance teacher and Adele is a relationship executive. The sisters enjoy spending time together but don’t always agree on what to watch.
Gogglebox South Africa is Sony Pictures Television Networks’ first locally commissioned South African television series. The featured households will openly voice their unscripted opinions about what they are watching on the box – whether on politics, sport, news, reality TV or the latest dramas – from the comfort of their living rooms.
This topical show is filmed seven days before the episode airs, allowing viewers to observe the households watching the weeks TV shows, encouraging up-to-date and at times controversial discussions.
The ten part local version has been commissioned by the Sony Channel and will be produced by partners Eject Media’s, Stephan Le Roux and Picture Tree’s Gary King.
Executive Producer Stephan Le Roux says, “We believe that we have created a show that will create debate among people. Gogglebox South Africa reflects the current state of society and will stimulate viewers to share their opinions and thoughts. We hope that it will also inspire more channels to make programmes in the local marketplace.”
On its debut in the UK, Gogglebox soon became a word-of-mouth hit that had the Twittersphere buzzing and has resulted in numerous spin-offs in countries around the world with popular editions made in the US, Canada, Australia, Italy, Israel, Poland, Finland, France, Norway, China and the Ukraine. And now South Africa is to get its own home-grown version.
Gogglebox airs every Thursday, 21h00, on the Sony channel (DStv channel 127).
