After a comprehensive search that included testing more than a 100 possible candidates, radio and television presenter
Mark Pilgrim has been named as the host of M-Net's upcoming new gameshow
Power of 10.
The show - which was first announced in mid-May - will see contestants braining it out for a massive R10 million in prize money.
Mark, who's most popularly known to TV audiences as the host of
Big Brother SA 1 and
2, as well
Big Brother Africa 1, was last seen on M-Net in 2005 as the host of the sexpose talk show Sex Etc.
"I love the glamour, excitement, tense moments and spontaneity linked to a gameshow," says Mark of Power Of Ten. "You never know what the contestant may say or do next and you have to think on your feet all the time."
"It's also the biggest game show in the history of South African television and this is any presenter's dream job. It's exciting to know that you are part of a process that could change someone's life completely."
In Power of 10, he will take on a different role from his previous presenting gigs. This time, Mark is the calm, collected host who will help to ease the contestants' nerves while they wrack their brains to tap into the mindset of fellow South Africans.
The five questions that might take contestants up to R10 million are based on scientifically-designed national polls and part of the fun is that nobody, not even the presenter, knows the outcome until it's revealed on the show.
M-Net's Head of Original Productions, Carl Fischer, says: "It's wonderful to have Mark back on the channel. He is one of the most versatile television presenters in the country and has the ability to engage audiences with his charm, wit and general knowledge.
"We were looking for a presenter who could handle a big studio audience and nervous contestants and who would have his own opinion on what South Africans think about a variety of topics. Mark's extensive television and radio experience and MC work made him the ideal candidate."
Power of 10 is Mark's 10th stint as a TV presenter. He's been a radio DJ for 13 years and his weekend show made South African broadcast history recently when it became the first South African chart show to be transmitted simultaneously on 94.7 Highveld Stereo in Johannesburg, as well as on 94.5KFM in the Cape.
He's also a motivational speaker who holds a B.Com in Industrial Psychology and Business Economics.
A little known fact is that Mark was a market researcher for 10 years and served as the Johannesburg Chairperson of the South African Market Research Association. "I have a passion for research polls and it will be great fun finding out, once the contestants have locked in their answers, what the current opinions and behaviour of South Africans are," he says.
Power of 10 is an international format created by Sony Pictures.
The South African version is produced by Rapid Blue and premieres on M-Net on Sunday, 3 August 2008 at 18h00.