Doctor's Orders (formerly known as Hello Doctor and The Dr. Mol Show) is a South African health talk show television series created by Michael Mol and hosted by Mol initially and later Riaad Moosa which debunks health myths and answers health, lifestyle and vitality questions and delivers the latest information from dermatologists to dieticians, cardiologists to acupuncturists.
The series premiered on SABC3 on Sunday 17 April 2011, at 17h00. See "Seasons" below for seasonal broadcast dates and times.
Season 5 premiered on SABC3 on Friday 26 July 2013, at 15h45. New episodes broadcast weekly. There are 52 episodes in the fifth season.
Synopsis
When last did you get a house call? Tune in for your weekly dose of healthy living with Doctor's Orders, produced by Tswelopele Productions and presented by Dr. Riaad Moosa.
Far from the "Do as I say" doctors' directives for the lame and the limping – this series sets out to educate, entertain and inspire you to live your best life.
The series debunks the myths and demystifies the truths about what makes you tick and how to keep you ticking for longer.
You'll discover you're not alone as the show draws on the personal experiences and testimonies of South African celebrities and their stories of success and struggles with sickness.
Expect an overdose of accurate, up to date and reliable information from dermatologists to dieticians, cardiologists to acupuncturists and every expert in between.
The show leaves no stone unturned, no question unanswered and no subject untouched as it strives to bring you great advice and gripping entertainment that'll set you on the road to becoming a healthier and happier you.
Doctor's Orders covers everything from innovative surgery, pregnancy, child care and information on health conditions to fitness, stress management and nutrition.
The show believes in a holistic approach to wellbeing and wants to ensure you've got sound knowledge in caring for yourself and your family. It also has a theory that laughter is the best medicine, with edutainment designed to make you smile.
Doctor's Orders aims to educate, entertain and inspire you to live your best life.
The series is produced by Patience Stevens and Bradley van den Berg.
Show History
The show began life as Hello Doctor, a magazine show airing on Sundays. The show changed name from Hello Doctor to The Dr. Mol Show from Season 2, Episode 18 (on Friday 6 April 2012) on, and changed format from a magazine show to a talk show.
When the show became a talk show in 2012, it moved from Sundays at 16h00 to Fridays at 15h45.
The Dr. Mol Show offered a more personal take on healthcare, inviting viewers to interact directly with the show and its experts, as part of an intimate studio audience.
In 2013 the show changed name once again, to Doctor's Orders, from Season 4, Episode 19 (on Friday 27 May, 2013) when Michael Mol left the show. He was replaced by comedian Dr. Riaad Moosa, who took over hosting duties of the show when Mol left to pursue other business interests.
Seasons
Series exclusive to SABC3
Season 1 (26 episodes)
Premiere: 17 April 2011 | Finale: 30 October 2011 | Sundays, 17h00/16h00
Season 2 (26 episodes)
Premiere: 6 November 2011 | Finale: 1 June 2012 | Sundays, 16h00/Fridays, 15h45
Season 3 (26 episodes)
Premiere: 8 June 2012 | Finale: 7 December 2012 | Fridays, 15h45
Season 4 (26 episodes)
Premiere: 14 December 2012 | Finale: 12 July 2013 | Fridays, 15h45
Season 5 (52 episodes)
Premiere: 26 July 2013 | Finale: 18 July 2014 | Fridays, 15h45