When the overseas says: "Win a trip to the fabulous South Africa!"
It's all been happening on the Cape Town TV scene recently.
Britain's Love Island finished filming at a secret location two weeks ago and the BBC's new series
Noughts + Crosses turned Cape Town into London (currently on M-Net).
The latest season of The Apprentice UK sent their contestants to Cape Town for their season premiere where they embarrassed themselves at the Aquila game reserve, two hours out of town.
Love Island even ran a competition for British viewers where they could win R600,000 and an all expenses paid trip to South Africa, which they described as "Fabulous!" in their voiceovers.
And two new SABC2 shows have been filming amidst this.
TVSA got the inside scoop on both by joining them at their photoshoots in the build-up to their premieres:
Melody
Premiere date: Tuesday, 7 April 2020 at 19h30
The road to Bridgetown High School, base camp for the production.
Our first impression when we heard about this show: unique - because it's a musical series with musical numbers.
It's set in Athlone and follows young musician Melody who gets an opportunity to audition for a music scholarship.
The series tagline: Music is the only way out.
Melody's from an impoverished community and she has a deadbeat, tyrannical father so she wants out and needs out.
The series is created by Theo Davids (who also directs) and Zulfah Otto-Sallies, who tragically won't get to the see their show on air - she suffered a fatal stroke in mid-2016. The series took years from inception to filming.
Together their mission has been to tell authentic stories of the Athlone community.
Theo's the lead mentor of the Bridgetown Community Theatre which nurtures young talent so the series was sparked by this and other community groups from the area who've come together to create it.
The key note
Local actress Kim Bowers plays Melody in her first TV role. She matriculated from Elsies River High School in 2016, did a short radio course afterwards and has since been working in theatre, performing with the Bridgetown Community Theatre, at the Baxter and Artscape.
Bad man he comin'
Capetonian actor, writer, stand-up comedian and youth talent developer Moeniel Jacobs plays the series' big bad Jack.
Not Melody's father but a powerful gangster who controls the community through loans, drugs and other oppressive ways.
From tracing agent to TV
TV newcomer Faldela Brown plays Mrs Fredericks, who takes on Jack after her son dies from drugs.
Faldela went from being an "extra" to one of the leads over the course of the creation of the show.
Flash fact: Her most recent profession in real life: a tracing agent - someone who traces people who've been lost by others.
And
Also in the cast are Arendsvlei star Celeste Matthews, Suidooster star Adburagman Adams - as Melody's father - and Taliep Petersen's daughter Aeesha as Nazli.
The Riviera
Premiere date: Wednesday, 8 April 2020 at 19h30
TV newcomer Kelly Damon as Riana...
... who lives in Lotus River, also on the Cape Flats, which is often affectionately referred to as The Riviera.
It's a 13-parter, created and narrated by actress Quanita Adams (Binnelanders, Erfsondes, Sara se Geheim), and it's inspired by her life.
It's directed and produced by Lucilla Blankenberg of The Community Media Trust, who created SABC1's Amaza and the Friday night boxing drama JAB...
Lucilla on-set at the photoshoot
JAB was also inspired by real life because Lucilla boxed too so Lucilla and Quanita teamed-up for another autobiographical with The Riviera.
It's a comedy-drama that has an Everyone Hates Chris feel with Quanita's narration as Riana.
She's a 12-year-old Muslim girl who goes to a Catholic school and while the world and country around her goes through the dramatic changes of 1989, she sets out to achieve her own life landmarks.
She wants to be head girl, star in the school play and make the boy of her dreams fall in love with her.
Her parents are played by Keenan Arrison (Divers Down, Shooting Stars) and Chantal Herman (Shado, Those Who Can't) and 11-year-old newcomer Abdul Salie portrays her brother Reza, who plays with fire.
Keep a lookout on TVSA for more about each show closer to their premiere.