Barkskins
Channel: National Geographic Channel (DStv 181 / StarSat 220)
TX Time: 20h45
Genre: Period Drama, Drama, Adventure
Barkskins examines the mysterious massacre of settlers in the vast and unforgiving wilds of 1690s New France that threatens to throw the region into all-out war.
Likely suspects abound — the English, the Hudson's Bay Company and a band of Kanien'kehá:ka (Iroquois) possibly in league with the English looking to drive the French from the territory.
But who or what brought these settlers to such a tragic end?
Barkskins is set in Wobik, a small settlement in what is now the Canadian province of Quebec.
As the Catholic Church sends Jesuit priests to convert the indigenous people, France sends indentured servants to populate its territory, along with "Filles Du Roi" ("Daughters of the King") - young women to be matched with husbands, start families and help the colonies prosper.
This disparate group of outcasts, rogues and innocents must navigate brutal hardships, competing interests and tangled loyalties at the crossroads of civilisation: 1690s New France.
The series tells a thrilling story of exploration, adventure and ambition among dreamers and fighters — some with a utopian vision of the world, others crass and conniving, but all navigating the perils of a treacherous new frontier.
As tensions escalate, unlikely alliances are forged, old antagonisms deepen and new families are formed against the seemingly endless natural riches and hidden dangers of the new American continent.
Barkskins' depiction of the collision between civilisation and commerce is timeless, as is its spirit of adventure, natural wonder and survival of the fittest.
Beecham House
Channel: M-Net (DStv 101)
TX Time: 22h00
Genre: Drama, Period Drama
Set on the cusp of the 19th century in Delhi before the British ruled in that region, the drama depicts the fortunes of the residents of Beecham House, an imposing mansion surrounded by acres of exotic woods and pristine lawns.
Tom Bateman (Da Vinci's Demons) takes the role of enigmatic, soulful John Beecham, a handsome former soldier who has purchased the magnificent mansion, Beecham House, to begin a new life with his family.
Wealthy and distinguished, John has witnessed profiteering and exploitation during his time with the controlling East India Company and has resolved to conduct his business as a trader in a more equitable manner.
Determined to escape his previous life, John appears haunted by his past, but is inspired to become an honourable member of the region's trading community.
In spite of John's good intentions his life is shrouded in mystery and when he arrives at the house with a child named August and two Indian nursemaids, Chanchal and Maya, it causes speculation and gossip amongst the servants that he may be the boy's father.
One of the Indian nursemaids, the beautiful Chanchal, is overly protective and particularly fond of the child. Could she be John's lover and the mother of August?
Lesley Nicol (Downton Abbey) is John's robust, interfering mother Henrietta who has travelled from England to India to stay with her son.
She is accompanied by a young family friend Violet, who she is determined to help form a union with John.
The pair are accompanied by an old friend of John's, Samuel Parker, played by Marc Warren (Hustle) who has also left the East India Company and has returned to India for a fresh start.
Samuel helps John to find his brother Daniel who he has not seen for 10 years. John convinces Daniel to leave the East India Company and join him at Beecham House.
Gregory Fitoussi (Mr Selfridge) plays General Castillon, a French mercenary working for the Emperor at a time when the French are challenging the East India Company for India.
Castillon is suspicious of John and his motives and conspires to stop John being granted a trading licence. Adil Ray (Citizen Khan) is John's neighbour Murad Beg who dislikes General Castillon intensely and agrees to help John secure a trading licence.
Murad's daughter, Roshanara, has an English governess Margaret Osborne, whose beauty and intelligence catches John's attention.
However, when beautiful Chandrika arrives at Beecham House with her entourage she is shown to luxurious guest quarters and immediately insists on seeing August.
What secrets does Chandrika bring with her to Beecham House?
Finally, Laura Dutta plays Begum Samru, a real woman who existed in 18th century India and was the head of a professional trained mercenary army.
Louis Theroux: Talking to Anorexia
Channel: SABC3
TX Time: 20h30
Genre: Documentary
Anorexia, the pathological fear of eating and gaining weight, is now the most deadly mental illness in the UK, affecting around one in every 250 women at some point in their lives.
In recent years, the number of people being admitted to hospital because of their condition has risen dramatically but with many struggling to make a full recovery, being diagnosed with the eating disorder can sometimes mean a life-long battle.
In this film, Louis Theroux embeds himself in two of London's biggest adult eating-disorder treatment facilities: St Ann's Hospital and Vincent Square Clinic.
He meets women of all ages and at various stages of their illness, accompanying them through an enforced daily routine of scheduled eating, weigh-ins and group therapy sessions.
As he spends more time with patients both on and off the wards, he witnesses the dangerous power that anorexia holds over them, leaving some unsure about whether recovery is achievable or even wanted.
And as Louis seeks to understand what lies behind this mysterious illness, he finds himself drawn into a complex relationship between the disorder and the person it inhabits.
Around the World by Train with Tony Robinson 2
Channel: BBC Earth (DStv 184)
TX Time: 19h00
Genre: Travel
Tony Robinson is back for whole new epic railway adventure.
He is re-joining the rails and heading around the world again but this time in the opposite direction and through new counties for an eye opening experience.
He'll be heading off the beaten track to see cities and places around globe in his own style.
Forget your typical tourist trail, Tony will be doing this his way and stopping to experience things that grab his attention.
He'll be immersing himself in wonderful local cultures and getting to know the fascinating people he encounters, from French cowboys and Mexican wrestlers to Argentine tango dancers and American Hip Hop clowns.
He'll be doing all this while riding the most luxurious, unusual and spectacular rail routes on Earth and stopping off at breathtaking places like Machu Picchu.
Whether it's Europe like you've never seen it before or a fascinating journey through South America, he'll be travelling the globe to bring Mexico, USA to Canada and Russia right to your living room.
MasterChef Australia 6
Channel: eReality (Openview 108)
TX Time: 19h00
Genre: Reality Competition, Food
Thousands auditioned this year, with judges Gary Mehigan, George Calombaris and Matt Preston scouring the country to handpick Australia's best home cooks.
In the season premiere they will ask the Top 24 to join them in Melbourne's MasterChef Australia kitchen.
The contestants share an unrivalled passion for food, delivering some of the finest dishes in the program's history.
These are ordinary Australians who can do extraordinary things for the love of food.
The potential contestants are given an hour to cook their best dish and secure their spot in the top 24.
TVSA Show Page: MasterChef Australia 6
Reggie Yates Meets World
Channel: BBC Brit (DStv 120)
TX Time: 20h00
Genre: Documentary Series
Will he break down the issues or will they break him?
Writer-filmmaker Reggie Yates investigates some of the most powerful movements, pressing issues, and viral trends affecting young people today.
Each episode, Reggie will be fully immersed into these exotic worlds for five days in order to dig deep into these controversial topics and be pushed to his absolute limit.
For too long many national issues have been ignored or downplayed and Reggie isn't going to let them snowball into global dilemmas.
He will uncover the complex truth in a variety of controversies ranging from cult-like churches, destructive entertainment industries, video-gamers endangering themselves and terrifying cosmetic trends.
Reggie will explore these topics by 'walking a mile in their shoes' as he lives and eats with his hosts in these notorious worlds.
He is not content with easy answers and will press his subjects with hard questions all with his classic compassionate cynicism.
Reggie's down-to-earth style makes him an easy confidant for people with secrets to share as he searches for understanding and not outrage.
He breaks down the topics and struggles of young people with a unique clarity and charm.
Living in these communities first hand will help Reggie to decide if these issues have been overblown or perhaps they are worse than we could have imagined.
In the series premiere, "Reggie meets SPAC Nation": With knife crime at all-time high, a new London church is offering young people in gangs a way out of crime.
And they don't hide from controversy, as Reggie Yates finds out during his week with SPAC Nation.
Laat Die Potte Prut 11
Channel: VIA (DStv 147)
TX Time: 20h00
Genre: Reality Competition, Food, Afrikaans
Three teams compete to see who can make the most delicious potjiekos in the country. Can they finish their feast on time and impress the judges with their tastes?
Contestants must make the following: a main course, with at least two side dishes (as many as they like), and a choice between an appetizer or dessert.
At least one of the dishes must be baked, making a minimum of four dishes in total to be made.
And of course, everything has to happen in a potjie.
The presenters of the show are Alvin Bruinders and Marinda Engelbrecht.
Growing Up Hip Hop 2
Channel: 1Magic (DStv 103)
TX Time: 21h30
Genre: Docu-Reality, Music
Hip Hop royalty Angela Simmons, Romeo Miller, Damon "Boogie" Dash, Kristinia DeBarge, TJ Mizell and Egypt Criss all return for a drama filled season where shocking truths are finally revealed, changing the lives of this tight-knit group of friends forever.
André King, brother of Swizz Beatz and friend of Angela Simmons, and Briana Latrise, the troubled daughter of Mary J. Blige's now ex-husbandger, Kendu Issacs, join the crew this season, challenging the fragile dynamic of the group.
The premiere episode opens as the group prepares to come together at the event of the year... newcomer André King's birthday party.
Romeo returns from filming overseas to the shocking news of Angela's engagement, creating a lot of chatter and a laundry list of unanswered questions.
Kristinia hears the news and becomes nervous that rumors from last season may be haunting her and makes it her mission to clear the air with Angela.
Meanwhile, Egypt is hard at work in the studio, on her own, for the first time; however, when mom pops in to check up on her, its clear Pepa is still struggling with letting go.
This season, the title of the show has never rung more true, as unforeseen circumstances propel this new generation into adulthood.
As the crew continues to try to hustle and pave their own way, friendships, iconic families, loyalties, and the world of hip hop will may never be the same.
Motswako 20
Channel: SABC2
TX Time: 20h30
Genre: Lifestyle, Talk Show
Two decades later and still counting, Motwako aims to be the embodiment of the spirit of the South African woman and an inalienable part of the conversation had by women in the country.
The show champions poignant conversations as an authentic voice for women, speaking to them at their various stages in life and from backgrounds as colourful as the country's landscape.
The show aims to reflect the South African woman in all her shades of life.
The Motswako 20 woman is a global citizen, technologically savvy, leads a driven life and is her own person - and because of this, she can inspire and lead.
The Season 20 premiere features dancer and choreographer Bontle Modiselle, Live Amp presenter Lamiez and Lady Zamar discussing the topic "Music is a cultural phenomenon".
The show is still hosted by Sechaba Gqeba.
Weather Gone Viral 5
Channel: Discovery Family (DStv 136 / StarSat 222)
TX Time: 18h30
Genre: Nature, Reality
When wild weather strikes, it takes just minutes - or sometimes only seconds - to turn an extraordinary scene into chaos.
For unsuspecting onlookers, extreme weather can lead to sheer terror as Mother Nature's wrath descends upon them.
This series jumps into the epicentre of the action as meteorological phenomena, from lightning storms and tsunamis to tornadoes and flash floods, are all caught on camera.
This time, the weather is more dramatic than ever as more survivors give first-hand accounts of the treacherous conditions they experienced, and meteorologists explain the science behind the storm.
This incredible footage could be mistaken for moments from a blockbuster movie, but these weather wonders prove that reality is stranger than fiction.
They also serve as a reminder of the monumental power - and the fury - of Mother Nature.