SABC 3’s long running premium lifestyle TV show, Top Billing, has been canned.

The Tswelopele Production, which has been chronicling the lavish and opulent lives of the South Africa’s most monied, along with all the fine experiences in travel and home, will this week be airing its final episode after 23 years on air!

QuenchSA understands that the curtain call episode will be airing this Saturday, October 19th.

Despite reports that she’s unhappy with the SABC’s decision to roll the credits permanently on her production company’s flagship show, Tswelopele Productions maintained a positive spirit in their press statement.

“This show exemplifies excellence and sophistication in arts, design, decor, fashion and broadcasting, creating countless jobs in its many years on air”, they expressed. “It has been quite a ride and it is fitting that after 25 years, we salute this season as our final one”, it says here.

Sowetan has reported that the cash strapped SABC’s decision to pull the plug on the show is down to the cost involved with producing it, which are estimated to be between R500 000 and R800 000 for each episode.

Further to this, the show’s ratings are said to have plunged since it was moved from it Thursday slot to a Saturday.

Viewers are devastated by the blind side, lamenting an end to lush scenes of a life towards which they aspire.

“What’s the point of being rich if Top Billing can’t confirm it to the world?”, one Twitter wrote, amongst many others sharing this sentiment.

What’s the point of being rich if Top Billing can’t confirm it to the world?

Mxim. Ngcono re no tlogela.

— Piano Man (@KMalatji) October 17, 2019

Lerato noted the role played by the show in igniting her passion for architecture, which would later become her career path.

Top Billing influenced me so much towards my career choice. I redrew most of the houses I saw on Top Billing back in High School and I proceeded to study Architecture thereafter. Heck I got the job my dreams from a company that was and still is being FEATURED on Top Billing. 😭😭

— Lerato Ramolahloane (@Ms_Ramolahloane) October 17, 2019

Your thoughts?

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Last week, SABC 3 unveiled a new reality show, The Taste Master, which intends on hunting down the next foodie sensation.

South Africa’s hottest culinary sensations will be put to the test with a series of tasks as they battle it out in the hopes of becoming the brand-new resident foodie on SABC 3’s popular variety show Afternoon Express.

The new resident foodie will be able to use the platform to showcase their gastronomic talents while making a name for themselves as an industry leader in the culinary space.

Top Billing presenter Harmony Katulondi will serve as the official host of the series, which debuts next month. Harmony will guide both the contestants and viewers at home through the various challenges taking place in each episode.

RELATED: GETTING TO KNOW HARMONY KATULONDI

Harmony is no stranger to reality television. He famously won last year’s season of Presenter Search on 3 which saw him win a coveted job as host of SABC 3’s popular magazine show Top Billing.

Since winning the competition, Harmony has gone on to experience once-in-a-lifetime moments and on The Taste Master, he’s looking forward to changing another person’s life forever.

When asked about the show, Harmony had this to say, “I’m excited to be hosting The Taste Master because I love food, I love people and the art of bringing them together is the most interesting thing about this show for me. More importantly though, I’ll get to see someone’s dream come true.

I’ll get to go on a journey with the contestants as they discover their passions and how to apply them to overcome the various challenges thrown at them. Having my career boosted by a similar show, I can confirm that being part of a show like this opens up your career – and your world – to new ventures. I’m excited to see what it’s going to do for our contestants”.

Harmony admits that The Taste Master is unlike anything South Africans have seen on television before because a presentation element plays a big part in this series. “This show is different from all the other cooking shows because it’s not just about the dish”.

Auditions for the exciting new reality show are now open and will remain so until midnight on the 22nd of October 2019.

Those of you who think they have what it takes to be The Taste Master can now enter! You have to record a video of yourself telling the show why you would be perfect for this role and upload it onto Twitter or Instagram with the hashtags #TheTasteMasterSA and #StartWithAStella. It’s that easy.

The Taste Master premieres on the 12th of November 2019 at 19h30 on SABC 3

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QuenchSA has learned that South African thespian, Nyaniso Dzedze has officially joined the cast of popular e.TV soapie, Rhythm City!

Dzedze will be portraying the role of a certain Gift Twala.

The new character will be hard to resist, oozing self confidence, an analytical mind and a personality which soon makes him the talk of Diepkloof.

Gift enters our world when Mapula asks him to help her with student accommodation for Banele (her current boyfriend).

He likes the company of young, sexy women, and is a confirmed blesser. He is willing to pay their rent or varsity fees, even to help them with cash, as long as they are available when he wants them to be.

He is outgoing, popular and a go-getter. Gift is not a mean, nasty or lecherous man.

RELATED: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT NEW ETV DRAMA, ‘ISIPHO’

Even when he takes a liking to a girl, he is down the line about his intentions and leaves it up to them to make up their minds.

He is generous in his ‘blessings’ – His story unfolds when he helps Mapula with her varsity fees because of her bursary suddenly being cancelled and from that, he soon gets more of Mapula’s attention. He sees her when he wants to, without any drama. In return, he lives up to his name.

Will his Nyaniso’s journey take our fans to unexpected places?

Catch Nyaniso Dzedze from Thursday the 17th of October at 7:00pm on Rhythm City on e.tv DSTV channel 194 and Openview Channel 104.

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