A new 10-part series is coming your way this January 2021, courtesy of M-Net. It is aptly titled (Lioness) as it stars a beast in every right. Shannon Esra takes on another lead role that further demonstrates the actress’ range.

Having already made appearances in some of South Africa’s most watched telenovelas (The Queen, The River, The Throne and, most recently, Gomora), the 36 year old actress brings to life the character Sam, who loses her children, her lover, and her freedom when she is framed for fraud.

Lioness is created and produced by Ochre Moving Pictures, which has brought you riveting content for years in eTV’s Scandal and Mzansi Magic shows like Greed and Desires and two seasons of Housekeepers.

Here’s a sneak peak at what you can expect on the show:

Just as the trailer clearly depicts, the M-Net original series follows Sam, as she comes to grips with her abrupt arrest in front of her children. She is forced to reach into the depths of her baser instincts in order to fight for her family against her ex husband.

Don’t forget to watch the thriller, which premieres on Thursday, 28 January 2021.

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The buhlungus never phel…

2021 is proof of this Zulu proverb. Uzalo star, Thandeka Dawn King who portrays the character of Mangcobo is set to exit the SABC 1 soapie. The news was broken by Phil Mphela on his #KgopoloReports updates on Twitter.

In the tweet, the entertainment commentator alluded to King leaving Uzalo for a new lead role in  Black Brain Picture series dubbed “Diepsloot”.

CASTING NEWS: Dawn Thandeka King to lead new series

Former Uzalo star, will play lead on a new series produced by Black Brain Pictures.

Sources tell me the show is titled “Diepsloot”. #KgopoloReports pic.twitter.com/507OWpDDzA

— Kgopolo Mphela (@PhilMphela) January 10, 2021

Thandeka has been the main drawcard on the soapie for five years. According to reports, the 43 year old opted not to renew her contract with the soapie for the seventh season.

RELATED: SIYABONGA SHIBE EXITS ‘UZALO’

King has taken time off the soapie before to record other projects such as five seasons of Mzansi Magic’s Lockdown. There is no suggestion that this will be the last time we see her on the show.

The odds of her returning anytime soon are slim, as the actress will be relocating to Johannesburg.

Thandeka is one of many superstars that has quit the show amid dwindling television ratings and a threat of cancellation by the public broadcaster. Fan-favourite Khaya Dladla is displaying his range after he left the show’s flamboyant role as GC.

Our eyes will be glued to the screen in anticipation of Thandeka’s new project as well as what to make of Uzalo’s storyline after her exit.

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To prove, yet again, that 2020 was one of the worst years to date, The Queen ended the year by allegedly severing ties with drawcard thespian Themba Ndaba amid sexual harassment allegations.

The tea was shared by well-informed entertainment commentator, Phil Mpela, without getting into the nitty-gritty of it all. We had opted to provide Ferguson Films and Mzansi Magic enough time to respond to the claim, to no avail.

It is alleged that the actor made inappropriate advances to colleagues on the show.

WORD IS: The Queen to drop actor

The murmur is that Mzansi Magic telenovela will be writing (or has written) an actor out of the show following some in appropriate advances on his colleagues.

This is a welcomed & encouraging step taken by Ferguson Films.

Change the culture! pic.twitter.com/GaDSZTqIa6

— Kgopolo Mphela (@PhilMphela) December 23, 2020

News of the Ferguson’s firm stance on workplace conduct and sexual harassment was a welcomed sight by fans of the show after it was lambasted for hiring actors with a history of gender based violence.

Long-time actor Kenneth Nkosi, who reprised the role of Jaros and Peter Mashigo who played Thato’s father; Jackal were both drafted to the star-studded roster on the show even after they were known women abuse offenders.

RELATED TV NEWS: THE QUEEN TO MOVE FROM MZANSI MAGIC TO SABC 2

The production reportedly went through a sexual harassment workshop back in 2020. In a move to further streamline proper workplace conduct, the show will be writing out the storyline of fan-favourite, Brutus in the coming episodes.

It remains to be seen if the telenovela will survive without the tag team quips between Shaka and his uncle. The ratings took a hit the last time the duo was separated.

Furthermore, the soapie had already been straddling a thin line of becoming yet another casualty of 2020, with ratings dwindling with each episode. Regardless, the move to protect the workplace environment of the show over profit should be commended.

After all, it isn’t the first time that the Fergusons had fired one of their marquee actors. They will surely bounce back!

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