adminJohannesburg – Free-to-air channel e.tv isn’t just trying to compete with Generations in its 20:00 primetime slot – it’s going after some of the 16 actors who were sacked from the SABC’s flagship local soapie. City Press has learnt that four of the actors who were fired from Generations in August have been approached by e.tv to be part of its new telenovela. An industry source with knowledge of the new show said the working title was Gold Diggers and it would run for 104 episodes, starting in February next year.
It would be produced by Clive Morris Productions, added the source. Some of the production house’s previous projects include episodes of 50/50 on SABC and Forever Young on M-Net.
“Nambitha Mpumlwana, Sophie Ndaba, Zolisa Xaluva and Zikhona Sodlaka are some of the people who have been approached by e.tv so far,” two impeccable sources told City Press.
“But by the look of things, it seems they want to recruit all the axed Generations actors to be on this show.”
Ndaba refused to comment, while the phones of Mpumlwana, Xaluva and Sodlaka went straight to voicemail. Repeated attempts to contact the three actors were unsuccessful.
A third source said Xaluva was on the set of a show, but would not give details.
Monde Twala, e.tv’s managing director for channels, was non-committal when he was approached for comment.
He said in an email that e.tv was cooking up a new and “spectacular” line-up for the 20:00 weekday slot in the new year.
“The offerings are packed with serial drama, intensity, a cast that will shock you, engage you and quench your thirst for more entertainment,” he wrote in the e-mail.
“The market is craving a fresh alternative and we’ve just what it needs. We’re looking for the very best of South African talent.”
But he added that the channel was “not at liberty to confirm any names at this stage”.
“Information will be revealed once all deals have been concluded.”
One of the three sources told City Press no contracts had been signed yet, but the negotiations were under way between the four former Generations actors and e.tv.- City Press.
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