M-Net’s original local wedding show returns with two new ‘Bashers’ and a lot of heart

The “Bashers” are back! M-Net’s popular local TV series, The Wedding Bashers, returns for a second season this year and viewers are in for a treat as M-Net has also created four Wedding Bashers specials, entitled The Wedding Bashers Specials… With Love which will be aired on channel 101 for four consecutive weeks from Sunday, 29 April at 18:00.

The stand-alone specials, which will be broadcast hot on the heels of the season finale of Dancing With The Stars SA, will turn the tables of the show’s original concept as the four intrepid Wedding Bashers – each with their own set of skills and expertise – will be doing all of the wedding planning themselves for four brave couples willing to hand over the reins to the planning of their big day.

The four specials and Season 2 of the series return this year with a cast that looks slightly different.  Two new “Bashers” with fresh perspectives will join the fray as the team continues their search for the perfect South African wedding.

The Wedding Bashers Specials… With Love as well as Season 2 of The Wedding Bashers welcome the return of wedding planner extraordinaire Zavion Kotze, and party professional Denise Zimba. The Season 1 alums will be joined this year by brand new Bashers Zola Nene – South African celebrity chef and author – and former Miss South Africa Bernelee Daniell.

Renowned chef and TV personality Zola Nene will be sharing her thoughts on every culinary experience throughout the series. Zola is best known for her role as resident chef on Expresso Morning Show and is no novice to the culinary industry, having worked with award-winning chefs such as Margot Janse of Le Quartier Francais and Chris Erasmus of Foliage. In February 2016, Zola released her debut cookbook entitled “Simply Delicious”, and most recently, she joined the local reality competition series The Great South African Bakeoff as part of the judging panel.

Weighing in on all the fabulous fashion and sartorial failures at the nuptial celebrations along the way is Bernelee Daniell. Bernelee will be critiquing the gowns, suits, accessories and overall style of each wedding party and its guests. Bernelee is the perfect fit for this role, as an ex-Miss South Africa and current owner of her own corporate branding and marketing company. Bernelee also spends her time as Patron of Steps Charity in South Africa.

Zavion Kotze is back to observe and weigh in on all of the wedding décor seen in the series. Zavion’s meticulous eye will scrutinise everything from the theme, flower arrangements and to the overall visual impression at the celebrations. Party professional, bubbly socialite and VUZU star Denise Zimba will again be tasked to critique the entertainment, giving her stamp of approval – or not – on the reception festivities and overall vibe of each wedding that the Bashers attend.

Kicking off at 17:00 on Sunday, 3 June, the four Wedding Bashers in Season 2 will make their way to unique South African weddings nationwide where they will join in on all of the celebrations and then discreetly rate the couples’ Big Day. Each couple who enters the show stands the chance of winning a fabulous prize package in the process. Entries are now open on www.mnet.tv/weddingbashers

The Wedding Bashers is produced by [sic] Entertainment. Follow all the breaking news and conversations around the show on Twitter @MNet / #WeddingBashers or on the official M-Net Facebook page.

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The dress should be to die for, the food should be world class, the décor divine and the entertainment a blast, but what will happen when South Africans of all backgrounds, cultures and religions open up their special days to The Wedding Bashers?

From Sunday 17 September there’s a brand new, quirky wedding show on M-Net 101 at 17:00. The Wedding Bashers will turn a microscope onto 22 unique weddings over 12 episodes, through an all-star celebrity team of experts in various fields. Enter former Miss South Africa and business woman Cindy Nell, bubbly socialite and VUZU star Denise Zimba, celebrity chef and food expert Siba Mtongana and wedding planner extraordinaire Zavion Kotze.

Each week, these four Wedding Bashers will make their way to nuptial celebrations across the country where they will join in the festivities and then discreetly rate the Big Day.  As the show’s resident fashion expert, Cindy has been tasked to share her thoughts about the wedding gown, garments and accessories while Siba will dish out remarks on the culinary experience. Zavion will evaluate everything that brings ‘fabulosity’ to the event, or not – from the overall décor to the theme, flower arrangements and visual impact. To impress Denise, there should be proof that the guests had an amazing time, with on-point entertainment of course.

While The Wedding Bashers may disagree about the finer details concerning the fashion and beauty, food, décor and entertainment, their final overall score for the wedding will be vital, because at the end of the series the newlyweds at the top of the list will win a wonderful wedding gift from the show: prizes to the value of over R500 000.

“The Wedding Bashers is unlike any wedding show you know,” says Lani Lombard, M-Net’s Head of Publicity. “It’s great fun seeing the Bashers in action and speaking their minds, but we will also will also get to experience a diverse range of weddings and will sometimes be challenged to rethink our perceptions of what a perfect wedding day should look like. The competition element also adds an exciting spin to this proudly South African format.”

The 22 weddings featured in the show vary in budget, opulence and theme and whether its set on a beach, in a vineyard, an industrial chic area or a five-star train, the Wedding Bashers‘ comments and criticism will always be outweighed by an important golden thread: the love that inspired the occasion.

The Wedding Bashers is produced by [sic] Entertainment and will be broadcast on M-Net channel 101 every Sunday night at 17:00. Viewers can also visit www.mnet.tv/weddingbashers to watch exclusive interviews with the bashers and bridal couples, and follow all the breaking news and conversations around the show on Twitter @MNet / #WeddingBashers or on the official M-Net Facebook page.

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Altovise Lawrence, winner of the first season of Top Actor South Africa, stars as leading lady, ‘Bailey’ in the romantic comedy Love By Chance by award-winning international film and television producer and director Samad Davis. The film is a pioneer in the eyes of Davis because it combines South African an US talent

Starring alongside Lawrence is Atandwa Kani, son of renowned actor, director and playwright John Kani, and a sterling cast of local and international favourites and new entrants. Included in the cast is Altovise’s co-competitor Nicholas Nkuna, and Denise Zimba, known for her role as “Mary Gumede” in Generations: The Legacy.

Love By Chance, shot in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, is about two aspiring actors from South Africa who are independently in America, trying to crack into an extremely difficult and over saturated Hollywood industry. They meet by chance, but between the everyday struggle of auditioning, dealing with daily rejection, self-doubt, financial hardship, and crazy friends who has time for love?

US co-stars include funny man Carl Anthony Payne II, famed for his role in the iconic television series “Martin”; Clifton Powell, of Ray, Rush Hour and Grand Theft Auto; Terri J. Vaughn, known for her roles in Girlfriends Getaway, Greenleaf and The Steve Harvey show; E. Roger Mitchell who co-starred alongside Denzel Washington in Flight and Equalizer; and Lil Zane former rap super star and actor.

Having just wrapped on the international series Blood Drive, shot in Cape Town, Altovise says, “I’ve been fortunate to play complex characters this year, from Scandal to Blood Drive and now Love By Chance. I am nervous and thrilled, but more than anything, I am grateful to land this role. Bailey is a complex character and I see a lot of myself in her. Having South Africans at the centre of this narrative is an important step in taking our talent to the world.”

On her leading man Atandwa, Altovise says, “I’ got to play alongside someone who is no stranger to our screens and stages. We both studied drama at the University of the Witwatersrand and I trust his work and talent. We brought out the best in each other through our performances.”

The film’s local producers are Dumi Gumbi and Cati Weinek of the Ergo Company. They produced the recent hit Mrs Right Guy and winner of best film at the Jozi Film Festival, Dora’s Peace, “We are excited to be collaborating with director / producer  Samad Davis on this romcom,” says Gumbi. “It’s great to see South Africans sharing a platform with top American talent.

Production on the film started October 2016 in Atlanta Georgia with all post production of the film taking place in South Africa making it a truly collaborative production between the producers and countries.”

“As an African-American, I am fueled by my vision of bridging cultural gaps between Africa and the United States through the power of film and television,” says director Samad Davis. “The Top Actor Africa brand was built on this premise and the film Love By Chance embodies that mantra. Being able to work with the right South African and international talent, both in front of and behind the camera, is priceless. Teamwork truly makes the dream work.”

The film is set to release locally and internationally in the first quarter of 2017. In South Africa, it will be distributed by Indigenous Film Distribution.

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