South Africa Showbiz Latest News and Updates

Christopher Vourlias South Africa’s Known Associates, the fast-growing parent company of Johannesburg-based Known Associates Entertainment (KAE) and Cape Town-based Moonlighting Films, is launching into unscripted programming, Variety can reveal. The company has acquired a 60% stake in Zero Gravity, a production outfit founded in 2017 by former Endemol Shine Africa and Trace Studios CEO Sivan Pillay, and will team up with South African media giant Primedia to “relaunch multiple new high-end unscripted formats,” according to Pillay.

Naman Ramachandran BBC Studios has bought British broadcaster ITV‘s 50% stake in streamer BritBox International for £255 million ($322 million), the companies revealed on Friday. The streamer was founded in 2017 as a joint venture between BBC Studios, which is the commercial arm of the British broadcaster, and ITV. “The transaction will provide net proceeds including loan repayments and accrued dividends and after tax of around £235 million,” the companies said.

Love Island star Georgia Steel has revealed that since returning from the villa in South Africa, she has been scared to leave her house due to horrendous trolling and death threats. Georgia appeared on the latest series where she made it to the final of the show with Toby Aromolaran. The star had a rather turbulent journey on the show and faced intense backlash over her connections with Tom Clare and Callum Jones.

Christopher Vourlias Akin Omotoso, the filmmaker behind Disney Plus’ Giannis Antetokounmpo biopic “Rise,” has been attached to direct “The Plot to Save South Africa,” an adaptation of Justice Malala’s gripping book about a 1990s white supremacist plot that almost plunged the young democracy into civil war. “The Plot to Save South Africa” will be produced by Johannesburg-based production outfit Ochre Moving Pictures, which signed a deal with Netflix last year to adapt multiple books for the streaming service alongside Omotoso.

Love Island All Stars wrapped last week, and already its stars are back to reality. Although some islanders have made friends for life in the South African villa, there seems to be bad blood between others, which they've brought with them back to the UK. Here's a look at the stars who haven't followed each other on social media, indicating there's neither friendship nor romance on the horizon...

The security of Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie caused a lot of drama for King Charles. The furore came before the issue of royal protection came into focus when Prince Harry decided to sue the Home Office over changes to his security level during his UK visits.

Salma Hayek has a close friendship with the Mexican director Alfonso Cuaron. The two have been friends for years, resulting in a familial bond that has been passed down to their kids. In a recent post, Hayek congratulated Tess Bu Cuaron, the director’s eldest daughter with the filmmaker Annalisa Bugliani, as she released her new song “Viceversa,” and launched her career as a musician.

Love Island star Callum Jones has dropped huge hints that he is no longer with fellow islander Jess Gale, after the duo reached the final together earlier this month. The couple, who initially met on the 2020 series of Love Island, hit it off during their second round in the villa and ended up placing second, despite many fans wishing Callum had rekindled his romance with ex Molly Smith. Callum and Jess ended up finishing in second place on the first All Star series, with Molly Smith and Tom Clare taking home the crown, and the 50k cash prize.

Love Island All Stars has come to a close, with the series being criticised by fans for not having many actual 'All Stars' in the cast. However, some former Islanders have revealed that they were supposed to be on the show but didn't end up entering the villa, each for various reasons. While some are upset, others don't seem too bothered.

Love Island star Hannah Elizabeth has shared a look inside her welcome home party after returning home from South Africa where she filmed for the All Stars series. Hannah got glammed up after checking into an apartment suite at the Philharmonic Hotel in Liverpool, where she was joined by Luis Morrison, another original cast member of Love Island and fellow All Star. Showing her Instagram followers around the luxury ‘party pad’, Hannah was welcomed with foil balloons that spelled out 'Love Island', with six beds and a huge jacuzzi bath.

Mary Poppins has had its age rating increased in the UK due to the use of “discriminatory language”.The Disney film, which stars Julie Andrews as the titular nanny, was originally released back in 1964.However, last week (February 23) the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) upped its original rating to PG from U due to two uses of a racially insensitive term.A spokesperson for the organisation told Variety that Mary Poppins “includes two uses of the discriminatory term ‘hottentots’”.“While Mary Poppins has a historical context, the use of discriminatory language is not condemned, and ultimately exceeds our guidelines for acceptable language at U.

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent Underscoring the enduring popularity of crime drama, Abacus Media Rights (AMR), an Amcomri Entertainment company, has announced a slew of sales on two titles, led by Showmax Original “Catch Me a Killer,” a true crime drama with “Game of Thrones’” Charlotte Hope playing South Africa’s first and most famous serial killer profiler. Hope also headed “The Spanish Princess,” as Catherine of Aragon. AMR has moreover closed further deals on fiction drama “Scrublands,” a scripted drama about the real reasons for a country town massacre.

“Mary Poppins” movie due to “discriminatory language.”The Disney movie, which came out in 1964, stars Julie Andrews as magical governess Mary Poppins and Dick Van Dyke as her chimney-sweep sidekick, Bert.It snared 13 Oscar nominations — including one for Best Picture — and won five Academy Awards, including one for Andrews as Best Actress. It is being re-released in some movie theaters in the UK next month to celebrate its 60th anniversary.The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) changed the “Mary Poppins” rating from U — meaning that it contained “no material likely to offend or harm” and is suitable for audiences four years and older — to PG, which delineates “discriminatory language,” and that some scenes may be unsuitable for young children, though unaccompanied children of any age may watch, according to The Independent.The offending language in question is the use of the word “hottentots,” which is used in the movie by Admiral Boom (Reginald Owen), including one instance in which he refers to chimney sweeps (like Bert) whose faces are covered in soot.A BBFC spokesperson told Variety that the film “includes two uses of the discriminatory term ‘hottentots.’ While ‘Mary Poppins’ has historical context, the use of discriminatory language is not condemned, and ultimately exceeds our guidelines for acceptable language at U.“We therefore classified the film PG for discriminatory language.”The word is a racially insensitive term for the Khoekhoe, an indigenous group of nomadic herders in South Africa.The slur was adopted by Dutch settlers in South Africa, thought to imitate their language, but was later used to refer to all black people, according to The Independent.

Rochelle Humes was quickly asked about her sister Sophie Piper's time on Love Island: All Stars as she returned to the helm of This Morning. And she also revealed somewhat of a 'snub' from her younger sibling's new beau after they met for the first time.

Thinus Ferreira Guest Contributor The nights were dark and stormy for many of the days on the five-week call sheet of “Death of a Whistleblower” but although South African director Ian Gabriel personally detests night shoots, he pushed through since his latest conspiracy thriller about cover-ups and a journalist’s dogged pursuit of the truth simply wouldn’t have felt the same shot in sunshine. “There’s always been a struggle for the truth in South Africa — in the past, and now,” says Gabriel, who also came up with the story.

Thinus Ferreira Guest Contributor When the film biz jetset lands at O.R Tambo airport for this week’s 6th Joburg Film Festival they’d be amazed by a little-known story of how the airport’s namesake was the mastermind behind a plan to recruit ordinary British working-class volunteers to travel to South Africa and detonate pamphlet bombs in the 1970s during the height of Apartheid. The fascinating story has been made into a thrilling documentary by director Gordon Main, “London Recruits,” featuring interviews with those who went, interspersed with Super 8 archive footage and dramatic reenactments. It is the festival opener.

Christopher Vourlias Following on the heels of a successful post-pandemic reboot one year ago, the Joburg Film Festival kicks off its sixth edition on Feb. 27, with the glitzy capital of South Africa’s media and entertainment industry showcasing a selection of top talents from the host country and across the African continent.

Ellise Shafer The age rating for the 1964 “Mary Poppins” has been increased in the U.K. due to “discriminatory language.” On Friday, the British Board of Film Classification upped the Disney movie’s cinema rating from U, meaning it contained “no material likely to offend or harm,” to PG for “discriminatory language.” Though the BBFC did not disclose the language which caused the reevaluation, the Daily Mail reported that it is due to the use of a racially insensitive term for the Khoekhoe, an indigenous group in South Africa.

Mary Poppins has been deemed potentially unsuitable for children.

Aimee Lou Wood Comedy ‘Daddy Issues’ Rounds Out Cast

This is wild! A South African man has been found guilty of murdering two Native Alaskan women — after his date stole his phone and found videos of him murdering someone!

Gary Barlow is set to host a brand new travel series on ITV this autumn where the Take That icon will delve into the delicious world of food and wine in splendid South Africa. As a wine connoisseur with his own range available in shops, the singer, 53, will visit vineyards and sample local cuisine in South Africa, to further explore his passion of food and wine - and share it with viewers.

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent “A True Novel,” directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, manga-inspired “Issak,” written by Itaru Mizuno (“Double Booking”) and “4 Blocks” Richard Kropf, look like potential highlights at this year’s Co-Pro Pitching Sessions, the centerpiece at Series Mania’s Forum, as its projects expand ever more their geographic compass, here welcoming their first titles co-produced by Japan. They are joined by titles from around the world such as Argentinean Daniel Burman’s “Witness 36,” which won the Series Mania Award at the Berlinale Series Market on Tuesday, and a slice of Vatican noir and which reunites the team of “De Grace,”and The Forum runs March 19-21 during Series Mania, Europe’s biggest dedicated TV festival, which will unspool this year over March 15-22 in Lille, Northern France.

Days of lounging by the pool, getting glammed up at night and sunbathing in the South African sun are well and truly over for this year's Love Islanders as they've returned to reality with a bang. Stars such as Molly Smith and Tom Clare - who were crowned the winners of this season of All Stars - and fellow contestants Callum Jones and Toby Aromolaran posted on social media about they've come back to normal life since jetting home after a whirlwind 36 days in the villa.

Larry David has found another adversary.

Behavioural and body language expert Darren Stanton has revealed to OK! that he’s doubtful certain couples will go the distance, and said Anton Danyluk and Georgia Harrison 'aren't genuine and aren't going to last'. The Love Island All Stars final saw Anton and Georgia finish in fifth place after a rather turbulent time in the villa.

Before his sad passing former Strictly Come Dancing star Robin Windsor took a 'dream trip' to Cape Town as a way to distract himself. Robin, 44, was found in a London hotel room just days after coming back from his trip. No official details regarding Robin's death have yet been announced.

Love Island fans saw Tom Clare and Molly Smith crowned winners of the first-ever All Stars series on Monday night, after five weeks of looking to find love on-screen once again. In new pictures of the couples landing back in the UK after their sun-soaked - and drama-filled - South African sojourn, the winning couple were papped at the airport looking as smitten as ever, alongside the other four final couples.

They finished fifth on the Love Island All Stars final on Monday evening and now Anton Danyluk and Georgia Harrison are bidding fairwell to South Africa and heading back to the UK.

Love Island All Stars fans are convinced that they’ve spotted a hidden ‘clue’ that ‘proves’ Callum Jones is still in love with Molly Smith, after last night’s explosive final. After 36 days in the sun-soaked South African villa, the first ever All Stars series came to a close on Monday night (19 February) when Molly and her partner Tom Clare were crowned the winners and secured a prize of £50,000.

Welcome to Global Breakouts, Deadline’s fortnightly strand in which we shine a spotlight on the TV shows and films killing it in their local territories. The industry is as globalized as it’s ever been, but breakout hits are emerging in pockets of the world all the time and it can be hard to keep track. That’s why we’re doing the hard work for you.

Strictly Come Dancing's Robin Windsor's final public photo shows the dancer smiling on a cruise ship just weeks before he sadly passed away.

Robin Windsor posted a haunting final photo on his social media just three weeks before his death. The Strictly Come Dancing professional sadly died at the age of 44, with the news being confirmed on Tuesday morning.

Love Island: All Stars viewers have claimed that one couple were 'robbed' of winning the show after the final. Molly Smith and Tom Clare were crowned the winners of the ITV2 dating show's first-ever spin-off during the live final on Monday night (February 19).

Maya Jama shocked fans during the Love Island All Stars final when she surprisingly spoke about her love life with Stormzy during her chat with exes Molly and Callum. Monday night of the ITV2 series saw Molly Smith and Tom Clare named the winners and Maya handed them their crowns in a live show from South Africa.

After 36 days of sun soaked romance in the Love Island villa, the popular All Stars edition has finally crowned a worthy winner in Tom Clare and Molly Smith! Over the course of the past few weeks, fans of the ITV2 dating show have been delighted to see some of their favourite Islanders take a second chance at love, with several must-see couples even making it all the way to the final. On their last night in the villa, just five couples remained, Georgia Steel and Toby Aromolaran, Georgia Harrison and Anton Danyluk, Josh Ritchie and Sophie Piper, Molly Smith and Tom Clare and Callum Jones and Jess Gale.