As you no doubt know by now, the third season of SABC2's reality dancing show Strictly Come Dancing premieres this week, with al all-new timeslot and cast.
Well, not an entirely all-new cast - for reasons known best to themselves the channel has retained the atrocious bumbling hosts, Ian von Memerty and Sandy Ngema, despite an almost universal loathing of the pair by fans of the show.
Nevermind - the judges are still the same, and you'd be hard-pressed to find fault with Tyrone Watkins, Salome Sechele, Dave Campbell and Lillian Phororo.
Well...Salome is pretty annoying at times, but let's not go there for now.
The second season of the show was won by Riaan Venter from the (surprise, surprise) SABC2 show Die Nutsman, with his professional dance partner Hayley Hammond.
Many felt that Tamara Dey and Brandon Eilers should have won, however, following the four perfect 10's for their Latin dance in Week 6, and for their overall consistency and flair.
The third season of the show will have a new format and a new timeslot, moving from its Saturday 20h00 regular slot to Thursdays at 19h30.
Strictly Come Dancing will feature a one hour dance competition (similar to the previous two seasons) followed by a one-hour break, and thereafter a half-hour results show in which the contestant with the lowest score will be sent home.
We're particularly pleased about the new format, although we shudder to think of what might be on in the one-hour break.
Ed Worster, SABC2's programme manager, explained the reason for the change in format and timeslot.
"Potentially, a bigger audience will watch on Thursdays as people go out on Saturdays and are less likely to follow the reality format," he said. "The split is also in line with the way Strictly Come Dancing is done in other countries".
The Carlton Hotel's ballroom will once again provide the venue for the Strictly Come Dancing production.
Now - onto the contestants. There is the usual mix of well-known and utterly anonymous "celebs" in this year's show, which - it must be said - is pretty much how it is in other countries where the show airs.
There are eight celeb contestants (four male, four female) who will partner with eight professional dance partners, a number of whom have partnered contestants on previous seasons of the show.
Female Contestants
Patricia Lewis
(TVSA Profile)
Claim to fame
One of South Africa's top-selling Afrikaans female singers, who also created and hosts the reality show Supersterre.
Partner
Marcel Vilonel
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Lieschen Botes
(TVSA Profile)
Claim to fame
Currently "the breasts of Wonderbra", and her pic reveals precisely why. She also featured in the SASI Swimwear shoot last year, and was featured on the cover of the magazine.
Partner
Ryan Hammond
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Candice Moodley
(TVSA Profile)
Claim to fame
Presenter of the Indian-related magazine show Eastern Mosaic.
Partner
Quintus Jansen
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Thembisile Ntaka
(TVSA Profile)
Claim to fame
Winner of the 2003 Popstars reality show.
Partner
Thabo Moloto, who tore a ligament during rehearsals last season and was the first to be voted off when he danced with the controversial Babalwa Mneno.
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Male Contestants
Erald Felix
(TVSA Profile)
Claim to fame
Host of the SABC2 wildlife show 50/50.
Partner
Mary Martin
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Ezekiel Sepeng
(TVSA Profile)
Claim to fame
Olympic silver medallist and Potchefstroom's golden boy.
Partner
Lindsey Muckle
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Lesley Mofokeng
(TVSA Profile)
Claim to fame
Journalist for the Sunday Times.
Partner
Sara Els
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HHP (Hip Hop Pantsula)
(TVSA Profile)
Claim to fame
Award-winning South African rapper.
Partner
Hayley Hammond
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Strictly Come Dancing premieres on SABC2 on Thursday 24 May, at 19h30. The first results show is at 21h30 on the same night.
The show will be repeated on Saturdays at 22h00.
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