At a cocktail party for the media and television industry in Cape Town on Wednesday night, SABC3 and Curious Pictures announced that there will be a second season of acclaimed local drama
The Lab.
Although precise details remain sketchy, TVSA was told that the second season will be aired towards the end of next year and will consist of a full 26 episodes.
The first season had only 13 episodes.
Despite a slow start in the television audience ratings The Lab gradually picked up viewers, culminating in more than
a million viewers on average watching the penultimate episode.
The show drew critical acclaim, and is still the top-rated South African show on TVSA.
The second season will once again be primarily written and directed by Barry Berk, although we're unable to say who the cast will be as yet.
We were told that most of the primary cast will be returning for the second season.
Present at the party on Wednesday night were Fana Mokoena (who plays Simon "Jaws" Bhengu), Nambitha Mpumlwana (Pearl Lusipho), Graham Hopkins (Monty Atkins), Catriona Andrew (Nadine Shakanovsky) and Mothusi Magano (Charles "Mingus" Khathi).
A notable absentee was Dada Koyana, who plays Vuvu Sibiya.
It's possible that at least one of those actors will not be returning, although we can't confirm who yet.
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| Graham Hopkins and Barry Berk |
According to David Jammy, MD of Curious Pictures (who make The Lab), the show will be looking to attract an expanded audience for its second season.
Good on SABC3 for having the balls to renew one of the few local shows on television that doesn't speak down to its audience, treating us as equals and confidantes as opposed to viewers needing an education about something.
Quality drama is the cornerstone of good television, and The Lab is all that.