Creative differences spark Isidingo shake-up

Written by TVSA Team from the blog News on 06 Sep 2016
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Rohan Dickson/Sivan Pillay

TVSA was recently sent a scandalous tipoff about Isidingo, stating that Executive Producer Rohan Dickson has been fired. The tipoff included mention of Isidingo's production company Endemol Shine Africa and stated that Endemol CEO Sivan Pillay has been fired too.

Chaos! Firings! It sounded as if things have exploded like gas in a mine on Horizon Deep. What's going on?

We've spoken to the players involved and discovered that part of the tipoff is definitely true because Rohan's off the show and Sivan's no longer the CEO of Endemol Shine Africa. We asked Isidingo for comment on what happened with both and received this message from Endemol's interim CEO Arjen Merlo about Rohan:

"We have for some time been in ongoing and good faith discussions with Executive Producer Rohan Dickson regarding the vision and future of the show and in light of some differences in our respective thinking, Rohan has decided it makes best sense for him to resign from the production.

I want to pay tribute to Rohan for all his great work on Isidingo, which continues to be a hugely successful hit for SABC. He leaves with our sincere gratitude for his dedication and commitment to the series and our very best wishes for the future.”

We asked Rohan for comment too and he confirmed Arjen's statement.

As for Sivan ... the bigwigs from Endemol in America and London got involved with this one and sent us comment, stating that Sivan has resigned too and that it's not because of Isidingo but because he's tired. This from Endemol's Co Director of Marketing and Communications Patrick Keegan:

"Sivan resigned in early July to take an extremely well deserved break before pursing other opportunities, after 16 years with the company. His responsibilities have been taken up by interim CEO Arjen Merlo who has extensive experience in our sector and the search for a full time replacement is underway."

Endemol also sent us internal company correspondence from Endemol's COO of International Operations Marina Williams which was sent to Endemol staff in July. It informed them of Sivan's resignation and stated that he's remaining available to support Arjen and Marina until December 2016.

So what's happening with Isidingo now? Rohan's replacement has already been organised snap-snap. Sam Shale, who was Head of Drama at the SABC, has been appointed as Head of Scripted Drama and will now oversee Isidingo.

Sam and Sivan are producing partners having worked together on productions such as SABC2's Mamello and e.tv's B&B.

Sam's joined by Leo Phiri, who's gone from Isidingo's Operations Manager to Producer to Senior Producer in the past year. Bongi Nbada remains the Head Writer after taking over from Rohan when he replaced Pumla Hopa as Executive Producer in March this year.

Rohan left the show in August and he's been off the team for just under a month so the future will be testimony to the creative differences between everyone. The soapie films approximately three months ahead of what we see on TV so whatever direction the show takes in the next three months will clearly be what Rohan didn't want to happen.

Shows in this post: Isidingo

Channels in this post: SABC3

9 Comments

fratpack9
06 Sep 2016 01:40

New bosses I hope this won't change isidingo's new direction of storytelling. isidingo is doing so well these days with great storylines. I love me some Morongwa!!

fratpack9
06 Sep 2016 01:46

Also, @TVSA how can you get Pumla Hopa's name wrong? *side eye*

TVSA Team
06 Sep 2016 04:12

Thanks for the heads up fratpack - sorted;).

max85
06 Sep 2016 06:30

Thank God Rohan Dickson is gone .this racism storyline was one of his worst ideas .the guy was with the Wild ,it got canned .he headwrote zone 14 ,it was canned .Bongi Ndaba had a successful run with the old Gen maybe she will turn the ratings around .

deziclesthagawd
06 Sep 2016 07:31

Rohan Dickson is the worst writer Isi has ever had. The show was at an all time storyline low when he was head writer. I was so happy when Bongi took over as HW and the difference in the entertainment value of the show was visible. Good riddance I say.

qavile
06 Sep 2016 09:33

i dnt see isidingo ratings going up again...they are just confused on what to do with their cast off with its too many of them...the must sack some faces and remain with useful ones...they need to start a fresh and draw new direction for the show even if it means letting go almost the entire cast..generations deed and it worked. .sometimes change is good..

deziclesthagawd
06 Sep 2016 09:53

I will agree with you on that. The cast is way too large and they just keep adding to it. I am afraid that the show might slip into its dodgy ways if they dont regroup. Definitely fire a few.

max85
06 Sep 2016 10:24

I just thing SABC needs to start developing a new soapie to replace isidingo .the show has being reinvented so many times now ,it has lost all its fire .Barker /Rajesh have no storylines ,they must let them go .they need a fresh family fast .Lincoln must go back where he came from ,he has never being useful on the show .

Storyteller_Athie
06 Sep 2016 16:39

Good Move! Now hire new creative team with brilliant new ideas. New Show-runner, New Creative Producer, New Headwriter, New Storyliners and Scriptwriters. Secondly they must revamp the cast. Create new powerful exciting high Class families, two core families (a black and white family) behind the multinational conglomerates a mining company and Tv company. Secondly- Create new Authentic working class families in Horizon Township. Miners, Maids, comic shebeen queen a typical kasi gossip woman, a real Pastor (real religious storyline not fake pastors). They must revamp the whole show. That's what Scandal! Did around 2012 and it worked out. They hired a new creative team and created new exciting characters.

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