TV TALK SHOW FOR GARETH CLIFF

Motor-mouth 5fm jock Gareth Cliff will challenge TV viewers on his very own talk show.

He is well-known for his honest, uncensored comments on Idols as well as for entertaining radio listeners countrywide on their way to work in the mornings. Now, motor-mouth 5fm jock Gareth Cliff will be challenging television viewers with his no-holds-barred opinions in his very own talk show. M-Net has confirmed that The Gareth Cliff Show will commence on the channel on September 23 at 20h00.

M-Net’s Head of Local Content, Helen Smit, says the time is right for a high-profile male celebrity-driven talk show with a local tone. “You can rest assured that The Gareth Cliff Show will ruffle some feathers and spark interesting debates around a variety of topics. Whether you love him or hate him, you have to admit that Gareth Cliff has his own take on the world. Brace yourself for a show that will be a blend of controversial topics with an infusion of wit and humour.”

Each week, the gregarious man who invented ‘Phuza Thursday’, will choose a topic which he has a strong opinion about - from current controversies to issues in our day-to-day South African lives. His views will then be challenged, or matched, by three guests on a panel, and a lively three-way interaction will ensue between him, the guests, and the studio audience, who are encouraged to ask questions and share their opinions, too.

To test the content and popularity of the programme, M-Net commissioned a pilot episode of The Gareth Cliff Show which was taken into intensive market research. “Talk shows are traditionally a difficult genre to crack, as the host plays a vital part, and we are thrilled with the overwhelmingly positive feedback we received,” says Smit.

The Gareth Cliff Show is produced by Imani Media and directed by television veteran, Bobby Heaney, who has been chiselling the concept with Gareth and his agent, Rina Bloomberg, for almost five years. “We’re convinced that the Gareth Cliff brand has never been more ready to branch out into a fully-fledged television show,” says Heaney. “Many talk show hosts have taken themselves too seriously but Gareth’s gift of the gab, wit and nonchalance will turn this into a highly entertaining product.”

When asked what he is looking forward to the most about having his own show on this new platform, Gareth says, “I’m excited about starting a conversation and engaging with a variety of different people. Talking about stuff that matters, that is topical, interesting and thought-provoking.”

The Gareth Cliff Show will run for 13 weeks on M-Net, every Wednesday at 20h00.