Wednesday night saw the return of popular celebrity dance competition Strictly Come Dancing. This is the sixth season of the competition, which was last seen in 2008 on SABC 2 and has since moved to its sister channel SABC 3.
The show partners South African celebrities with professional Latin and ballroom dancers with weekly eliminations based on judges scores and votes by the public.
Broadcast live from the Renaissance Centre at the South African Broadcasting Corporation, hosts Pabi Moloi and Marc Lottering entertained the audience with their humorous demeanour. Comedian Lottering's hosting was equally, if not more exceptional than anyone who took to the dance floor.
Each week during the live show, viewers will be asked to vote for their favourite couple and one couple (with the least votes) will be eliminated. But for the first two episodes there won't be any elimination.
For the first show this week, the women took to the dance floor. If anyone was going to be voted off on Wednesday – based on a celebrity's dance moves – it would have been TV presenter Kuli Roberts.
The loud-mouthed socialite and her dance partner Sylvester Sefotlhelo would only stand a chance to win if this was a 24-hour reality show – as clips ahead of their performance showed Roberts upsetting Sefotlhelo by arriving late for rehearsals and generally antagonising him. Despite all of that, the two gave an energetic cha-cha performance topped with Roberts's usual over-the-top antics.
Waltzing Connie Ferguson
Actress Connie Ferguson and partner Brandon Eilers performed an elegant waltz. The former Generations and The Wild actress said she entered the competition to challenge herself, despite struggling with arthritis in her lower back and an old ankle injury.
Their performance proved popular with the judges, Michael Wentink, Tebogo Kgobokoe and Samantha Peo, and audience members.
Vuzu presenter Lalla Hirayama partnered with Grant Esterhuizen, and received the highest score from the judges and will probably easily make it into the final round of the competition.
The former hip-hop dancer did a near-perfect waltz and received a standing ovation from the packed ballroom.
Right behind Hirayama in second place, was actress Zakeeya Patel, who did the cha-cha with partner Ryan Hammond. Patel is better known for her roles in The Wild, High Rollers and award-winning film Material.
According to judges scoring: third place was Isidingo actor Jay Anstey and partner Tsholo Moholowane, Ferguson took fourth place, while Roberts and Sefotlhelo were in the last spot.
Male celebrities
Next week's show will feature the male celebrity counterparts taking to the dance floor with their partners.
The judges scores from the first two episodes will be carried to the third episode, where both men and women groups will compete.
In the third episode, the couple with the lowest scores and audience votes will be eliminated.
Previous winners of Strictly Come Dancing include comedian Rob van Vuuren, actor Emmanuel Castis, rapper HHP, radio and TV personality Zuraida Jardine and TV host Riaan Venter.
Season six contestants:
Radio producer Damon Kalvari and Hayley Hammond
Actor Thapelo Mokoena and Hayley Bennet
Comedian Mpho Popps and Nombulelo Hlathi
Kwaito singer L'Vovo and Mary Martins
TV presenter Graeme Richards and Lindsey Muckle
Radio and TV personality Kuli Roberts and Sylvester Sefotlhelo
TV presenter Lala Hiriyama and Grant Esterhuizen
Actor Connie Ferguson and Brandon Eilers
Actor Zakeeya Patel and Ryan Hammond
Actor Jay Antsey and Tsholo Moholwane
Strictly Come Dancing airs on SABC3 on Wednesdays at 8pm.