Isidingo

Infobox Television
show_name = Isidingo


caption = deletable image-caption
show_name_2 = "Isidingo: The Need"
genre = Soap opera
creator =
writer = Greig Coetzee (Head writer)
director = Raymond Sargeant Johnny Barbuzano Krijay Govender Sthembiso Mathenjwa
creative_director =
developer =
presenter =
starring = Keketso Semoko Robert Whitehead Michelle Botes Kevin Smith Darlington Micheals Grethe Fox Chris Beasley Ashley Callie Lesego Motsepe Kim Engelbrecht Karin Van Der Laag Hlubi Mboya Jo da Silva Tshepo Maseko Carl Beukes Jack Devnarain S'thandiwe Kgoroge Judy Ditchfield Emmanuel Castis Nathan Ro Meshack Mavuso Don Mlangeni
voices =
narrated =
theme_music_composer = Siva Devar
opentheme =
endtheme =
composer =
country = RSA
language = English (Including a mix of various other South African languages)
num_seasons = 1
num_episodes = approx. 2 600
list_episodes =
executive_producer = Gray Hofmeyr
co_exec =
producer = Pumla Hopa
supervising_producer = Steven Raymond
asst_producer =
co-producer =
editor =
story_editor = Iain Paton
location =
cinematography = Kobus Van Niekerk
camera = Single-camera
runtime = approx. 22–26 minutes
network = SABC 3
picture_format = PAL
audio_format = Monaural
first_run =
first_aired = 1998-07-07
last_aired = Present
preceded_by = The Villagers
followed_by =
related =
website = http://www.isidingo.co.za/
production_website =
imdb_id = 0373543
tv_com_id = 25997

"Isidingo: The Need" is a South African soap opera, with dialogue mostly in English. Isidingo premiered on SABC 3 in July 1998 and is broadcast evenings on SABC 3 from Monday to Friday. It now uses the title Isidingo, dropping "The Need" in 2001. [cite web|url=http://www.tonight.co.za/?fArticleId=3221917&fSectionId=368&fSetId=204|title=Isidingo's lustre will never fade while Barker remains his nasty self|publisher=www.tonight.co.za|accessdate=2008-01-12|last=|first=]

The story follows vaguely from a popular soap opera during apartheid South Africa named The Villagers, although none of the current actors are from the older series.

Several famous actors and actresses appeared on Isidingo, including Michelle Botes, who left the show in 2007.

Locations are divided between the fictional ON TV studios in Johannesburg and the mining town of Horizon Deep. The main characters include the Haines family, the Matabanes, the mine manager, Vusi Moletsane, and the various residents of the boarding house now owned by Maggie Wilson.Barker Haines is the character everyone loves to hate. Billionare in the living, he often schemes his way into the lives of various people in and out of Horizon Deep, notably his daughter Leone Haines who used to run ON TV (which Barker happens to own), along with Rajesh Kumar. Leone now owns and runs a hotel called The Duncan in Horizon Deep, in memory of her dead brother, Duncan.

The Matabanes are a strong hold in the make up of Horizon Deep, with Zebedi as the patriatch of the closely knitted family. Vusi, the mine manager is married to the Matabane daughter and lives with them in their family house. Other characters central to this family are Nandipa, wife to the Matabane son, and is currently living with HIV, but has a some what celebrity status as she is a presenter at ON TV where she presents a currents news programme along with Lolly and Len Cooper

In 2008, Leone Haines was found dead, after leaving home to go on a walking trip, trying to clear her head after her mother's death. In reality, Ashley Callie (the actress playing Lee)had recently been killed in a car accident. Ashley was one of South Africa's best loved actresses and the funeral on Isidingo was complete with real tears from the cast members.

List of Characters (past and present)

* Agnes Matabane (Keketso Semoko)
* Barker Haines (Robert Whitehead)
* Cherel de Villiers (Michelle Botes) - 1998-2007
* Dusty da Silva (Milan Murray) - 1998-2001, 2003-2004
* Frank Xavier (Kevin Smith)
* Georgie Zamdela (Darlington Micheals)
* Harriet Thompson (Grethe Fox)
* Len Cooper (Chris Beasley)
* Leone Haines (Ashley Callie) -2000-2008
* Letti Matabane (Lesego Motsepe) -1998-2008
* Lolly van Onselen (Kim Engelbrecht)
* Maggie Webster (Karin Van Der Laag)
* Nandipha Sithole (Hlubi Mboya)
* Natasha Wallace (Jo da Silva)
* Parsons Matabane (Tshepo Maseko)
* Paul McPherson (Carl Beukes)
* Erin McPherson (Tessa Jubber)- 2005
* Philippa DeVilliers (Bianca Amato)
* Rajesh Kumar (Jack Devnarain)
* Siyanda Mazibuko
* Stella Fouche (Judy Ditchfield)
* Steve Stethakis (Emmanuel Castis)
* Stuart Buller (Colin Moss) - 1998-2000
* Tim Wilson (Nathan Ro)
* Vusi Moletsane (Meshack Mavuso)
* Yvette Meyer (Shannon Esra) - 2004
* Zebedee Matabane (Don Mlangeni)

References

External links

* [http://www.isidingo.co.za/ "Isidingo" home page]
*
* [http://www.tvsa.co.za/mastershowinfo.asp?mastershowid=477 TVSA's "Isidingo" Mini-Site]