Johannesburg - Do South Africans have the X-Factor? The SABC are certainly keen to find out.
The public broadcaster has secured the rights to the hit international show, the brainchild of media mogul Simon Cowell.
According to online reports, the South African version of X-Factor will feature local songstress Lira as one of the judges, and will be produced by Rapid Blue, the production company behind other homegrown versions of international shows like come Dine With Me, Strictly Come Dancing and SA’s Got Talent.
A source at the SABC has said that the programme will be aired “this year as soon as possible”, but the inclusion of this new show might well present a scheduling nightmare, given the World Cup in June and the SABC’s existing broadcasting commitments.
Nevertheless, auditions are scheduled to take place in Durban, Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Polokwane, Johannesburg, Nelspruit and Pietermaritzburg. Contestants will be required to sing two songs at the auditions. Groups of two singers will be permitted, but there is no place for bands.
The winner of this local X-Factor will walk away with R300 000 and a Sony recording contract.
The audition dates for X-Factor South Africa are as follows:
7 June: Durban, Sahara stadium
11 June: Bloemfontein, Bloemfontein Civic Centre
14/15 June: Cape Town, Athlone stadium
18 June: Polokwane, Peter Mokaba stadium
21/22 June: Johannesburg, The Pyramid venue
25 June: Nelspruit, Mbombela stadium
28 June: Pietermaritzburg, The Royal Show Grounds
- Tonight Reporter