Lillian Dube - who returns to the box on Wednesday in Mponeng, the local version of the hit BBC sitcom Keeping Up Appearances
- exudes so much energy she would make a teenager feel like a pensioner.
Her natural energy had me feeling so challenged that I ended
up downing an energy drink during our interview in the hope of keeping up with this television legend.
Dube is thrilled about being back on the small screen. Most people will probably remember her from the popular soapie Generations in her role as Queen's mother, Masebobe.
Now Dube is not only back starring in Mponeng, but she will also be back as the beloved Bethina in the new series of Soul City. In Mponeng, Dube plays the role of Pontsho, a women who forced her family to move from Soweto to a white suburb. As with Patricia Routledge, the leading lady in the original, Keeping Up Appearances, the move leads to constant clashes in Pontsho's family as she urges them to live up to her snobbish standards.
For Dube, playing this role was not really a challenge.
"The word 'mponeng' means 'look at me' and I really like attention. Pontsho has a lot of traits which I have: Her energy and her stubbornness and also the fact that she always wants to be seen as doing very well," laughs Dube.
It is a breath of fresh air for her to be doing comedy, she adds, as it gives her a break from the serious nurse she plays in Soul City.
"I love humour. I am a very spontaneous person and it is great to work on something where I actually use humour.
"People often wonder why I have such a lot of energy and it all comes from working with young people. I love young people."
The cast of Mponeng includes Moshoeshoe Chabeli, Nakedi Ribane and Mmabatho Mogomotsi. There are some delightful cameo appearances by Peter Mashigo, David Mohloki and Magic Hlatswayo.
The 26-part series has been adapted and translated into Sesotho.
- Mponeng begins on SABC2 on Wednesday at 9.30pm; Soul City 7 starts in April on SABC1.
Not lost in translation
For the first time ever, a BBC series will get a local version in an African language. An adaptation in Sotho with South African actors will be made of the popular BBC sitcom Keeping Up Appearances.
Called Mponeng, the comedy broadcasts from Wednesday at 9.30pm on SABC2.
"We were looking for strong sitcom ideas and this was one
that was not only very funny, but also an idea that we felt would adapt particularly well for South African audiences," says Kefoe Mohobane, commissioning editor for SABC2. "We're very proud of the fact that SABC2 is the first channel to produce an adaptation of this kind."
The Sotho version uses the original plot lines from the UK series and about 60% of the script is direct translation. Hyacinth becomes
Mrs Pontsho Seboko - a surname that has a play on words. If pronounced one way, it means a tribal chief, in another form it means worm.
"It has taken a year just to finalise the scripts," says producer Vesko Mrdjen of Word of Mouth. "It's not just about translating the words, we had to create characters that truly worked in a South African context, that were recognisable stereotypes.
"Even finding the right locations has been a challenge - where in Johannesburg can you find two houses that aren't separated by a wall? It's incredibly exciting to see it taking shape. The original programme is very funny. I think we've captured that while creating something truly South African. People are really going to enjoy the end result."
Monisha Shah, BBC Worldwide head of Africa & south Asia says, "We are extremely pleased that SABC2 has taken up the challenge and achieved this world first.
The BBC has so many great programmes and making local versions of them is a wonderful way of bringing them to new audiences.
"I think Mponeng is going to be extremely popular. Perhaps one day we'll introduce Hyacinth and Pontsho to each other!" - Doulha Domingo