The reality show Widowed is set to premiere on Saturday, 6 April 2019, on Mzansi Wethu (DSTV channel 163) at 19:30.
Widowed narrates the lives of thirteen widows in the aftermath of losing their spouses, as they are forced to come to terms with their losses and deal with society’s expectations of them as widows. The reality show is produced by Thape Media and structured around the conflict that arises with family members who are unsympathetic and sometimes crass in their treatment of the women.
The series will be hosted by relationship and marriage coach, Phindile Grootboom, who will take the audience through each woman’s journey, exploring how they met their partner, their marriage and ultimately their loss.
In an official press release published in March 2019, Reneilwe Sema, Director of Local Entertainment Channels at M-Net, stated “The unjust treatment of widows across communities is not unheard of. Widowed is taking a step towards giving a voice to the ostracised, the dispossessed and the voiceless, with the hope that not only will the show mend broken hearts and broken families, but will give the bereaved a chance to find closure and move on with their life.”
The show, which has coined the tagline ‘Shunned, Victimized and Alone?’, breaks boundaries in delving into uncharted territory, a subject matter that has not been dealt with on South African reality television thus far.
Sayushka Naidoo
