The return of Top Billing immediately drew attention. What surprised many viewers was how quickly the show’s presenter search turned into one of South African social media’s most discussed topics.

After years off air, the glossy lifestyle programme returned to SABC3 with familiar faces, new presenters and a modern audition process built around social media. Rather than in-person audition queues, hopeful contestants are posting videos on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X using official hashtags in the hope of landing a spot on television.

The shift has pushed the presenter search far beyond traditional television audiences. Audition clips are circulating daily across social platforms, with some contestants gaining sudden online attention. Some videos have drawn praise for confidence and creativity, while others have attracted heavy criticism, parody clips and mockery online.

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That reaction has opened a wider debate about what reality television auditions look like in the social media era.

For many viewers, the process feels more accessible than previous talent searches linked to the programme. Anyone with a smartphone and internet access can participate without travelling to major cities or waiting for televised callbacks. More people can now take part, and contestants are seen instantly online.

Critics, however, argue that the same openness has also turned the auditions into a public spectacle before contestants even reach the shortlist stage. Radio personality Anele Mdoda and broadcaster Thembekile Mrototo were among those who weighed in after audition clips began spreading online. Their discussion focused on how public participation on social media often comes with mockery and viral ridicule that contestants cannot control once videos begin circulating.

The criticism has not slowed participation.

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Celebrities, influencers, radio hosts and unknown hopefuls have all submitted audition clips. Actress Lerato Nxumalo, content creators and aspiring presenters have posted polished audition tapes alongside low-budget entries filmed in bedrooms, cars and shopping centres. Viewers are judging more than presenting ability. Reactions online have focused on accents, confidence levels, wardrobe choices, production quality and personality.

One audition that sparked a strong online reaction came from Zimbabwean-born TikTok personality Ndoyisile Sibindi. His entry reignited arguments around nationality and opportunities in South African media. The reaction quickly shifted beyond entertainment, with social media users debating who should be represented on local television.

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At the centre of the frenzy is the long-standing influence of Top Billing itself. For decades, the show offered viewers access to celebrity interviews, luxury lifestyles and polished television presentation. Former presenter searches launched careers and introduced personalities who later became well-known television figures. The return of the franchise has also brought back memories for longtime viewers while exposing the show to younger audiences who mostly watch entertainment online.

The producers seem to be leaning into that shift. The current search uses social media engagement rather than resisting it. Viral moments are now part of the show’s promotion strategy, whether reactions are supportive or harsh.

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This comeback differs because audiences are no longer waiting for television producers to decide which contestants deserve attention. Social media users are shaping the conversation in real time. They are choosing favourites, creating memes, dissecting performances and influencing public opinion long before the final shortlist is announced.

The Top Billing auditions have become more than a talent search. They are now a highly public online event unfolding across social media platforms every day.

Sinemivuyo Mpulu’s entry into Top Billing is the result of a creative process. His rise began on TikTok, where he developed a series widely referred to as “TikTok Billing. ” This format recreates the tone and structure of the long-running lifestyle programme.

Mpulu focused on replicating its production language. His videos featured scripted narration, and clean visual transitions. This attention to detail made his content stand out, particularly among viewers familiar with the show’s legacy. The clips were small mini episodes that mirrored how the programme presented luxury and travel.

Photo: Instagram

The programme ran for decades before going off air in 2019, returned in 2026 with a reworked format that integrates television with storytelling. Producers are not looking for presenters in the traditional sense,they need individuals who understand how audiences now consume content on multiple platforms.

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Mpulu’s work served as a proof of concept. He has shown how the show’s format could function within short form video while maintaining its aspirational tone. That alignment made him a natural fit for the reboot. His appointment as a social media presenter reflects a shift in the programme’s direction.

Basetsana Kumalo is joined by Zozibini Tunzi and Arno Greeff. This mix ensures that the show retains its original identity while adapting to current viewing trends.

Mpulu’s role goes beyond appearing on screen. He is expected to shape how the programme interacts with audiences online. This approach recognises that viewers no longer engage with shows in a single format. Instead, they move between platforms.

His journey highlights a wider shift within the entertainment industry. Social media platforms have become talent pipelines, where creators can develop and test before entering mainstream media. In Mpulu’s case, the connection is direct. He built a following by recreating a specific show and was later brought into that same show as it evolved.

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The return of Top Billing comes after several years in which audience preferences shifted toward mobile first content. By bringing in a creator who understands that environment, the programme positions itself to remain relevant in a fragmented media landscape.

Mpulu earned his place by showing a clear understanding of modern content creation. He studied the structure of the original programme, adapted it for a new medium, and built an audience around that adaptation.

Masali Baduza is stepping into global spotlight territory as Netflix’s top drama Bridgerton prepares for season 5. The series will center on the show’s first queer love story, with Baduza leading alongside Hannah Dodd in a new chapter for the franchise.

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Baduza is Michaela Stirling, the romantic partner of Francesca Bridgerton, played by Hannah Dodd. Netflix confirmed that the upcoming season places their relationship at the heart of the story. The themes in previous seasons are identity and sexuality, but Season 5 is about queer relationships.The storyline adapts Julia Quinn’s novel When He Was Wicked. In the original book,

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Season 5 picks up after the emotional events of Season 4, where Francesca loses her husband, John Stirling. She struggles with widowhood and  her bond with Michaela deepens.

Masali Baduza: Instagram

Jess Brownell said the new season aims to present queer love with the same sweeping romance and emotional depth in previous series.

“More than ever, Season 5 is going to be about yearning,” she told Netflix’s Tudum in an interview published March 24. “It feels groundbreaking. Obviously, there are a lot of great shows that have depicted queer love. We’re not the first by any means. But to make an entire Bridgerton season about a sapphic relationship feels huge.”

Baduza was born in East London, South Africa, and gained international attention through the BBC drama Noughts + Crosses. before joining Bridgerton.Production on the season began in 2026, though no confirmed release date yet.

Photo: Instagram

Masali Baduza’s  role in the movie is a defining moment for both the actress and the franchise. This is its first queer-centered season, and Bridgerton will redefine its romantic legacy.