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Sanpoulus Maplanka

Ngqwele Dube, Showbiz Correspondent
The forthcoming Inside Out reality series, similar to Big Brother, is not reserved for celebrities as ordinary people are welcome to try their luck during auditions, one of the show’s producers has said.

Sanpolous Maplanka, who is producing the show alongside Chiedza Chitehwe said the show, which is meant to hit TV screens in January, was for ordinary people to become famous.

“We’re not looking for a particular talent or a celebrity look-alike, but rather, we’re searching for the star inside ordinary people. We know some shows would use celebrities to boost viewership, but we feel we have to unearth the gems yet to be found,” said Maplanka.

Auditions for the tour mates kick off in Bulawayo tomorrow at Rainbow Hotel up to Saturday.

“One simply has to be genuine, show the judges who they truly are by being truthful when answering questions. Our selection will depend mostly on genuineness, accountability and basic knowledge of tourism in Zimbabwe.”

After the auditions in Bulawayo, Gweru candidates will be auditioned at Fairmile Hotel on Sunday and Monday. On Tuesday the team travels to Masvingo for more auditions at Chevron Hotel up to Wednesday. From there, they will be in Mutare (African Sun Amber Hotel) wrapping up in Harare at the Rainbow Towers starting on November 4.

Those interested in the auditions will however have to fork out a $5 registration fee.

“I urge those interested to pre-book through our Whatsapp number 0778526628 as they’ll be given first preference during the auditions,” said Maplanka.

After the auditions, 26 participants (13 male and 13 female) will be selected to take a road trip viewing local tourist sites. All their activities will be filmed.

Just like Big Brother, viewers will be tasked to save their favourite contenders by voting to keep them. Afterwards, the winners of the three-month series will be awarded with cash prizes worth $40 000.

“There’ll be Drop Out sessions where two unpopular tour mates (participants) will be voted out on a weekly basis from six that would have been nominated. Viewers will vote to keep their favourite tour mate. The tour mates with the least votes will be dropped out of the quest,” said Maplanka.

“The participants will be required to live with each other in a Nomads Style tour truck as it travels around famous tourist attractions around Zimbabwe, sleeping in tents and camps along the way.

“They’ll be divided into groups to perform certain tasks of which the losing group may be required to nominate within their group the people to be voted out.

“The winning teams or individuals will be rewarded in various forms, for example they may be hosted for a day by a five star hotel and given full pampering while their losing peers are left wallowing in the campsite. They may also be immune to nominations for evictions.

“The participants will be given rewards for the well performed tasks and punishment for failing tasks that include ball games, ropes games, traditional games such as igwini, inqobe, umacatshelana, debates and survival tasks.”