- Radio host Thando Thabethe feature's on South Africa's first Amazon Prime Video unscripted series LOL: Last One Laughing.
- Thando's counts her 2023 South African Film and Television Award for her role in How to Ruin Christmas as her career highlight.
- She keeps her 947 afternoon drive show content fresh with collaboration from the show's producers.
Thando Thabethe now gets to experiment with comedy unscripted.
The award-winning How to Ruin Christmas star has recently booked a new role on South Africa’s rendition of Amazon Prime Video’s unscripted comedy series LOL: Last One Laughing, hosted by Trevor Noah.
Thando is joined by top entertainers including Celeste Ntuli, David Goliath, Tumi Morake, Robby Collins, Moonchild Sanelly, Nomzamo Mbatha and more.
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After being approached by Amazon to be a part of the series, Thando tells TRUELOVE her experience sharing the stage with heavy hitting comedians.
“I mean, some of the cast members are actual comedians so it’s right up their alley. But it’s not stand-up, you know, it’s situational comedy. Like if you were at a party with a bunch of friends and you have to convince them or try get them to laugh without you laughing yourself is quite a task. But it’s lots of fun, I think it’s getting out of your comfort zone.”
While not much yet can be revealed around the upcoming show, The radio personality shares with us how enjoyable it was to let loose with her industry peers.
“I mean, it was a lot of fun. Everyone, you know, brought their A game, everyone was ready to act a fool. I think it was nice to see everyone with their hair down and not be so serious and be able to laugh at themselves and each other.”
“I don’t want to give away too much because I don’t know what I’m allowed to say [or] not allowed to say but there was a lot of preparation ahead of it. But then also like, you just jump in there and have a good time.”
From winning the South African Film and Television Award (SAFTA) for Best Actress in a TV Comedy for her role as Beauty Sello in How to Ruin Christmas, the past year has been quite eventful for the star.
Referring to her Golden Horn win as her career highlight for the year, she tells us, “I mean, it’s three seasons of a hit show on Netflix, How to Ruin. So, to be seen for it is like a full circle moment and I know how much everyone who does that show puts into it so it’s very rewarding.”
@truelovemagazine A joyous How To Ruin Christmas reunion at the SAFTAs Nominees Toast with Thando Thabethe (who plays Beauty) and Sandile Mahlangu (who plays Sbu). #HowToRuinChristmas #SAFTAsToast @Netflix South Africa ? original sound - TRUELOVE
Although Mzansi, and Thando herself, are yet to hear about any more installments in the How to Ruin series, she would “100 percent, forever,” be a part of the acclaimed show.
Thando’s bubbly and comedic nature doesn’t only lend itself to her onscreen roles. Her afternoon drive show on 947 gives listeners fun and interactive content for the masses.
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If you could vacation anywhere, where would it be? It would probably be Zanzibar… it’s so lovely.
How do you put together your signature style? I mean, I have a stylist who does that really well. I don’t know where he gets them from but I wish he’d tell me... Kgosi Lesego.
Your go-to skincare routine? Wash, tone, moisturise. That’s me.
Sharing with us how she keeps her radio show fresh and authentic, Thando also credits her team as the driving force behind the ideas for the show.
“I mean the team works really hard to try and come up with some new stuff all the time. We try meet international radio standards. It’s not just coming in and, I don’t know, saying a topic and then the callers are the ones to create the content.
“We try to live up to what we’re supposed to do and be the ones to create the content, not depend on the listeners to be the one calling in and entertaining the listeners when that’s not how it should work. Yeah, the content we’re churning out different ideas that are fun and exciting.”
There’s still so much in store for Thando, she teases some new projects in the works.
“There’s a project I start shooting next month. There’s one that’s out now or that’s coming out towards the end of the month … But I start shooting something next month and we are in pre-pod (pre-production) for another project, which is really exciting.”
But most of all, as the festive season approaches, Thando is looking forward to, “Doing nothing. I want to sit on a beach somewhere and do absolutely nothing!”
