The first of two Port Elizabeth episodes on the hit BBC series Come Dine with Me South Africa has been broadcast and on Monday it’s time for the second crop of Bay contestants to get their turn on the small screen.
The hit show, which has fans around the globe, sees four guests – all strangers to each other – hosting a dinner party on consecutive nights in the hopes of winning R10,000. In last Monday’s episode, medical rep Dane (pronounced “Dannay”) Emms beat game lodge manager Tracy Weeks, self-declared “momster” and claims consultant Chirene Bennett, and air traffic service officer Jordin Brooks to the cash.
As in past years, the series was made for BBC Studios by Johannesburg-based production company Rapid Blue, whose team also filmed in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban.
The Bay is known for delivering just the right mix of quirky (some might say crazy) hosts who have made past shows so entertaining.
Rapid Blue’s SA executive producer Kee-Leen Irvine quipped during the pre-screening launch in Johannesburg that the upcoming Port Elizabeth episode would feature “people from another planet, but always in a fun, nice way”.
The four hilarious hosts are an undertaker, a tyre-sales expert, a Tina Turner super fan and a bohemian photographer.
Throw them together and what do you get? “A Port Elizabeth crucible of happy death jokes, suspect cooking and a load of laughs”, according to the show’s promoters!
Night one belongs to Hannes Marais, 42, an undertaker who plans to take his guests on a journey of flavours. His evening is filled with interesting conversation, but will the lack of a sweet tooth among the guests diminish his chances of winning?
The second night’s host is tyre sales rep Imke Smit. She shows off her passion for wheels with a massive home-built Harley Davidson bike standing proudly in the lounge. Hoping to take her guests on the culinary ride of their lives, the 29-year-old goes all out with her menu.
Night three is hosted by Tina Turner fan Lorna McNamara, 63. Filmed during a Port Elizabeth heat wave, Lorna’s menu struggles to keep her guests cool, calm and collected.
Her dessert of peppermint tart, made up of ice cream, chocolates and biscuits, fits her mantra of “Simply the Best” – but will her guests agree?
The final night belongs to bohemian photographer Nelis Britz, 34.
Nelis is self-employed and works in the weddings and the catering industry.
Here’s more about the four contestants:
Johannes (Hannes) Marais
Menu: Starter of twisted chicken, mains of boere sushi and holy malva for dessert.
What would people be shocked to learn about you? Most are shocked to find out I am an undertaker.
What do you bring to the party? Charm, a golden smile and remember – few people get to meet an undertaker while alive!
Imke Smit
Menu: Starter of escargot, main of home-made chorizo pasta and Greek coconut tart for dessert.
What’s been your biggest dinner party disaster? Attempting to clean and cook prawns in front of guests. It felt like a biology class and resulted in me just buying Indian takeout.
How would you describe yourself? Outgoing, opinionated and upstream!
Lorna McNamara
Menu: Starter of sweetcorn and chicken soup, chicken and prawn curry with roti for mains, and peppermint tart for dessert.
What would people be shocked to learn about you? I relocated from KwaZulu-Natal to Port Elizabeth.
What do you bring to the party? Laughter, fun and wine!
Nelis Britz
Menu: Starter of buffalo mozzarella, lamb shank main and crunchy pots for dessert.
Kitchen tip to share? Boil potatoes in a plastic bag in the microwave – it takes less time.
What’s been your biggest dinner party disaster? I once made flapjacks using mielie-meal instead of flour.

Catch Episode 8 of Come Dine With Me South Africa on Monday at 8pm on BBC Brit (DStv channel 120). The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 9pm and on Saturdays at 7pm.
See Weekend Post next Saturday for recipes prepared by the Bay episodes’ winners...