Ask A Man moves from Metro FM to S3 with Somizi, Naked DJ and Vafa Naraghi

Metro FM's long-running relationship feature Ask A Man is getting its own television show, and the SABC has named the three men who will front it: Somizi Mhlongo, Quinton "Naked DJ" Masina and comedian Vafa Naraghi.

The series premieres on S3 on Monday, 2 November at 19h00 and will run weekly in that slot, with episodes also streaming on SABC Plus. The broadcaster confirmed the line-up on 16 October, three days after S3 first teased the show with Mhlongo as its face and promised to reveal the rest of the panel during the week.

From radio phone-ins to prime time

On radio, Ask A Man works on a simple premise. Listeners bring their relationship problems, and a panel of men tells them what they think. Masina has been part of the Metro FM feature for years, and he and Mhlongo carry it over from the station, which gives the television version a ready-made audience and a familiar on-air chemistry.

Naraghi is the new addition. The comedian, a two-time winner at the SA Comics' Choice Awards, is known for material built on everyday South African life, and he brings a comic edge to a panel that already leans towards strong opinions.

The television format keeps the radio feature's anonymity. Real stories sent in by South Africans about dating, situationships, heartbreak, marriage and family expectations will be discussed without identifying the people involved, and the hosts' views will sit alongside input from experts.

Why the SABC is betting on it

The SABC is presenting the show as a radio brand with a proven following rather than a new idea. Dichaba Phalatse, the corporation's marketing manager for video entertainment, said Ask A Man had "become part of South Africa's everyday conversations", and that the TV version would give people "a platform to share experiences, challenge perspectives and navigate the complexities of relationships".

Siyanda Fikelephi, Metro FM's acting business manager, said the station had "held space for honest conversations about dating, heartbreak, marriage and family" for years, and that the feature had grown into more than a regular segment. In his words, it "became a trust relationship with our audience".

That relationship with listeners is what S3 is buying into, and the Monday 19h00 slot puts the show at the start of the viewing week.

The hosts

Mhlongo is the obvious draw. His career runs through acting, singing, choreography, radio and television presenting. Masina gives the show continuity with its radio roots. Naraghi, whose following was built largely online, gives S3 a route to viewers who know him from social media first.

The SABC has not named a production company or said how many episodes are in the first season. What is confirmed is the start date: Ask A Man arrives on S3 and SABC Plus on 2 November at 19h00.