How to create a sitcom: the craft, creativity, business and risk

Once upon a time, sitcoms were a staple of our screens... light, funny, relatable stories that reflected everyday life and gave us a reason to laugh together. Today, that genre has quietly faded from local TV.

But now a new series called Bhelas is set to revive it.  

Set in the fast-paced world of a call centre, Bhelas follows Thato – a university dropout with big dreams of becoming a world-class chef. The problem? His family thinks he's still studying law.

Writer and executive producer Tuelo Gabonewe says it's a "slice of call centre life."

Obakeng Makube, the actor who plays Thato, says the role had its challenges.

"Comedy is not easy to pull off, you have to make the right choices in the moment... either you get it right, or you don't."

Sfundo Ntuli is the director of the series – she says she has mastered working with various personalities and egos over the years.

Rainy Nthangeni, who portrays Thato’s love interest, says her character was influenced by the "baddies" on social media.

It all starts with the writing, but the process to get a show from conception to broadcast can take a long time, and many steps. 

To listen to the full conversation with Jane Dutton, standing in for 702’s Relebogile Mabotja, click the audio below: