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This delightful local show about a book club is stealing hearts and receiving critical acclaim

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Armand Aucamp, who plays Tom Niemandt in Die Boekklub. (Photo: Channel24)
Armand Aucamp, who plays Tom Niemandt in Die Boekklub. (Photo: Channel24)

Die Boekklub season 2 kicks off on kykNET (DStv) on Tuesday, 11 July at 20:00. Below is an interview with the star of the local show, Armand Aucamp. The interview was done before filming for the second season had started. 

Cape Town - Every now and again a local gem finds its way onto our TV screens and into our hearts.

Die Boekklub, starring local heartthrob Armand Aucamp, is one of those shows.

Set in the beautiful Karoo the show’s first season drew praise and support from local audiences and saw thousands tune in to see how city slicker Tom Niemandt (Armand Aucamp) copes with living in the quaint little town of Merweville after unexpectedly inheriting his grandmother’s guesthouse.

Nobody, not even those closest to the show, could’ve been prepared for the loyal following the Afrikaans TV show would build up in just 13 episodes.

Asked about the success of the show, lead actor Armand says he thinks the secret recipe of Die Boekklub lies in its ability to connect with the viewer on a personal level. "It’s very honest and real and that makes it stand out. I think because it is so relatable the audience connects with it.

"This dramedy about a fish out of water is filled with beautiful existential messages without being preachy. It makes every day challenges accessible to the viewer. It includes the viewer in the story about what it’s like to survive in life," he adds.

But it’s not just viewers that are falling in love with the show, even the critics have given it the thumbs up. During the 11th South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas), held earlier this month in Sun City, the show walked away with not one but two Golden Horns for Best Achievement in Scriptwriting as well as Best Supporting Actress in a TV Drama won by Jana Cilliers.

Season 2 currently in production

It then comes as no surprise that kykNET (DStv 144) has renewed the show for a second season. "We are excited to announce that the filming of Die Boekklub II has officially started," the TV channel announced in a press statement.

Viewers will have to wait until July to find out if Tom will stay in Merweville or if he’ll be lured back by the shiny lights of Cape Town.

The second season is being filmed on locations in Cape Town, Stellenbosch and Merweville by Moebius Films – who were also responsible for the hit series Die Boland Moorde.

The production team is still very secretive about new characters and actors that have joined the cast but revealed that the new season will have two weddings, a new baby and a funeral.

It’s been two years since filming of the first season wrapped and according to Armand it’s the amazing cast that he missed the most. "I loved filming the big ensemble scenes where you share the screen with some of South Africa’s top actors. Those big scenes where everyone is talking at the same time like a real little family."

He adds: "Back then we had no idea that the show would be so well-received. So this time around it does take away some of that initial stress of not knowing how the audience will respond to it. Now we go into the second season knowing we have a build-in following of people that already love the characters. Now we just have to keep it up – which is a whole different challenge."

According to Armand there will be some fresh new faces and some old ones will be missed, but he couldn’t reveal anything more than that.


Catch the first season again

For those that missed out on the first season there’s still time to catch-up before the second season airs.

Local video-on-demand service ShowMax will have the whole first season available for streaming from 3 April. Subscribers can watch the whole series in one binge session, or limit themselves to one episode per day, so the joy lasts for almost two weeks!

"I think it’s great that the show is also available on ShowMax. This gives a whole new audience access to the show. A lot of people will now get the chance to discover the show that might not have previously had access," Armand said.

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