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Leanne Manas looks back at 10 years on Morning Live


Cape Town – For exactly a decade Leanne Manas has been the name and the face on the masthead that's Morning Live – the SABC, and South Africa's, most-watched weekday breakfast show on SABC2, which she calls “the best job in the world”.

As she marks an amazing 10 years on television, the busy married mom of two spoke to Channel24 to reflect back on this incredible milestone.

She reveals what she still wants to do, shares advice for moms and those who want to work in television, talks about the secret of the show's success – and opens up about "the hardest transition" has ever had to go through.



Channel24

How do you feel about this milestone; a decade of being a part of Morning Live on SABC2?

Leanne

For me it’s quite surreal. To me it doesn't feel like 10 years. It's been an amazing journey. When I actually think back and realise it's been 10 years, it doesn't seem real to me.

It feels as if I literally started yesterday. I remember the first day like it was yesterday. It's amazing.

The fact that I've managed to maintain the longevity, the fact that I've managed to be a part of South Africans' lives and to be on this breakfast programme for such a long time, it's been an amazing journey.

I have grown as a person, the programme has grown, and it's been incredible to be with it and watch the changing face of the country and the changing landscape that we live in.

Channel24


I think you're just such a wonderful example and an inspiration for both the South African TV industry and also for women, and for mothers. It's Women's Month, do you have a message especially for moms and working moms?

Leanne

When I gave birth to my child and came back to work, my image for working moms went through a change because they looked at me and thought: "Oh wow, if Leanne can do it, we can do it".

I think I was that proof, that reality that just because you've had a child it doesn't mean that you have to stop working; that your working life has to come to an end.

Don't be afraid to ask for help. There's so many women out there who think they need to be slaves to their children, that they need to be slaves in their lives. They don't need to. Ask for help around you.

If you have the ability to get help, get that help, and live your life. I think that makes you a better mother, it makes you a better parent and most importantly, it makes you a better person.

Channel24

What advice do you have for anyone who looks at Leanne Manas and who also wants to work in television or want to be on television in South Africa?

Leanne

Television is not an easy industry. It's a hard industry. It's cut-throat in every sense of the word.

Only a few make it but if you've got the perseverance, if you've got the determination, if you've got the will power, the thick skin and if you've really got the passion – because in this industry it takes more passion than anything else to make it – then you belong here.

Television is an incredible place to be as, as a career. I'm blessed and honoured that I've been in it for so long because longevity in this industry is not something that many people in television have enjoyed.

I'd love to stay longer but television ... they get rid of you very quickly, because there's always a prettier person around the corner.

But I think that what I like about television now: There seems to be a new kind of respect for especially the news industry and the industry where I am in, for people with experience, people with that knowledge and those years of experience, that they're now kept for longer - which personally I enjoy, obviously, for obvious reasons.

For people that want to make it in this industry, it is an amazing industry but you've got to be prepared for a lot of heartache, sleepless nights – but also a lot of joy

Channel24

You're turning 40 later this year, what would you say is your vision as a person, as a mom, as a woman, as a well-known person on South Africa television?

Leanne

I'm so happy because turning 40 to me is a good thing because I'm so happy with where I am in life and what I've achieved.

If I look back, since I've joined Morning Live I got engaged, I then got married, and I had two children – all in the space of these 10 years that I've been on Morning Live. It's been a good journey.

Now I'm turning 40. I'm at the point where I'm quite satisfied and happy


Channel24


What are you looking forward to in the next decade of the journey of Leanne Manas?

Leanne

The next 10 years!? My goodness! Ten years ago if you told me 10 years later I'd still be doing this, I would have said "No way!" But I am. The future is unpredictable. I love television and for as long as I can be on, I will.

I would love to do talk. I do love news. But I'd love to incorporate it with a proper talk show. That could be something that I would love to do.

And certainly radio. Eventually moving into talk radio. That would be my choice. I would actually love to do that once I've gained enough knowledge and experience. I think that's where my passion would eventually land.

Channel24

What do you like about your job and the insane early alarm clock of getting up and bringing viewers Morning Live?

Leanne

There's so many things I like about it!

One of the things I like about it, is I get the news before anybody else.

And I feel like I'm nearly getting the upper hand in news and I love that. That's a big deal for me – getting the news before anybody else.

The news for instance this week of the passing of Robin Williams, and I was waking up extra early at half past three, and I saw that, and I knew that the rest of South Africa didn't yet know about it.

I'm just so used to getting that news; seeing the front pages of newspapers; reading through the wires; and being so up to date and knowledgeable about the latest news at the crack of dawn. I love getting that first. That's one of the rushes that I get.

The second big thing for me is that I have the days to myself.

A lot of people think "Oh my goodness you wake up so early" but in a sense it's also the most amazing thing because I get to spend the days with my children.

I've got a 5 year old and a 2 year old, and that for me is so important – I don't want to miss these times in their lives.

And the fact that I'm able to be a mom, and work, at the same time, at those hours – because I leave the house when they're sleeping, and I come home when their hair is all scruffy and they've pretty much just gotten into their clothes – I don't think you can get a better job in this world. I love it. I really do.

Channel24

Over the decade, how do you think Morning Live has changed, how has television changed, and why has Morning Live remained, and continue to be, so successful?

Leanne

The big thing about Morning Live is that it offers so much.

It's got news, but besides the news, we're offering you a lot of entertainment as well. So there's all the aspects that people love. It is the mornings, when you need that.

And then, it is personality-driven. People love the personalities, and the faces that are behind the programme.

And I think that that is so indicative of the passing of Vuyo.

That was the hardest transition that Morning Live has had to go through – was losing Vuyo. Because Vuyo was the start of this programme, and he was the face of this programme. He was what Morning Live was all about.

I joined Morning Live 5 years into the programme. Not only am I celebrating 10 years on the programme, Morning Live is celebrating 15 years on air on 1 November. So he would have been there for the full 15 years if he was still alive. And I've been there for 10 of those years.

So I think that is probably the biggest thing: That people love the personalities. People feel close to you. They feel like you’re part of their family. And they switch it on to see how you're doing. And it becomes a habit.

And we become their alarm clock and their friend. That's why people keep coming and love the programme for what it is.

We give people the news in the morning but in an understandable, down-to-earth and in a personable way and that what I love about it.

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