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Johannesburg - After the successful launch of Series 1 last year, A+E Networks has recommissioned Pawn Stars South Africa, the local version of the global hit factual entertainment series Pawn Stars, exclusively for History® (DStv channel 186) in South Africa.
Pawn Stars SA is set in the Cash Inn pawn shop in Johannesburg. Owner Roy Peretz, his business partners Eytan Nadler and Liel Rimon and assistants Irene Bower and Solly Mabasa meet customers from all walks of life who want to pawn or sell a range of quirky, unique and sometimes valuable items. South Africa’s rich and diverse culture provides a treasure trove of fascinating artifacts from past to present, from muscle cars to military memorabilia, which flood through the shop doors.
The first season was a great success, attracting a slew of younger viewers to the channel, increased ratings for its slot and watched by over 1,6 million adults across all transmissions. In addition, Pawn Stars SA brought a whole new perspective to African history and how history is viewed and perceived.
Heather Jones, Senior Vice President of Content and Creative for A+E Networks, says: "Pawn Stars SA is a great local commission which brings African and international history to life. This recommission will follow our successful first local Lifetime series, Four Weddings SA, and the highly anticipated exclusive title for History in Africa, Idris Elba: Mandela, My Dad and Me."
The second series of Pawn Stars SA will introduce a new member of the team, Cecily Pavoncelli, whose mission for this season will be to spend Roy’s money on some fine items, bringing in a creative and positive energy to the store. Another new addition to the show, and supporting the team at Cash Inn, will be the University of Pretoria's Professor Fransjohan Pretorius, author of numerous books and an expert on recent South African history.
The second series will feature even more South African items with interesting and intriguing historical backgrounds such as an original bronze casting of Professor Chris Barnard's hands, a piece of literary history from Nobel Prize-winning author Nadine Gordimer and amazing original sketches from the proudly South African movie Zambezia.
Some of the more exciting discoveries include maps, personal items and firearms, as well as items from the recent past that have emerged from the country's liberation struggle over the last 50 years.
Production company Rapid Blue's Kee-Leen Irvine says: "We are absolutely thrilled to be working on a second series of Pawn Stars SA for A+E Networks. We’re really proud of our first series, which has not only been shown in SA but also in the UK, Canada and Romania, receiving enthusiastic feedback from far and wide."
