Still Living The Good Life

The curtain may have come down on Top Billing, but presenter Ayanda Thabethe’s star is still on the rise

- Qhama Dayile

SHE’S proof that when one door closes, another opens. When Top Billing came to an end after 27 years on-air,

Ayanda Thabethe didn’t have another job lined up. In fact, the presenter didn’t know the popular lifestyle show was ending.

“The closing of Top Billing came as a surprise to many of us. We had gone on a short break when the news was announced,” Ayanda tells DRUM.

Turns out she had nothing to worry about because soon she was approached to present Celebrity Game Night alongside Jason Goliath and Anele Mdoda. Currently on E! (DStv channel 124), the show is based on the Emmy award-winning Hollywood Game Night.

Each episode sees two teams of celebrity guests led by Ayanda and Jason go head-to-head playing games that test their knowledge of pop culture and acting skills. “I don’t know what I did to be trusted with such a big show. But I am excited and incredibly grateful,” Ayanda gushes.

The plum job didn’t just fall into her lap, though. She had worked on Top Billing for two years, bringing viewers a taste of the good life by showcasing some of South Africa’s grandest homes. “Top Billing was great for me. A lot of my endorsements and hosting work came because of that platform,” she says.

“When I got on to Top Billing I hadn’t paid off my house and I didn’t have a fancy car but I was inspired to work hard.”

One of her favourite moments on the show was when she travelled to Paris for the first time to meet supermodel Cara Delevingne and asked her to beatbox. “That was a dream come true.”

And she took her career to new heights when she interviewed Afropop singer Amanda Black on a rope bridge.