A Family Vince Can Only Dream Of!

While his 7de Laan character lurches from one crisis to another Jacques Blignaut’s home is a place of joy and love.

- Marizka Coetzer

BEING in a soap opera can be an emotional roller coaster – just ask Jacques Blignaut. The guy he plays has just realised his wife has kept her pregnancy from him because she’s not sure who the father is.mCue drama by the truckload – as there always is when it comes to 7de Laan’s chef, Vince Meintjies.

Vince’s personal life has been chaotic for the better part of a decade and now it’s dawned on him his wife, Bonita (Hildegardt Whites), has been cheating on him.

Fortunately for Jacques (37), life isn’t imitating art and he’s doing a whole lot better than his soapie character. He’s chatting to us between takes at Hilda’s kitchen on the set of the Laan and is joined by his wife, Melanie (35), daughters Angelique (6) and Emmanuelle (4) and baby Raphael (10 months).

“Daddy! Daddy! Daddy! What’s in here?” inquisitive Emmanuelle chimes, heading for a set of teacups. Older sister Angelique explains it’s part of the set. “Don’t touch anything,” Jacques warns.

Baby Raphael is also raring to go. When Melanie puts him down on the floor he makes a beeline on all fours for a plastic plant that’s caught his eye. Talk about keeping their parents on their toes!

Jacques explains the set is like a second home to him, and his kids can’t get enough of being there. They love pretending to be actresses and acting out their favourite movies.

“Seriously, they know every single word and play-act all day long,” Melanie says.

But being on the set with their dad can only keep the kids interested for so long.