M-Net’s Channel director for General Entertainment, Theo Erasmus, says having a South African version of The Money Drop confirms M-Net channel’s commitment to keep its viewers entertained with blockbuster local shows: “Following hot on the heels of the immensely popular reality shows MasterChef SA and Idols SA, M-Net’s Million Rand Money Drop is bound to become the TV talk of the town. The American version of this nail-biting game show, which was screened on M-Net earlier this year, struck a chord with our audiences, and we’re excited to introduce the local version of this unique, high-stakes game show to our M-Net schedule.”

The hit series is the highest selling format since 2010 for production company Endemol, having already been made in key markets across Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, Asia and Australia.

So how does the show work? In each episode a pair of contestants starts off with R1-Million in hard cash. Just eight simple multiple choice questions stand between them and their money. Sounds simple, right? Think again. One wrong move, and they could see all their cash disappear through a trapdoor. So the question is … can they beat the drop?

With production on the series already having begun, M-Net is to hold auditions for the series in four cities across South Africa.

Auditions will take place in:

- Johannesburg on Thursday, 25 October and Friday, 26 October;
- Durban on Thursday, 1 November and Friday, 2 November;
- Cape Town on Thursday, 8 November and Friday, 9 November; and
- Port Elizabeth on Friday, 16 November and Saturday, 17 November.

Venues in each audition city will be confirmed in due course and updated information can be found on www.mnet.co.za. Make sure to visit the M-Net website and print out the entry form, complete it and bring it along to the audition. For those entrants who are unable to do this, forms will also be available at audition venues.