‘Lady Driver’, Judi Dench’s ‘Wild Borneo Adventure’ and more on DStv this week

As Freedom Month comes to a close, South Africans still have one more public holiday awaiting them on Tuesday, 27 April. More than just another day off work, Freedom Day represents and commemorates the anniversary of our country’s first non-racial election in 1994 and South Africa’s liberation from apartheid. While DStv has been celebrating freedom for the entire month, there’s still a lot more ahead with special documentaries on History Channel (DStv channel 186).

And, as always, DStv has a full line-up of entertainment that will bring the entire family together. From the coming-of-age Lady Driver on M-Net (DStv channel 101) to marathons of more (entertainment) with DStv’s very own School of Laughter, we’ve got the feel-good, family viewing experience covered!

Tune in to Boomerang (DStv channel 302) and NickToons (DStv channel 308) on freedom Day for major marathons. On Boomerang, catch multiple episodes of Masha And The Bear followed by Mr Bean: The Animated Series and magic awaits on NickToons with two movies – My Little Pony: Rainbow Roadtrip and Lucky, which tells the story of an unlucky leprechaun who rounds up his friends to hunt down his pot of gold stolen years ago.

For the footie fans, there are four huge semi-final football games airing. Be sure to set your PVR for the UEFA Champions League, which will see Real Madrid go up against Chelsea on Tuesday, 27 April on SuperSport Premier League (DStv channel 203) while Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City go head-to-head on Wednesday, 28 April on SuperSport Premier League (DStv channel 203). And the UEFA Europa League semi-final pit Manchester United against Roma and Villareal against Arsenal – both games are set to air on Thursday, 29 April on SuperSport Premier League (DStv channel 203) and SuperSport Football (DStv channel 205), respectively. Closer to home, Mamelodi Sundowns are hoping to beat Kaizer Chiefs on Sunday, 25 April on SuperSport PSL (DStv channel 202).

With so much action-packed entertainment, you’ll be glued to your screens until the end of April – only with DStv. 

Judi Dench’s Wild Borneo Adventure

In this new mini-series, Oscar-winning actress Dame Judi Dench takes us on the trip of a lifetime to Borneo. Beautifully filmed with cutting-edge technology, join Dame Dench as she explores the lush rainforests, magical wildlife and spectacular coastlines of Malaysian Borneo. She comes face-to-face with a variety of unique animals and meets the amazing individuals who live alongside them, all while examining the threats posed by global warming and deforestation.

Friday, 23 April on BBC Earth (DStv channel 184) at 19:00

Lady Driver (Drama)

In this feisty motorsport drama, a rebellious teenage girl finally gets her license and, after some minor accidents, uncovers some pretty interesting family history. With the help of her uncle, she becomes a dirt-track racer and learns to connect with her “routes”.

Saturday, 24 April on M-Net (DStv channel 101) at 15:45

Ava (Action Thriller)

Jessica Chastain (The Help) stars as Ava Faulkner, a recovering addict and former soldier turned assassin. After questioning orders and breaking protocol from her own black ops organisation, she becomes marked for death. This action-thriller has a star-studded cast that includes John Malkovich (Of Mice and Men), Common (John Wick: Chapter 2), Geena Davis (A League Of Their Own, Thelma & Louise) and Colin Farrell (Phone Booth).

Sunday, 25 April on M-Net (DStv channel 101) at 20:05, and on Showmax

A Black Lady Sketch Show S2

This narrative sketch comedy series touches on culturally relevant themes such as social norms, anxiety, religion, sex, dating and relationships. In addition to being hilarious, it’s also notable for its many firsts in the entertainment sector: the first all-black women writers’ room, the first black woman sketch director and the first series’ cast composed entirely of black women. Each episode consists of five to six sketches with guest stars such as Angela Bassett (Black Panther), Laverne Cox (Orange Is the New Black), Tia Mowry (Sister, Sister), Loretta Devine (Madea’s Big Happy Family), Destiny’s Child’s Kelly Rowland and David Alan Grier (In Living Color).

Monday, 26 April on 1Magic (DStv channel 103) at 21:30

Die Byl S3

If you haven’t seen seasons 1 and 2 of Die Byl, here’s the crib notes: Colonel Piet van der Bijl is a detective who specialises in catching serial killers, and is often helped by a former journalist and spokesperson for the South African police department. Season 3 kicks off with new characters, such as Dr Bernard’s new assistant and the Colonel’s ex-wife, who makes a surprise appearance. We also see Captain Lena Evans struggle to juggle motherhood and her work, while Sergeant Juan Stuurman is on the road to recovery.

Tuesday, 27 April on kykNET (DStv channel 144) at 20:00

Baghdad Central S1

Set in 2003 right after the fall of Saddam Hussein, Baghdad Central follows former police inspector Muhsin al-Khafaji in Iraq. Al-Khafaji must decide whether to become a collaborator with the US-led coalition to find his last remaining family member, his eldest daughter.

Thursday, 29 April on M-Net (DStv channel 101) at 22:30