New on TV today: Sunday 19 July
World’s Biggest Mako
Channel: Nat Geo Wild (DStv 182 / StarSat 221)
TX Time: 18h00
Genre: Wildlife, Documentary, SharkFest
World’s Biggest Mako investigates whether a massive breed of mako shark, previously feared to be dying out, is making an unexpected recovery.
The documentary follows a dedicated team of researchers and a cinematographer as they scour the waters north of New Zealand in search of these apex predators. Guided by an experienced local fisherman who has spent decades navigating these seas, the crew crosses paths with an array of increasingly massive mako sharks.
Their findings suggest that while these sharks face severe threats in other areas of the globe, this particular regional population is successfully rebuilding its numbers.
Elders 8: Viëtnam
Channel: kykNET (DStv 144)
TX Time: 20h00
Genre: Documentary Series, Afrikaans, Travel
If Vietnam isn’t on your travel bucket list, the eighth season of Elders might quickly change your mind.
This season follows hiker and author Erns Grundling as he steps out of his comfort zone for an epic journey spanning North to South Vietnam. Along the way, he highlights the nation’s stunning natural landscapes, deep history, warm hospitality, and incredible cuisine.
Filmed over the course of 40 days, the expedition kicks off in Hanoi before moving to Sa Pa near the Chinese border. From there, the team travels to legendary spots including Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh, the massive caves of Phong Nha, and ultimately Ho Chi Minh City. While Erns deeply missed his wife and twin infant sons during the shoot, he considers it an immense privilege to pursue his love for travel and storytelling alongside a phenomenal camera crew.
In the Season 8 premiere, Erns says goodbye to his family and flies out to Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital. Once there, he dives into the vibrant city’s famous street food scene and tours several historic landmarks in a vintage military vehicle.
Celebrity Race Across the World 3
Channel: BBC Earth (DStv 184)
TX Time: 19h00
Genre: Reality Competition
Celebrities team up with a close loved one for a life-altering trek that pushes them to their absolute limits, taking them to remote places they would never normally visit. Leaving luxury behind, the duos embark on a massive 5,900-kilometer race across the length of Central America. They surrender their VIP privileges, smartphones, and credit cards, relying entirely on a physical map and a strict, limited budget to reach the final destination. This unforgettable but grueling adventure tests their ingenuity and forces them to rely on the goodwill of strangers. Traveling with their nearest and dearest, the show offers a rare look at these public figures through the eyes of the people who know them best.
This season features broadcaster Roman Kemp and his sister Harleymoon; Big Boys and Derry Girls actor Dylan Llewellyn with his mother, Jackie; broadcaster and author Anita Rani alongside her father, Bal; and actor-singer Molly Rainford with her partner, presenter and DJ Tyler West.
The competition kicks off on Isla Mujeres, a sacred Mayan island at Mexico’s easternmost point. To finish, the teams must navigate through five mandatory checkpoints to reach the Guajira Peninsula at the northern tip of South America. Their path crosses incredibly diverse landscapes—from Caribbean beaches and indigenous highlands to the bustling metropolis of Panama City. They will bypass the Darien Gap, one of the world’s most perilous migration routes, before concluding the journey on the rugged desert coast of Colombia.
Roman (32) and Harleymoon (35) are the first to get started, aiming to transition their bond from typical siblings to true friends. Roman, an admitted worrier, looks to his free-spirited older sister for grounding when the pressure mounts.
Next up is Anita (47), who is thrilled to share this massive adventure with her 68-year-old father, Bal. Because of his decades of hard work, the two have never even taken a vacation together, making this their longest stretch of close contact since Anita originally moved out of the family home. Prioritizing meaningful experiences over pure speed, they pause to explore ancient Mayan ruins in Belize.
Dylan (32) and his mother, Jackie (59), take a more cautious approach, quickly naming themselves “Team Tortoise.” Focused on enjoying the journey and avoiding panic, they head to the cultural hub of Merida to have some fun, hoping to make up time later by paying for expensive train travel.
Meanwhile, young couple Molly Rainford (24) and Tyler West (28) are used to all-inclusive luxury resorts. They are ready to trade that in for the backpacking experience they missed out on in their youth, kicking off their trip by taking an off-the-grid job at a habanero chili farm in rural Mexico.
Over the course of the season, relationships will be pushed to the brink, new friendships will form, and unexpected encounters will shape unique experiences in breathtaking locations. Stripped of their fame and relying solely on family, the race is officially underway.
The Cult of the Real Housewife
Channel: Investigation Discovery (DStv 171 / StarSat 223)
TX Time: 21h00
Genre: True Crime, Documentary Series, Reality
This three-part docuseries investigates The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Mary Cosby and the Faith Temple Pentecostal Church, which she leads alongside her husband, Robert Cosby Sr. Amid ongoing accusations of financial and spiritual misconduct, The Cult of the Real Housewife examines the stories behind the headlines to uncover a darker, more troubling reality.
The series charts the history of Faith Temple, starting with its founding by Mary’s beloved grandmother, Rosemary “Mama” Cosby. It follows the church’s timeline through Mama Cosby’s death, the disputed transfer of power, and Robert Cosby Sr.’s subsequent marriage to Mary—a highly contested inheritance that pushed the church into a controversial new era.
Beyond analyzing the institution itself, the documentary highlights the testimonies of former members speaking out for the first time. This includes the Enochs, who were long-standing pillars of the congregation, alongside deeply personal accounts from Mary’s own relatives, such as her sister Denise Jefferson Odinaka, her cousin Dan Cosby, and his wife Kim.
The episodes also feature cult experts who explain the psychological tactics used to enforce total loyalty, alongside investigative journalists and bloggers who have covered the case for years. Utilizing audio recordings of Mary and Robert Cosby Sr.’s controversial sermons and extensive archival footage from the church’s early years, The Cult of the Real Housewife moves past internet gossip to answer a central question: how have the Cosbys managed to avoid accountability for so long?
Die Boere van Patagonië
Channel: kykNET (DStv 144)
TX Time: 20h30
Genre: Documentary, Afrikaans
NOTE: This series was previously promoted with an incorrect June start date.
This five-part documentary series revives a nearly forgotten chapter of Afrikaner history. After decades of introducing viewers to remote corners of the globe through Voetspore, Johan Badenhorst returns to tell the remarkable story of the Afrikaners who built a new life in Argentina following the Anglo-Boer War.
The war left many Afrikaners completely devastated by scorched-earth tactics that destroyed farms, crops, and livestock, alongside the tragic loss of thousands of women and children in concentration camps. Seeing no future in South Africa, many families chose exile. While some moved to Tanzania or Madagascar, a group of roughly 600 Afrikaners sailed to Argentina, accepting an invitation to settle and develop the isolated Patagonia region.
In a harsh landscape reminiscent of the Karoo—but defined by brutal winters and relentless winds—these Boers established remote farms and fought to survive. Today, their descendants still bear familiar surnames like Van der Merwe, Kruger, Botha, and Pelser. Although the current generations are largely Spanish-speaking, elements of traditional Afrikaner culture endure: they still play boeremusiek, dance langarm, and braai lamb ribs over open fires. Remarkably, some still speak an older form of Afrikaans that has remained virtually frozen in time since their ancestors left over a century ago, preserving words and expressions that vanished during the language’s modernization in South Africa.
Die Boere van Patagonië digs into the historical catalysts for this migration while exploring complex themes of identity, culture, and heritage. The series covers the destruction of the Anglo-Boer War, the initial hardships in Patagonia, the role the Afrikaners played in the regional oil boom, and the ongoing survival of their language. It also examines what the future holds for this unique diaspora.
Filmed over two months across both South Africa and Argentina, the production visits the original South African hometowns of the emigrants before shifting to the Argentinian hubs of Buenos Aires, Comodoro Rivadavia, Sarmiento, and the surrounding farmlands. Die Boere van Patagonië captures a vanishing heritage on the brink of extinction, marking what may be the final opportunity to hear these historical accounts told firsthand in Afrikaans.
Parenthood
Channel: S3
TX Time: 18h00
Genre: Comedy-Drama
Based on the 1989 movie, this comedy-drama series follows the large, vibrant, and imperfect Braverman family, which now spans three generations.
The story begins as Sarah Braverman, a struggling single mother, leaves her Fresno apartment to move her two reluctant kids, Amber and Drew, back to Berkeley to be closer to her relatives. Upon arrival, Sarah is welcomed by her stubborn father, Zeek, and supportive mother, Camille, who are secretly managing their own marital issues.
Meanwhile, Sarah’s sister and polar opposite, Julia, is a successful corporate lawyer trying to balance her demanding career with motherhood while her husband, Joel, stays at home. Their younger brother, Crosby, a commitment-phobic bachelor, is forced to grow up quickly when a former flame, Jasmine, unexpectedly reappears and forces him to change his priorities.
However, the biggest shift hits the oldest sibling, Adam. He and his wife, Kristina, along with their teenage daughter, Haddie, must redefine their expectations of a “normal” life when their eccentric young son, Max, is diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome.
Though each branch of the family faces its own distinct hurdles, this reunion provides the support they all need to tackle the everyday challenges of parenting, healing, and starting over together.
