Hotel Season 5: Where to find your favourite stars

Hotel is onto its fifth and final season with its 55-episode run coming to an end. In the small Mpumalanga town of Fransburg, the glorious Fransen Hotel has become a dive. Yet the over-the-hill hotel struggles on… just managing to keep its doors open thanks to a well-meaning manager and his devoted staff.

When the establishment is absorbed by a big hotel group, a consultant aims to improve things from the inside out. A tug-of-war begins in which the Fransen and its odd assortment of people aren’t ready to let go of their home away from home. 

Fawlty Towers meets The Office, with South African flavour

Hotel is shot like a documentary in Afrikaans, and audiences get a candid slice-of-hotel-life as these quirky characters go about their duties, form relationships and brainstorm ideas to save the Fransen. Hotel blends the madcap behind-the-scenes fun and small town attitude of Fawlty Towers with the mundane fly-on-the-wall day job escapades of The Office. Adding heaps of South African flavour and featuring many lovable characters makes Hotel a lighthearted jaunt, a fun mockumentary with lots of heart.

Hotel has feel-good energy, a playful innocence and animated appeal, as expressed by its multi-coloured beach umbrella. From “office” relationships to team-building and pranks, there’s always something to stir emotions and keep spirits high as this unconventional family of hotel staff do life together.

The recent history of Hotel

In Season 4, the Fransen faces foreclosure once again after manager Ferdie’s nemesis, who also happens to be the town mayor, seeks to demolish the building in the name of progress.

A last-minute reprieve sees that the hotel gets yet another chance at turning a profit and inspiring a good to middling review on TripAdvisor.  

What to expect in Season 5

In Season 5, the Fransen re-opens after surviving the impact of the worldwide pandemic and lockdown – it helps when you’re used to not having guests. With “will they, won’t they” office relationships flourishing, old flames dying hard and the hotel under new management, it seems the hotel is moving in a new direction.

However, its previous manager’s emotional bonds with the hotel are so strong that he can’t retire peacefully without fear of missing out. Checking in as a guest to keep an eye on things after 35 years of service, Ferdie slinks back into the lives of his co-workers and friends who have a few surprises of their own.

The staff – and stars – of Hotel and where to find them

Hotel is so star-studded even the show’s creator, writer and producer duo Bennie Fourie (Vuil Wasgoed) and Stiaan Smith (Sy Klink Soos Lente) have a long list of film credits between the two of them. They’re both accomplished actors, and Fourie plays Dodgy Mike while Smith makes a cameo appearance in Hotel. Their core cast were local stars before they checked into Hotel and will most certainly be collaborating and pursuing more fun and exciting film and TV projects going forward. 

James Borthwick (Ferdie) is the life and soul of Hotel as the Fransen’s bumbling yet well-meaning old school hotel manager. Best known for his role in Stander outside of Hotel, the character actor has also featured in The Crown and Just Nuisance with an acting career spanning over 40 years.

Simoné Pretorius (Jony) is best known for her plucky starring role as Irma Humpel in the quirky romantic comedy drama, Vir Die Voels. Her star-making role, pixie features and spirited performance is reminiscent of Zoe Kazan (The Big Sick). A core member of Hotel’s talented cast, Pretorius has developed a strong following with almost 250 000 followers on Instagram alone.

Beer Adriaanse (Thomas) has appeared in some great South African films such as Kanarie, Poppie Nongena and Wonderlus. Playing guitar and second-in-command to Ferdie, he’s the audience’s in as the straight-laced guy who can’t seem to catch a break. Try as he may, Thomas eventually caves to the notion that if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.

Schalk Bezuidenhout (Danny) is an instantly recognisable face based on his prolific social media videos and blooming stand-up comedy. His trademark bouncy hair, moustache and retro jerseys make him an absolute character on just about any size screen. Catch Schalk acting in a breakthrough role in Kanarie, A White Christmas 2 and Tali’s Baby Diary as well as his stand-up features including the SAFTA-nominated Die Ware Naarheid, Second Language, Volkbesit and Lewendig.

Mila Guy (Malanie) is best known for her role in Liewe Kersfeesvader, a dark comedy drama about a teenage beauty queen whose father assumes the identity of Santa Claus. Catch the versatile actor in the moody coming-of-age drama Wonderlus as well as short films Miemie (where she stars opposite Hotel creator Bennie Fourie) and Vlugtig.

While each of these actors has been with Hotel from start to finish, it wouldn’t be the same without the inimitable Martelize Kolver (The Seagull/Die Seemeeu) as the intimidating Brenda or wincingly winsome De Klerk Oelofse (Flatland) as the bashful “boereseun” Jaap.

This colourful, creative and silly mockumentary series will be missed, along with its exuberant family cast and long-standing home of a hotel.