Charl on the Vaal Riviera, joining a reality show, motorsports and more

Vaal Riviera premieres this Friday at 5pm at Theatre on the Bay at the kykNET Silwerskerm Film and TV Festival, before coming express to Showmax.

If you thought the Vaal was slow and peaceful, think again. Produced by POP24, the brains behind The Mommy Club and Beaulah: Queens van die Kaap, Vaal Riviera follows four families who live in Vanderbijlpark and Vereeniging. Set on the banks of the Vaal River, the reality series serves up a fresh kind of glamour alongside complex family and friendship dynamics, all with a local twist.

The Arangies are a family that never does anything halfway. Charl races cars and runs the family business. Bernelee is bold, honest, and always ready with a clapback. Allegra is already living the influencer life, and little Aaliyah is pure personality with plenty of flair. 

Watch the trailer for Vaal Riviera

To get revved up for the first episode, we caught up with Charl.

What made you say yes to Vaal Riviera?

 What drew me to the world of reality was a mixture of factors. Firstly, for the experience. This opportunity only really comes along once in your life. Secondly, my wife and I had a story to tell, and this was the perfect platform.

Before joining the show, what kinds of conversations did you and your wife have about putting your lives on camera?

My wife and I had a very in-depth discussion regarding the show. Obviously, it’s quite daunting to put your whole life out there and let people comment on your daily life. But we want to make a difference in people’s lives. There are a lot of people who might be going through what we went through, and we want to be able to help them get through that. We want to help relationships grow and show people that giving up isn’t the answer.

What sparked your passion for racecar driving? 

Motorsport has been a part of my life for the longest time. I grew up on a racetrack. My dad actually owned a racetrack, so motorsport was part of my daily life for as long as I can remember. When I turned 21, I was fortunate enough to be able to build a race car with my dad, and that just started it all for me. From there onwards, motorsport has been a rollercoaster, with a lot of cars, a lot of championships that we’ve been fortunate enough to win, and a small sideline business that we could build out of this. To be able to do this semi-professionally is a dream come true.

If you had to sum up Vaal Riviera using racecar lingo, what would you say?

It is one hell of a ride, a rush from the start.

There’s no shortage of reality TV. What sets this show apart from everything else out there right now?

What sets this show apart is the family aspect. There are so many reality TV programmes only centring around moms or wives or the like. Here, husbands are involved, and our kids are involved. That makes the show way better than anything else. It’s not just for women; it’s for everyone.

Looking back on filming, what were some of the standout moments and unexpected highlights?

There were many standout moments for me, like showcasing my passion for motorsport, challenging a new friend that I made in this experience, growing that relationship, and being able to do this with my family, my wife, and my two beautiful daughters. It was such a fun ride.

Were there any surprises or behind-the-scenes realities of filming that caught you off guard?

The biggest challenge was how much time and energy reality TV requires out of you. It takes up quite a lot of your schedule and, yes, you’re busy for weeks on end.

Managing relationships was also challenging. We are all put into a pressure cooker, and at some point, there are going to be some problems, so that was the biggest thing we struggled with: managing our relationships with the other people.

Who will connect most with the show?

I believe that everyone will be able to relate to our daily struggles that we go through, from relationship problems to balancing family and a busy sporting life. 

Why should people watch Vaal Riviera?

People should watch Vaal Riviera because it is an action-packed, high-paced show with some drama and a hell of a lot of laughs, but mostly, it’s a wholesome family show, with relatable people and friendships that will last a lifetime.

Vaal Riviera premieres this Friday, 22 August, with new episodes on Tuesdays.

Join the conversation: #VaalRivieraShowmax

Book your tickets to the Silwerskerm premiere here.