We can an all relate better. Through the ages, relationships have been pivotal: Adam and Eve (not the happiest cohabitants), Dingaan and Shaka (sibling rivalry that went too far), Winnie and Nelson… This popular television show offers troubled relationships the chance to flower again.
What is Relate?
Each week, two people in need of relationship help are invited to speak to a real life counsellor. They are asked to share their sides of the story, agree to a possible solution and find a new way to ‘relate’ to one another. The methods are mediation, advice and healing tasks. The show’s landmark interventionist ‘no-holds barred’ approach and its plucky content made it one of SABC1's top shows of 2009. A new series is currently in development.
The series aired from March to September 2009 to rave reviews from viewers and critics. It was the hot show on the street with high level popular engagement. The issues inspired mature and young viewers alike, with noteworthy relevance to the SABC1 audience.
The hostThe dynamic relationship between the show’s counsellor-host, Angie Diale, and the troubled participants give the show its competitive edge. Angie tells it like it is: with brutal kasi honesty. In true African style, she is not scared to chide someone who has shown disrespect or who has violated a social more This is not sitting-on-the-fence type facilitation... counsellor Angie is your favourite aunt, she’s the one who says out loud what everyone is thinking. Relate is national counselling - in every living room.
There’s work to be done
Admitting that they need help is the first step for our participants, but there’s work to be done. No magic wand is going to transform the situation overnight! Relate’s trademark tasks take the subjects and the viewer on a journey of self-discovery. The tasks had a high success rate, making people identify, understand and tackle their interpersonal challenges; the majority of participants found common ground, and reconciliation. The show also mandates our participants and the viewer to consider counselling from related counselling partners.
The format
Relate is a formatted factual entertainment show (Relate is not a talk show). The hard-hitting counselling offers insight to a fast-track process that unravels the tensions and grudges between ordinary people.