The third thrilling season of M-Net’s truly African drama Jacob’s Cross will be broadcast on Wednesday nights at 20:00 from 4 June 2008.

The first two seasons of this top quality local drama, which premiered on DStv on the M-Net Series channel and repeated on M-Net late on Fridays, captured the imagination of many viewers, both locally and across the continent. Due to the show’s potential to draw an even bigger following, M-Net will now screen the third season of this power-house drama series in prime time.

M-Net’s Head of Original Productions, Carl Fischer, says that moving première episodes of Jacob’s Cross from sister channel M-Net Series to M-Net underwrites M-Net’s policy to showcase the top local product in the best timeslots possible. “M-Net is extraordinarily proud of this drama series, which we think compares favourably with classic international series that had everybody talking – and watching – in the past, such as Dallas. We hope that the move will bring this excellent production to an even wider audience.”

M-Net viewers who haven’t seen the first two seasons of Jacob’s Cross can catch up on Wednesday 4 June at 20:00, when M-Net kicks off the third season of this captivating drama with a comprehensive recap episode that will quickly bring them up to speed. Moreover, NuMetro have made DVD box-sets of both Jacob’s Cross Seasons I and II, available at leading retail outlets. These box sets can also be ordered from Kalahari.net.

Jacob’s Cross is a riveting drama about one man’s quest to build the next great African Empire. In the previous seasons of Jacob’s Cross, viewers met Jacob Makhubu, the son of a South African mother and a Nigerian father, as he travelled to Nigeria to secure backing for the business deal of a lifetime. It is a gripping exploration of African identity, legacy and belonging.

Upon arriving in Nigeria, Jacob learns that Chief Aboyami, the head of Nigerian Aboyami Empire from whom he sought financial aid, is in fact his true father. With this revelation, Jacob inherits not only a business empire, but also a family and a dream. This complex inheritance sets Jacob on an epic quest and immediately pits him against both his new found family, with long-held business traditions, and powerful enemies.

On the one hand, the characters are all driven by a shared history of colonisation and a desire to tap into the wealth of Africa. On the other hand, there are bitter feuds over who the rightful owners of the resources are, how they should be exploited, and who should benefit. There are dreams of empire, of legacy, of identity and belonging. Jacob discovers what we must all learn in life – that in order to fulfil his dreams he must be prepared to lose everything first.

At the beginning of season three, Jacob Abayomi, as he is now known, is the man of the moment. He had recently been named Businessman of the Year and his dreams of building a Pan-African empire are finally coming to fruition. His success in Nigeria with the Abayomi-Isoko oil deal has won him much credibility and popularity, but also the antagonism of the multinational oil companies. Globex, an American Petroleum giant, spearheads the antagonism and is set to take him down.

The title role of Jacob is portrayed by the popular South African heart-throb and seasoned actor Hlomla Dandala. He has starred in various local TV production, as well as international feature films such as Red Dust and Lord of War.

The third season of Jacob’s Cross is full of fresh new faces, as well as some familiar ones. Nina Milner, who has etched a name for herself in other M-Net dramas such as Ella Blue and Innocent Times, plays the role of Lisa – the somewhat promiscuous sister of Jacob’s best friend and business partner Prospero Brand, who returns from the UK when her trust fund runs out, only to get her brother into some tricky situations. Other local talent to look out for includes Kim Cloete and Jennifer Steyn.