Stairway to success
We have been watching her shows on TV for decades. Now it’s time to meet Kee-Leen Irvine, co-founder and co-owner of Rapid Blue, as she shares her behind-the-scenes journey, writes Debashine Thangevelo
THIRTY years. That’s how long Kee-Leen Irvine has been in the media industry. Gaining a foothold wasn’t easy, especially when most of the positions advertised carried a “regret, whites only” disclaimer.
But that perseverance has paid off with multiple awards. And, along the way, she met and married the love of her life, Duncan Irvine. They have two children, now teenagers, and celebrate their 21st anniversary tomorrow.
Irvine takes us back to where it all began.
Born in Joburg and raised by her grandparents, Irvine wanted to study after matriculating but her family’s financial constraints kept her from doing so. Her tenacity, coupled with her neversay-die spirit, saw her pursue a different avenue.
She recalls: “I set my mind on pursuing a position in the media world. I ignored all the notices for positions that were advertised ‘regret, whites only’ and pushed on until I found a job at a teenage magazine called TALK, which was published by Republican Press.”
It wasn’t long before she was regarded as a key member of the production team.
Her innate hunger to expand her horizons then led her to applying for a position at M-Net.
She says: “It was for a TX scheduler and production co-ordinator and I was appointed in August 1990.”
When she was exposed to the world of TV-making, a seed was planted. And this is where Irvine’s story really began – although it got off to a bittersweet start.
Irvine offers: “Sadly, the night before I was due to begin my new position, my grandfather and absolute love of my life passed away, leaving me heart-broken and my mind reeling with the responsibility of caring for my elderly grandmother. But it would seem that a career in television was predestined because M-Net were really supportive and agreed to keep the job open for me for a month while I sorted out the funeral and a move from the other side of town to the northern suburbs so that my work wasn’t too far from home and I could be there for my gran in superquick time if she needed me.”
She continues: “One of the biggest challenges facing me when I started in television all those years ago was the fact that not only did I have no formal training, but television was still largely a white male-dominated landscape.”
Of course, what she had an abundance of was passion, a phenomenal work ethic and unbridled creativity. Those were the qualities that helped her navigate her way through many obstacles and, at the time, an impenetrable space for a woman.
In planting her feet in this world, her
path crossed with Duncan’s.
Together they were a tour de force on numerous marketing campaigns for M-Net and SuperSport – the awards they bagged attest to this.
She reveals: “In 1993, we proposed a management buyout and Rapid Blue was established, with a contract to continue producing all the on-air marketing and promotion for M-Net and SuperSport.”
Irvine continues: “In 2003, I branched out into long-form with the hit series,
The Weakest Link. It was my first global entertainment format (or shiny-floor show as we call it in the industry).”
“I remember being so convinced that we didn’t stand a chance pitching for the show because we were up against industry giants like Anant Singh and long-established production companies.
“When the news broke that we had won the pitch I just remember being totally thrilled and absolutely terrified at the same time. I was totally new to a show that big and the expectations from clients and anticipation from the viewers was huge. Thankfully the series was a ratings hit from the get-go,” she laughs.
And her track record for having the Midas touch as an executive producer manifested in several other shows: Strictly Come Dancing, The Great South African Bake Off, SA’s Got Talent, Shark Tank SA, isiThunzi, Come Dine With Me,
The X-Factor SA and So You Think You Can Dance, to name but a few. Giving us a peek into her day-to-day demands, she says: “Casting is my forte. One just has to look at the success of Come
Dine With Me to see why. Aside from that, I’m deeply involved in the look and feel of all our shows – from set design, staging and music to lighting and wardrobe.”
As the end of Women’s Month draws closer, Irvine is certainly deserving of recognition.
Aside from being respected and applauded for being a firm and straightforward leader, she invests a huge amount of time mentoring other women in the television space.
She says: “Television is not for the faint-hearted. It’s a highly competitive and demanding industry. I would say you need to bring real creativity, a willingness to work really hard, a passion for excellence, a constant curiosity and interest in the world around you and loads of grit and resilience.”
In the meantime, her legacy continues to grow with a new slate of shows like the third season of The Great South African Bake Off and new seasons of Come Dine with Me and SA’s Got Talent. Hats off to this remarkable woman for following her heart and, in doing so, proving to be a force to be reckoned with in the world of television.