Because being behind the mic on radio is not his forte, Generations actor Vuyo Dabula used his chiselled body to keep listeners tuned in to his show yesterday when he was standing in for Tbose on Kaya FM.

Thabo "Tbose" Mokwele and his wife Mapaseka are on holiday for a week, and he roped in some famous names to stand in for him in his 9am to midday slot called The Best T In The City.

Since Monday, listeners to Mokwele's show have heard different personalities on air, from Gauteng education MEC Panyaza Lesufi to the Mafikizolo duo. Comedians Skhumba Hlophe and Mashabela Galane have also had a stint.

Dabula, however, wiped out the sex appeal when he started fluffing his lines on air.

He started displaying his nervous state with a speech filled with a lot "uhms" and "aahmms" between every word he uttered.

The actor had to be cut off a couple of times, with the show going on ad breaks, to mask his mistakes.

Dabula quickly came with a plan to keep the listeners tuned in when he suggested that they should tune in online if they wanted to see him topless.

"Check me out on YouTube if you want to see me host the show with my top off," said the actor.

This is where Dabula's studio guest, the fitness trainer Siya Mukela, fitted into things.

Soon, the man known to Generations: The Legacy fans as the mean Kumkani "Gadaffi" Phakade began to sound more comfortable on the microphone when talking about fitness with Mukela.

Mokwele even had to step in from leave to cool temperatures in the studio when he tweeted: "Vuyo Dabula, I said StandIn not ShirtOff."

Despite his topless-shirt stunt, some listeners didn't find Dabula entertaining. One listener wrote in Twitter-speak: "Vuyo Dabula tried shem, a lil boring but he's hot so its ok."

tiwaneb@timesmedia.co.za