This time it will be the last time: Thomas Gottschalk wants to say his final farewell to “Wetten,dass..?” on Saturday. celebrate. The showmaster had already broken away from the ZDF show classic in 2011. But in 2021 there was actually a unique revival in Nuremberg – and in view of the dream rating of 13.8 million viewers, the station also had two “Wetten, dass…?” shows with Thomas Gottschalk on top. This attracted around 10.1 million people to their television sets in 2022.
Gottschalk looks forward to what will probably be his last “Wetten,dass..?” moderation. “This time I’m more relaxed than ever, because they can’t throw me out anymore,” the 73-year-old told the German Press Agency.
He had already announced in the summer that saying goodbye was not easy for him. But the days of Saturday night entertainment that everyone is talking about on Monday are over. “I am grateful that I was able to experience it and help shape it,” said Gottschalk. However, before an editor constantly gives him “shitstorm warnings” during the show or explains to him which “celebrity” is sitting next to him, he would rather stop.
The show on Saturday will once again offer everything that goes with “Wetten, dass…?” heard: crazy bets, stars and a quick-witted presenter. The audience can expect Gottschalk-typical gag fireworks, albeit perhaps a little slowed down: “I always fire from the hip, but now I think about it before I say something,” Gottschalk told dpa.
And the audience can once again look forward to plenty of musical entertainment: global star Cher wants to perform a new Christmas song on stage. Helene Fischer and Shirin David are said to be singing a new version of “Atemlos” in a duet. The British boy band Take That has also been announced.
The betting sponsors include actors Matthias Schweighöfer and Jan Josef Liefers with colleague Stefanie Stappenbeck. The guest list should also delight sports fans: Bastian Schweinsteiger and his wife Ana Ivanovic will be there.
Social media star Lena Mantler (21 million followers) is supposed to provide insights behind the scenes. Moderator Hazel Brugger wants to be in Switzerland for the outside bet – it should be fast-paced. However, former co-host Michelle Hunziker will not be there this year.
“Bet that..?” has become a symbol of German television entertainment since its launch on February 14, 1981. Inventor Frank Elstner moderated the first 39 episodes. His successor Gottschalk came in September 1987 and left his mark on the show. Almost 21 million people saw his first broadcast. Guest appearances by Wolfgang Lippert (1992-1993) and presenter Markus Lanz (2012-2014) could not continue the Gottschalk shows.
Like “Bet that…?” ZDF has so far left it open after the end of the Gottschalk era. The decision should be made after the broadcast.
