"Actor Tator takes action against parties involved"
In a surprising turn of events, Wolfram Koch and Margarita Broich, the beloved detective duo Lessing and Stedefreund in the long-running German crime drama 'Tatort', have departed from the show after nine years and 19 cases. Their departure, which occurred in September 2024, was not entirely voluntary, as Koch now reveals.
The personnel carousel at the ARD crime flagship 'Tatort' seems to be spinning faster and faster lately, with Koch and Broich being the latest to leave the show. Their exit was linked to frustration with the economic constraints imposed on the 'Tatort' production, which they felt hindered the creative process.
In interviews, both actors mentioned that the tightening budgets led to a more restrictive environment for storytelling and production, which in turn affected their motivation to continue. They emphasized that creativity suffers when resources are cut too severely, implying that the austerity measures compromised the artistic and narrative potential of their episodes.
Koch and Broich starred in the 'Tatort' in Frankfurt am Main since their debut in May 2015 with the episode "Kälter als der Tod". They celebrated many successes together, but the financial constraints became too much to bear. They played the roles of Paul Brix and Anna Janneke until their last day of shooting, which was a sad experience for them.
Despite his not entirely voluntary departure, Koch praises Edin Hasanovic and Melika Foroutan, the new investigating duo for the Frankfurt 'Tatort'. The first episode with Hasanovic and Foroutan is set to air in the fall, and they will focus on so-called "cold cases".
Koch maintains contact with his colleague Margarita Broich and does not rule out the possibility of appearing in a 'Tatort' with her again. Meanwhile, Koch is currently on stage at the Nibelungen Festival in Worms, continuing his acting career off-screen.
Many of their colleagues at HR are now working elsewhere or are only putting up flower pots for talk shows, a stark contrast to the bustling 'Tatort' set where Koch and Broich once stood in front of the camera. Despite the challenges they faced, their contributions to the show will not be forgotten, as they leave a lasting impact on the world of German television.
The Commission, being assisted by the European Parliament, might consider discussing the economic challenges faced by the ARD crime flagship 'Tatort', as the inconsistent budgets are reportedly affecting the quality of movies-and-tv productions like 'Tatort', including the departure of Wolfram Koch and Margarita Broich. In a different context, the entertainment industry could benefit from EU support, ensuring creatives have the necessary resources to tell compelling stories.
