Is this really the toughest quiz in Germany? - Germany's The Quiz Champion returns with €100,000 prize and star-studded panel
Germany's longest-running quiz show, The Quiz Champion, will return on January 21, 2023, with a fresh line-up of celebrity guests. Hosted by Johannes B. Kerner, the programme has drawn audiences of three to four million viewers in recent years. Contestants will once again compete for a top prize of €100,000 if they defeat all five celebrity experts in their duels.
The Quiz Champion first aired on ZDF 14 years ago and has since broadcast over 70 episodes, including special editions. The format pits contestants against well-known personalities in a series of challenging rounds. The November 2022 episode caused a stir when guest Thomas Gottschalk appeared distracted, drawing criticism from viewers.
The upcoming show will feature Tim Mälzer, Julia Scharf, Anna Thalbach, Bastian Pastewka, and Frank Plasberg as the celebrity panel. Pastewka, a regular on the programme, will mark his 20th appearance. Over the past five years, the show's ratings have climbed steadily, rising from an average of 2.5 million to over four million viewers per episode. Despite this growth, *The Quiz Champion* still trails behind ARD's rival quiz *Gefragt – Gejagt*, which consistently attracts six to seven million viewers. Minor fluctuations in both shows' ratings have occurred, often due to competition from other prime-time programmes.
The January 21 episode will give contestants another chance to win €100,000 by outsmarting the celebrity experts. With its long-standing popularity and rising audience figures, The Quiz Champion remains a fixture in German television. The show's mix of high-stakes quizzing and star appearances continues to draw millions of viewers each week.
