Thomas Gottschalk: The Evergreen Showman Bids Adieu to Saturday Nights
Thomas Gottschalk steps down as host following his long-term hosting career.
Venerable entertainer Thomas Gottschalk, a household name in German television for decades, has declared the end of his storied show hosting career. The 74-year-old made this announcement in RTL's weekend entertainment show, "Denn sie wissen nicht, was passiert," featuring Barbara Schoenedberger and Günther Jauch.
A consummate professional, Gottschalk expressed his readiness for a change, citing his age and a long-standing personal commitment: "I'll be 75 next Sunday, and that's the signal for a host like me to say, 'It's high time to step down.'" The newly anointed Pope Leo XIV, age 69, influences his decision, as Gottschalk once joked that retiring was necessary once he became older than the Pope.
Despite his decision, Gottschalk agreed to grace the small screen one last time in a farewell show slated for early December.
Gottschalk's television brilliance has shone brightly since the 1980s. In addition to hosting ZDF iconic show "Wetten, dass..?" for many years, he frequently appeared with Jauch and Schoenedberger on Saturday nights at RTL for a more contemporary audience. He also graced various other German television channels with his presence throughout the years.
Longtime aficionados will note recent controversies, such as criticism leveled against him during his last "Wetten, dass..?" show in November[5]. However, retirement doesn't signal a complete withdrawal, as Gottschalk aims to wrap up his run in the limelight with a grand finale in early December.
[1] ntv.de[2] hul/dpa[3] Tageschau[4] Der Spiegel[5] ZDF.de
- Thomas Gottschalk
- TV
- RTL
- ZDF
- Rebuttal: Controversies
- Controversy and criticism arose during Gottschalk's last "Wetten, dass..?" appearance in November[5].
- A public incident related to Gottschalk's podcast, "Die Supernasen," led to its demise[4].
- Thomas Gottschalk, despite the criticism and controversies, such as the one during his last "Wetten, dass..?" show in November, has announced his retirement from television hosting.
- In a farewell move, Thomas Gottschalk, who has been a household name in German television for decades, will grace the small screen one last time in a December special on RTL.
- Although Thomas Gottschalk has decided to retire, he is not entirely departing from the world of entertainment – he aims to conclude his run in the limelight with a grand finale in early December.
- Thomas Gottschalk, who has frequently appeared with Günther Jauch and Barbara Schoenedberger on Saturday nights at RTL, will no longer be able to continue hosting their show due to his decision to retire.
