interview
Esther Sedlaczek
“My husband is the good cop, I’m the bad cop”
© Hannes Magerstaedt / Stringer / Getty Images
Esther Sedlaczek, the mother of two, keeps fit with jogging and yoga. On May 20, she will moderate the quiz show “Ask the mouse” (ARD, 8:15 p.m.) for the first time. In an interview with GALA, she tells how she feels about it and how tasks are divided up in her family.
For the ARD it is developing into a hit! Esther Sedlaczek, 37, has been moderating the “Sportschau” on Saturday evenings for around two years, she shone at the World Cup in Qatar – and she also feels comfortable in show business. First she took over the “quiz duel” from Jörg Pilawa, now the accolade follows: she gets her first Saturday evening show, replacing Eckart von Hirschhausen in “Ask the mouse”.
GALA: Don’t you have a jitter before Saturday night?
Esther Sedlaczek: That will probably come shortly before. Ten minutes before a show, I can usually no longer be contacted. But it is not fear, but enormous anticipation and excitement.
What helps you when you are nervous?
Lots of sweets. (laughs) At the “Sportschau” I always get a basket of chocolate bars – it’s often empty at the end of the day. But now I’ve put myself on a sweets stop.
Can you tell us why?
My body was telling me it was too much. Not because I pay particular attention to the slim line. I’ve never been on a diet in my life, and we don’t have a scale at home either. But it didn’t feel good. Unfortunately, I’m the type of person who doesn’t stop after half a chocolate bar, but prefers to eat three at once. My new rule is now: six days sugar-free – and on the seventh everything is allowed.
These topics are currently very popular with her daughter
Speaking of permission: your daughter will soon be four. Can she already watch TV?
Yes, but in moderation, i.e. two to three times a week. It’s much more important to me to read to her.
Which book is your favorite right now?
At the moment “Peter Pan” and “The Little Dragon Coconut”.
“My Husband Is The Good Cop”
How is the distribution of roles in child-rearing issues in your home? Which parent is the good cop, who is the bad cop?
I’m already the one who says: “Stop it, it’s going to bed!” My husband is more of the good cop. Although we have two great children who don’t have to be so strict. But of course the three-year-old also has phases of defiance. You regularly work weekends.
How does your family deal with this?
My husband doesn’t know me any other way, so that’s not an issue. And to be honest, my daughter is always happy: “Two days just dad, my brother and me!” (laughs) And if I’m away for more than three days, I often take both children with me. Then they come with me to the studio.
Just like you used to: Your mother was the production manager for TV shows like “Vera am Mittag”.
I thought it was great that she let me participate in her everyday work!
What is your fondest memory?
With the “Wheel of Fortune” I always got a “Magnum” ice cream from the moderators Peter Bond and Frederic Meisner – that was great. (laughs)