After nine years, Daniel Hartwich says goodbye as a jungle camp moderator and makes room for 2023 next to Sonja Zietlow. There is already speculation as to who could succeed him.
Daniel Hartwich, 43, gave up his job as a jungle camp presenter at the end of this year’s season. “I don’t need to say anything other than my tears. Thank you for nine unforgettable years,” explained Hartwich’s visibly touched colleague Sonja Zietlow, 53, in the jungle show “Das Nachspiel” (via RTL +). His successor is following in big footsteps. Who will be next to Zietlow in “I’m a Star – Get Me Out of Here!” comment on the camp events and jungle exams with a pointed tongue?
Jungle camp: This comedian was named several times, but …
One of the first speculations about Hartwich’s successor was Chris Tall’s name. The 30-year-old comedian is not an unknown RTL face, has already been a “Supertalent” juror or moderated his own show “Murmel Mania”. After some users had expressed their dissatisfaction with the possible successor, comedian Alain Frei, 39, defended his colleague in a Facebook post at the beginning of February.
Chris Tall commented on the post and eliminated the rumors. “The funny thing is that so far there hasn’t even been a request from RTL […] Ergo: I have nothing to do with it, but I can read 1000 times more who thinks I’m shit and why [sic]. This internet is really ugly sometimes. Once the stone rolls, you can’t stop it.”
In the case of all further speculation, it should be emphasized that RTL has not yet specifically commented on the Hartwich successor. But who else does the in-house media group have to offer?
Will Hape Kerkeling become the new jungle camp moderator?
Entertainer Hape Kerkeling, 56, retired from show business on the occasion of his 50th birthday in 2014. In March 2021 he then announced his big TV comeback. At the end of November he presented the VOX travel documentary “Hape and the 7 Dwarf States”, in which he became a travel guide and visited Andorra, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican. In December, the station also showed another program: In “An Evening with Hape Kerkeling” he read from his book “Pfoten vom Tisch! Meine Katzen, Other Katzen und Ich” in the Hansa Theater in Hamburg. Another project has already been announced: RTL will continue the film comedy “Club Las Piranjas” in a mini-series of the same name and Kerkeling will slip back into the lead role of the cunning entertainer Edwin Öttel. The all-round talent, who once moderated “Let’s Dance” before Daniel Hartwich, could deepen his refreshed RTL collaboration as a jungle camp moderator.
Guido Cantz could follow Daniel Hartwich
Another moderator who seems to have found his place at RTL is Guido Cantz, 50. At the end of December 2021 he celebrated his departure as moderator of “Do you understand fun?” (The first). At the beginning of January he was on the RTL show “Gipfel der Quizgiganten” alongside Günther Jauch, 65, and Johannes B. Kerner, 57. He has been presenting the new edition of “7 days, 7 heads” since the beginning of February. Speaking about the show, he said: “After twelve years, ‘Do you get fun?’ I’m looking forward to the next television classic with ‘7 days, 7 heads’. Hosting a weekly comedy show has been on my bucket list for a long time. I signed my first major TV contract with RTL back then. It’s nice to be home again come.”
Oliver Pocher has already announced his interest
In any case, Oliver Pocher, 44, would bring the necessary sharp tongue. The comedian is also a well-known RTL face and with “5 against Jauch” or his own late-night show “Pocher – dangerously honest!” enough moderation experience. At the end of 2021 he also invited Ilka Bessin, 50, for the first time to his own RTL annual review “Accounting of the Year”. Even the moderation of a reality show is not unknown to him: in 2013 he moderated a season of “Celebrity Big Brother” with Bessin. And the moderator also had something to do with the jungle camp. Last season’s “I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here!” he analyzed the events in the camp as a guest in the “hour after”. In the RTL interview, the comedian has already shown interest in the Hartwich successor: “If I were up for it, it would be a great show for me.”
Members of the jungle camp universe
What is certainly not harmful for a jungle camp moderation is experience and knowledge about the successful reality show. Who brings that better than ex-campers? “I think we have a lot of potential among the former jungle campers. As an insider, they would be predestined for it,” said Matthias Mangiapane, 38, fifth place finisher in 2018, shortly after Hartwich’s farewell announcement in an RTL video. “I could do that too. I have a sharp tongue and I’m a jungle expert.”
What actually became of the former jungle stars?
45 images
In addition to former jungle campers, other protagonists from the jungle universe could have their big appearance. Big reunion shows have already been moderated by Angela Finger-Erben, 42, Frauke Ludowig, 58, and Olivia Jones, 52. The latter would even bring its own jungle experience: in 2013, the drag queen took second place in the jungle camp.
Daniel Hartwich will continue to appear on TV
At the beginning of February it became public knowledge that the 15th season was also Hartwich’s last. Since 2013 he has been in front of the camera with Sonja Zietlow for the format. The reason for his departure is his family, who will no longer be able to accompany him in the future because of compulsory schooling, he said in a statement. RTL entertainment boss Markus Küttner said of his successor: “As far as his successor in the jungle is concerned, we have already had initial, very good talks.” Küttner also revealed that after a trip to South Africa, the production should return to its original place in 2023: “The jungle belongs to Australia and we will produce the show there again if that’s possible.” This depends on the global corona pandemic.
Daniel Hartwich fans don’t have to do without the moderator entirely. He is currently in front of the camera for the 15th season of “Let’s Dance”.
Sources used: rtl.de, facebook.com, instagram.com