The 75-year-old entertainer Thomas Gottschalk bid farewell to fans in the RTL show 'Denn sie wissen nicht, was passiert'. He openly discussed his cancer diagnosis and emphasized his full withdrawal from public life. Gottschalk left the stage early and expressed joy about retirement.
Thomas Gottschalk, an icon of German television entertainment, hosted his final Saturday night show on RTL. The program 'Denn sie wissen nicht, was passiert', which he moderated since 2018 alongside Günther Jauch and Barbara Schöneberger, turned into an emotional farewell. Studio fans held signs with messages like 'Thomas, you are a legend' and 'Wetten, dass we'll miss Thommy'. Gottschalk, who announced his retirement in May, left the stage at 22:15 under thunderous applause to the tune of Status Quo. His wife Karina greeted him with a kiss.
In a conversation with Jauch, Gottschalk discussed his aggressive cancer diagnosis, which he made public a week earlier. 'It is very rare and apparently very dangerous', he said, adding that he preferred to keep it private. After surgery, his PSA value dropped to zero, a positive sign. In an Instagram video message, he assured: 'Please don't worry about me. You know I approach things positively.' Recent appearances at the Bambi and Romy awards, where he seemed confused, he attributed to 'brain fog' from painkillers, which worsens in the evening.
Reflecting on his career, Gottschalk said: 'Everything I did, I did only for the people.' He never prepared but improvised, yet at 75, it was time to withdraw. 'Red carpets and so on – no longer an issue', he emphasized. Surprise guest Mike Krüger performed a rewritten version of 'Mein Gott, Walter' as 'Mein Gott, Thomas', prompting Gottschalk to joke: 'Mike is the next one to say goodbye.' The show continued without Gottschalk, with succession left open. Celebrities like Roland Kaiser and Katarina Witt wished him health and recognition.
