Click to open the share function.
- Germany’s most famous television entertainer Thomas Gottschalk said goodbye to the TV stage on the RTL show “Because they don’t know what’s happening” to thunderous applause.
- He now wants to withdraw from the public eye.
The 75-year-old, who is suffering from cancer, said this when asked by his long-time companion and co-moderator Günther Jauch. “There comes a certain point where you say the public no longer has anything to do with you. Red carpets and so on – no longer an issue,” said Gottschalk. At 10:15 p.m. the moderator said a brief but warm farewell to his fellow players. To the 70s hit “Rockin’ All over the World” by Status Quo, the TV legend walked between the rows of spectators towards the exit. His wife Karina greeted him with a kiss.
Thomas Gottschalk – a career in pictures
Start of picture gallery
Skip image gallery
-
Picture 1 of 9. 1989: Singer and actress Liza Minelli is with Thomas Gottschalk in “Wetten Dass…?” visiting Basel.
Image source: Keystone/STR. -
Picture 2 of 9. 2004: Tennis professional Roger Federer sits on the sofa at Gottschalk’s show in Nuremberg.
Image source: Keystone/JAN PITMAN.
-
Picture 3 of 9. 2005: Thomas Gottschalk kisses top model Heidi Klum during the “Wetten Dass…?” show in Berlin.
Image source: Keystone/SOEREN STACHE/POOL.
-
Picture 4 of 9. 2011: Co-presenter Michelle Hunziker shows Thomas Gottschalk her dress. Also on the “Wetten Dass…?” sofa: designer Karl Lagerfeld.
Image source: Keystone/JOERG KOCH/POOL.
-
Image 5 of 9. 2011: Gottschalk and co-host Michelle Hunziker are a heart and soul at the show in Friedrichshafen.
Image source: Keystone/PATRICK SEEGER.
-
Picture 6 of 9. 2011: Gottschalk in the audience at the show in Friedrichshafen.
Image source: Keystone/JOERG KOCH / POOL.
-
Image 7 of 9. 2025: At the Bambi Awards on November 13th. Gottschalk was supposed to give the eulogy for the singer Cher. He looked confused. Two weeks later he announced that he had cancer – and that he had suffered side effects from the medication at the Bambi awards.
Image source: Keystone/PETER KNEFFEL.
-
Image 8 of 9. 2025: On November 23rd, Thomas Gottschalk appeared at the “People in Europe” award ceremony.
Image source: Keystone/ARMIN WEIGEL.
-
Picture 9 of 9. 2025: Gottschalk’s last big TV appearance on December 6th, 2025 in the RTL show “Because they don’t know what’s happening”.
Image source: Screenshot RTL.
End of the picture gallery
Back to the beginning of the picture gallery.
Jauch had previously asked in a one-on-one conversation in front of the camera how he imagined his new life: whether the Instagram account would actually be closed and he would no longer be seen in any shows. “You want to go underground, you won’t be seen in this classic public anymore, that’s what you want too?” asked Jauch. “Yes,” Gottschalk replied, and added: “I think at 75 is the right time to say I’m retiring.”
“I’m looking forward to retirement”
He feels “excellent,” said the former “Wetten, dass…?” presenter. “I’m doing well and I’m looking forward to retirement.” He also told Jauch about regular examinations that he had due to his cancer. Jauch wanted to know whether they were checking to see whether something had possibly “formed” again. “That’s exactly the point,” said Gottschalk, “I hope it doesn’t happen.” And he assumes that it won’t happen. There was then huge applause in the studio.
Gottschalk made his cancer public last Sunday. A few hours before the farewell show, the entertainer addressed his fans with a video message. “Please don’t worry about me,” he said in the post published on Instagram. «You know that I approach things positively. I’ll do that in this case too.”
“Cancer is something very private”
In the evening, the 75-year-old also explained why he went public so late with his illness: “I don’t like talking about it because I’ve always been of the opinion that the topic should be kept separate from private and professional issues. And an illness – especially cancer – is something very private and I don’t like talking about it.” About the type of cancer he said: “It’s very rare and very dangerous, obviously.”
Gottschalk had already announced in May that he would say goodbye to Saturday evening entertainment in December. At his side in the evening were his co-stars Jauch and Barbara Schöneberger as well as guest presenter Jörg Pilawa, singer Giovanni Zarrella and Gottschalk’s long-time friend, the comedian Mike Krüger. Jauch and Schöneberger continued the competitive games against studio guests Pilawa and Zarrella for more than two hours after Gottschalk’s departure. In the end, it was still unclear who would host the show “Because they don’t know what’s happening” in the future.
The show’s usual competitive games were retained, but supplemented by conversations with and about “Thommy”. There were quiz questions about Gottschalk’s biography. The audience learned that he once hosted the radio program “Mister Morning” on Radio Luxembourg.
Click to open the share function.
