Overview
- RTL begins the 19th season on January 23 with nightly primetime live broadcasts, with the finale slated for February 8.
- An initial Warm-up-show poll put Mirja du Mont first at 20%, followed by Hardy Krüger Jr. at 17%, with Stephen Dürr and Patrick Romer at the bottom.
- Gil Ofarim’s inclusion continues to draw public pushback and on-camera criticism from fellow contestants after his court admission that he fabricated an antisemitism allegation and paid €10,000.
- Pre-show storylines include Australian customs stopping Nicole Belstler-Boettcher over cat food in her luggage, Hubert Fella competing despite a knee tear, and Stephen Dürr acknowledging a confidentiality breach.
- RTL says about 90% of trials were reworked and teases a significant rule change to be announced at the launch, with outside comparisons to the UK format’s trial-limit rule remaining unconfirmed.