Overview

• In a new interview tied to his anniversary, the chief speaker outlines a minute‑by‑minute final hour before the 20:00 broadcast.
• He requires the makeup room to be precooled by 19:10 because he “can’t stand hair‑dryer‑warm rooms,” and he says he operates “like a Swiss watch” in that window.
• By 19:25 he is finished with makeup, then comes wiring, lighting, and an initial read‑through of completed scripts, with a cherished pen from predecessor Werner Veigel at hand.
• Riewa describes the personal cost of the job, with frequent evenings, weekends, and holidays on duty and shifts that can start at 3 a.m. or run late into the night.
• He keeps a low public profile but notes his voice gives him away in everyday life, and he previously ventured into entertainment on The Masked Singer in 2021.