Overview
- RTL confirmed twelve participants, including Gil Ofarim, Mirja du Mont, Simone Ballack, Eva Benetatou, Samira Yavuz, Patrick Romer, Stephen Dürr, Hardy Krüger Jr., Nicole Belstler-Boettcher, Hubert Fella, Ariel and Umut Tekin, with Sonja Zietlow and Jan Köppen hosting and Dr. Bob returning.
- The season begins on January 23 and runs for 17 prime-time episodes at 20:15 on RTL, with the finale set for February 8 and streaming available via RTL+.
- The official reveal triggered strong online criticism and boycott calls, primarily targeting Ofarim, while RTL has not indicated any changes to the lineup.
- Ofarim’s participation is contentious because he admitted in 2023 during legal proceedings that his 2021 antisemitism allegation against a hotel employee was false, after which the case was closed against a monetary payment.
- Coverage highlights a cast heavy on reality-TV figures and likely flashpoints, including a charged reunion between Samira Yavuz and Eva Benetatou, with former contestant Sam Dylan publicly deriding the lineup.