Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Thomas Gottschalk Bids Farewell on RTL, Retires From TV After Revealing Rare Cancer

RTL installs Giovanni and Jana Ina Zarrella to front the next episode.

Overview

  • The 75-year-old left "Denn sie wissen nicht, was passiert" before its scheduled end, thanking the audience and exiting with his wife to prolonged applause.
  • In an on-air conversation with Günther Jauch, he identified an epithelioid angiosarcoma and described partial removal of bladder and ureter, a cut thigh muscle during surgery, and 33 radiation sessions.
  • He cited ongoing "brainfog" from treatment as a reason late-night shows are difficult and said he will withdraw from public life.
  • Longtime friend Mike Krüger delivered a reworked tribute song, briefly lost the lyrics, and finished to cheers.
  • The farewell drew about 2.41 million viewers overall and a 16.7% share among 14–49s, giving RTL the young-audience win as the format moves on without the original trio.