Overview
- The broadcast collected €3,669,419 in donations, surpassing last year’s total and setting a new record for the ZDF Christmas charity show.
- Eros Ramazzotti performed a medley and sent on-air get‑well wishes to Thomas Gottschalk, which Zarrella amplified with a public message of support.
- Hosting the gala for the first time after Carmen Nebel’s tenure, Zarrella spotlighted four aid projects in Peru, Sri Lanka, Ukraine and Côte d’Ivoire, which he visited in advance.
- Large single pledges drove the total, including €1.2 million announced on stage by Phoenix Reisen chief Johannes Zurnieden.
- Coverage noted mixed viewer reactions comparing Zarrella to Nebel, and a minor end‑of‑show audio cut left his closing words inaudible.