What happens when Günther Jauch, the face of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?”, eventually retires from TV? Daniel Hartwich doesn’t see himself as a successor.
For years, Daniel Hartwich, 46, has been something of a jack-of-all-trades for RTL. It would seem obvious that the popular “Let’s Dance” host, who also co-hosted the jungle camp show for many years, might one day take over “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” when Günther Jauch, 68, retires. But what does Hartwich have to say about it?
Successor to Jauch? No one has asked yet!
In a conversation with his colleague Katja Burkard, 60, which is available on the broadcaster’s website, Hartwich calls it “absolute nonsense” to refer to him as “the new Günther Jauch.”
“I don’t see myself as Günther Jauch’s successor, and no one has asked me if I would like to take over ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?’,” the host says loudly—almost as if he wants the decision-makers to hear him. “No one has asked me,” Hartwich laughs, before turning more serious again. “I mean, we’re talking about Günther Jauch here…” That, he says, is “a whole different league.”
“They would make me suffer and bleed for everything”
The two also discuss the show “I’m a Celebrity – Get Me Out of Here!” Hartwich had stepped down from hosting in 2022 due to family reasons, and Jan Köppen, 42, later took over alongside Sonja Zietlow, 56.
He doesn’t really miss the format, saying it was “a decision that matured over a long period.” However, he does look back fondly on his time in the jungle. With Zietlow, he had “great years”—”a lot of stress, but also a lot of fun.” Hartwich says he is “completely at peace with my decision and with the show.”
However, the host himself would probably not participate in the jungle camp, even though he jokes with Burkard during the conversation: “Of course I would go into the jungle, obviously, please. Just for the challenge, the growth, the adventure. Not for the money, but for the adventure!”
In an interview with the industry magazine DWDL, Hartwich describes it a bit more seriously. One should “never say never,” but his “reality in the camp would be terrible.”
“They would make me suffer and bleed for everything I have ever said and done. And rightly so. The idea of Sonja and Jan sitting in the treehouse mocking me while I’m down there arguing over the remaining beans with two contestants from ‘Are You The One?’… I’m not so sure about that.”
