Kohl, Schröder, Merkel – Peter Kloeppel had them all. He is retiring after three decades as the nation’s news chief. And now?
Mr. Kloeppel, you were in front of the camera almost every evening for more than 30 years. Now stop. Not afraid of falling into a hole?
No not at all. In recent years I have reduced my deployments and spent more time with my wife and our daughter in the USA. That was nice. Now it’s even more beautiful.
Are you leaving journalism entirely?
My last shipment is at the end of August. From time to time I would like to do projects like “X-rayed”, but no longer have a daily moderation role in the news. I’m turning 66 this year. That’s a good thing then. My time in the US felt like a pleasant cooldown. There they only know me as Peter from Germany, not as a TV person.
Did you miss this? To be able to be Peter Kloeppel in private?
No. I’m not running away. I have a normal private life in Germany like millions of other people.
Oh well.
Seriously. When I go to a restaurant in Cologne, no one comes and asks for an autograph. Even in the supermarket, hardly anyone ever speaks to me. I’m more of an inconspicuous type. And my work only takes place in public, in front of the camera, for 20 minutes a day.
Has your work never put a strain on you?
Not the work itself. However, I have recurring nightmares that revolve around moderating. It’s 6:45 p.m. and I realize: I’m not in the studio, but somewhere else. Or I arrive on the show and all the preparation is suddenly gone: the prompter isn’t loaded, my notes aren’t there. My dreams never ended well.
Have you had nightmares for over 30 years?