showmaster
The man who is called Timm at home: Frank Elstner turns 80
Frank Elstner turns 80. Photo: Daniel Bockwoldt/dpa
© dpa-infocom GmbH
“Wetten, dass..?”, “Games without borders”, “Monday Painter”: Hardly anyone else has shaped the German television landscape as much as Frank Elstner.
Frank Elstner has just received the Muhammad Ali Memorial Prize from the German Parkinson’s Aid, which commemorates the former boxing star.
The TV presenter explains that his wife gave him a punching bag for Christmas. Since then he has been training three times a week for a quarter of an hour. “It’s pretty exhausting,” says Elstner, who turns 80 this Tuesday (April 19). “The advantage for 80-year-olds: they don’t hit back on the punching bag.”
From 1981, the native Austrian, who grew up in Baden-Baden and still lives today, was featured on the ZDF Saturday evening show “Wetten, dass…?” known to an audience of millions. He moderated the first 39 episodes himself. Thomas Gottschalk then took over, who even revived the format in 2021.
Many also associate Elstner’s face with the hidden camera show “Do you understand fun?”, quiz programs such as “Montagsmaler” and “Jeopardy”, the game show “Spiel ohne Grenz” and animal documentaries. He is currently working on a film about whales, reports Elstner.
Career start in radio
In radio plays, the young Elstner lent his voice to “Bambi” and “Little Lord”, among others. His career really began in radio after his journalism training in Karlsruhe in the 1960s: he became one of the most popular presenters at Radio Luxemburg. His artist name Frank also comes from this period.
Because Elstner is actually called Timm. Because a speaker named Tom worked for the station, Elstner chose his brother’s first name. “Timm and Tom, that would have seemed like Fix and Foxi,” he once explained. His spokesman reveals that he is still called Timm at home today. In the Elstnertainment company, on the other hand, it is simply “FE”.
After switching to television, he developed numerous TV shows for various broadcasters, was always on stage as a show master or hosted talk shows. Not all programs were ratings hits. That didn’t hurt his popularity with the public.
He is now considered a TV legend, and in addition to awards for his life’s work, he received the “Best Newcomer” award at the YouTube Golden Camera Digital Awards at the age of 77 – for his Netflix interview series “Wetten, das war’s ..?». A sensation for laudator Kai Pflaume: “The first person in the world to win a newcomer award after the lifetime achievement award.”
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier congratulated Elstner and wrote in a statement: “Your quick-witted wit, your charm, but also your willingness to keep trying new things have made you one of the most successful show hosts on German television for decades.”
“Then I’m shaking”
Elstner is now more or less forced to use his popularity for a good cause: in 2019 he made his Parkinson’s disease public and is now a member of the Advisory Board of the Parkinson Foundation. With its chairman Jens Volkmann he wrote the book “Then I’m shaking”.
“I’m actually quite fine,” says Elstner during a car ride. “When I think about what a terrible disease I have, I can deal with it well.” He was lucky that he fell ill late and the course was mild. ‘But I don’t want to yell. The disease does what it wants – and not what I want.”
Elstner promotes investing more money in research. “In recent years we have seen how scientists can do research if they have money.” According to the German Society for Parkinson’s and Movement Disorders, around 400,000 people in Germany are affected by the chronic disease of the nervous system.
Nevertheless, he goes to the office every day, says Elstner. Cleaning up is something like a second life task. He also keeps an eye on the competition: “I watch a lot of television.”
Despite all the fame, he has remained down to earth, as he himself says and assuring companions. “In order to remain a normal person in your job, you have to work on yourself every day,” says Elstner.
He wants to celebrate his 80th birthday in a small group with his wife, children and grandchildren. At least 23 people come together there. For the 70th he made a big party. This time he won’t tell anyone where he’s going. “I dedicate this day entirely to my family.” In the past, she had to do without him far too often.
He also has one wish: “Peace in Ukraine as soon as possible.” In the face of this war, all personal wishes should take a back seat, says Elstner. “It makes me sleepless.”