The multiple-award-winning comedy writer Lutz van der Horst (50, “Switch reloaded”, “heute-show”) appears in the New Year’s episode “The Dream Ship: Africa – Madikwe” (8:15 p.m., ZDF) for the first time in the long-running TV series, revealing in an interview that “a childhood dream” has now come true. The openly gay Cologne native also links his personal highlight during filming on the high seas to childhood memories of watching television.
Why did you want to participate in “The Dream Ship”?
For me, “The Dream Ship” is classic feel-good TV from my childhood. I’ve been a loyal fan and have watched the installments since the 1980s. I nagged the producers for years to let me be part of it. Eventually they did call—and apparently they had mercy—and offered me the role. I of course said yes right away. So, in that sense, a childhood dream came true for me.
How did you find it aboard?
It was, of course, a new experience to be involved, especially since it was also my first journey on a cruise ship—and I’ll just say this: if Barbara Wussow hadn’t been there with her medical kit, my seasickness would have been really rough.
What was your personal highlight?
My personal highlight was meeting Barbara Wussow, because not only is “The Dream Ship” a major series from my childhood, but so is “Die Schwarzwaldklinik” (The Black Forest Clinic). It was simply wonderful to coax a few anecdotes from her.
How did you experience the other lead actors, such as Florian Silbereisen?
Actually, I didn’t meet Florian Silbereisen at all, because he arrived on board only after I had already left. The upside, though, was that I got to use his cabin on the ship—and that was the best cabin of all.
What went wrong behind the scenes?
I was really surprised by how incredibly professional the shoots were, especially since the cruise operation with the holidaymakers on board continued in parallel. On top of that, the weather didn’t always cooperate, and it was unbelievably cold during my scenes. Yet in the footage, it still looks as if we’re standing on deck in a warm, sultry night somewhere in South Africa.
What was different than you expected?
That the normal onboard operation would continue parallel to the filming initially surprised me—but economically, that’s how it has to be done. I was also thrilled when “The Dream Ship” called and I thought, “Wow, now I’m heading to South Africa for three weeks.” The problem, however, was that my role is so small that after five days I had to leave the ship again, specifically in Bruges, Belgium.
Would a cruise be on your own radar for private life?
I don’t think so. The constant rocking was already exhausting for me, and as I mentioned, I wouldn’t have managed without Barbara Wussow’s pills.
In the “Dream Ship” episode you play a waiter. Was that easy for you?
I think I’m completely untalented at waiting tables because I have no good sense of balance and the plates would keep slipping out of my hands. So the biggest challenge of my role was delivering a bowl of soup to the other actors’ table. That nearly went off the rails.
You’ve often been part of award-winning ensemble performances. What makes this “Dream Ship” episode worthy of an award?
I find it especially intriguing that in my storyline comedy and tragedy are so closely intertwined. I portray a waiter with suicidal thoughts, and I feel that this precarious balance in the storytelling is very well executed.
Your episode is the New Year’s episode. How do you imagine you’ll feel at air time?
I imagine I’ll be hungover in front of the TV, grateful for family harmony around me—and glad I’m not on a rocking ship.
Who will you watch the episode with?
I’m trying to hold it together, because the episode is already available in the streaming library. Still, I want to celebrate properly and make a little event of it, watching the episode as it airs on linear television.
What do you wish for in the coming year?
I hope life becomes a bit more like “The Dream Ship”—more love and more peace. And on a personal note: I hope my novel “Konfetti-Blues” makes the bestseller list. I’ll go on another reading tour in the new year, and I would be thrilled if people like the book, because it is a total labor of love for me.
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