For decades, Hella von Sinnen (67) has been television’s safe bet: loud, quick with a comeback, unmistakable. And yet she’s only now venturing to try a podcast microphone of her own. The reason is remarkably down-to-earth. “Before, I hadn’t run into any company that offered to build me a proper little setup for my own podcast,” the openly lesbian entertainer explains, marking her late debut in an interview. At the same time, she offers a welcome health update.
After an accident left her with two broken legs, von Sinnen recently allowed herself a longer period of recovery. “I’m doing well,” she now clarifies. “Besides all the surgeries and hours of physical therapy, mental health is the A and O. And I’m slowly getting back into the swing of things thanks to ‘Gestatten, von Sinnen!’”
Will Stefan Raab appear on her podcast?
On June 5, her new podcast “Gestatten, von Sinnen!”, produced by Re*Play, will kick off. Behind the studio sits Raab Entertainment, the outfit of Stefan Raab (59). She notes that creative input isn’t required from him: “Stefan shows up insofar as I’ve already benefited from his top-tier guest list.” The 67-year-old doesn’t expect Raab himself to sit on her guest sofa anytime soon; after all, he consistently avoids discussing his private life. Still, there’s a back door: “The only possibility would be to play a round with him for an hour. Hmm… that could be an idea.”
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What listeners can expect from her podcast, von Sinnen sums up simply: “I want to host an engaging conversation. There will be serious and funny moments. Like with any good talk.” In other words, a format that isn’t limited to pure comedy or heavy confessions.
This successful format isn’t on her radar
The guest list is as eclectic as you’d expect: Mike Krüger, Guido Cantz, Joey Kelly, Evelyn Burdecki, Claudia Roth, and Ingo Appelt are among those lined up. Yet von Sinnen doesn’t decide alone who appears. “My editorial team suggests guests — it’s just a matter of scheduling,” she concedes. Whether it’s an old accomplice or a fresh face, the difference is hardly meaningful to her. With longtime acquaintances there’s a familiar, cozy base; with strangers, her curiosity might be greater — the joyful anticipation, she says, remains similar.
And what about a permanent return to television? “I have nothing against it,” von Sinnen asserts. However, she rules out one particular show: participating in the popular comedy format “LOL: Last One Laughing” is not in the cards for her.
