2024 marks significant anniversaries for various German television shows. “I’m a Star – Get Me Out of Here!” celebrated 20 years with a special live season and an All-Star edition, while “Farmer Seeks Wife” and “The Lion’s Den” also marked their milestones. “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” recognized 25 years with a charity episode, and “Shopping Queen” reached 2,500 episodes. Additionally, long-running series like “Among Us” and “Good Times, Bad Times” celebrated their own significant achievements.
Celebrating Milestones in German Television
Two decades ago, the dynamic duo of Sonja Zietlow (56) and the late Dirk Bach (1961-2012) first exclaimed, “I’m a Star – Get Me Out of Here!” from a suspension bridge deep within the Australian jungle. This year, the iconic ‘Jungle Camp’ marked a significant milestone with an exciting All-Star season. However, this show wasn’t the only one taking center stage in celebrations throughout 2024.
The Jungle Camp and Other Celebrations
No television show has stirred up as much controversy in Germany as ‘Jungle Camp’. Since its debut in 2004, “I’m a Star – Get Me Out of Here!” has seen countless celebrities come and go, often leaving a trail of scandals behind. To honor its 20th anniversary, the network hosted a special live season in January, crowning Lucy Diakovska (48) of No Angels fame as the Jungle Queen. The summer brought an additional All-Star season, culminating in the pre-recorded ‘I’m a Star – Showdown of the Jungle Legends’, which was won by ex-‘Bachelorette’ star Georgina Fleur (34).
Another beloved show, ‘Farmer Seeks Wife’, is also marking its 20th anniversary, currently airing its 20th season. Since its launch with Inka Bause (56) in 2005, the rural matchmaking show has successfully facilitated over 40 weddings and nearly 50 births. RTL is honoring this milestone by introducing more love-seeking farmers than ever before, alongside a celebratory song titled ‘Heart in Straw’ sung by Bause. The season finale is set to air on December 23 at 8:15 PM.
Meanwhile, ‘The Lion’s Den’, which first graced our screens on August 9, 2014, is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Original investors Jochen Schweizer (67) and Frank Thelen (49) returned to the show, showcasing the latest innovations that have emerged over the past decade, during which 418 deals were made.
One of the most recognized quiz shows, ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?’, is celebrating 25 years of thrilling contestants. Host Günther Jauch (68) welcomed a variety of guests, including celebrities like Tim Mälzer (53) and Elyas M’Barek (42), during a special anniversary episode. The event not only recognized Jauch’s record for the most seasons globally but also concluded with a generous donation of 125,000 euros to charity.
In a surprising twist, the tenth season of ‘The Masked Singer’ introduced an innovative mask called ‘Mysterium’, which was unveiled differently each week. Contestants included musicians Giovanni Zarrella (46) and Stefanie Heinzmann (35), while the season concluded with comedian Mirja Boes (53) taking home the trophy.
VOX also celebrated an impressive milestone with ‘Shopping Queen’, marking 2,500 episodes in March. The show, which first aired on January 30, 2012, featured contestants creating looks from designer pieces, with the fashion designer Guido Maria Kretschmer (59) personally delivering the outfits.
In the magazine realm, both ‘Extra – The RTL Magazine’ and ‘RTL Exclusiv’ celebrated their 30th anniversaries. ‘Extra’ debuted on October 13, 1994, with Birgit Schrowange (66) at the helm for 25 years. The anniversary was marked by a grand gala cruise in Hamburg with over 2,500 guests, including celebrities like La Toya Jackson (68) and Dieter Bohlen (70).
Lastly, RTL’s popular series also marked significant anniversaries. The daily soap ‘Among Us’ celebrated its 30th anniversary on November 28, featuring special highlights and a crossover with ‘Shopping Queen’. Meanwhile, ‘Everything that Counts’ celebrated its 18th anniversary with a reunion episode, and ‘Good Times, Bad Times’ reached the impressive milestone of 8000 episodes in April, showcasing a courtroom drama featuring familiar characters.