"The Masked Singer" at ProSieben: Jens Riewa exposed as Chili

Cologne. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, this is the chili speaking: "Tagesschau" chief spokesman Jens Riewa has been exposed as the first celebrity on the music show "The Masked Singer". been. The 58-year-old was in the costume of a huge chili pepper. Since he received too few votes from the viewers at the start of the new season of the ProSieben show, he had to take off his fiery mask, which also included two crazy googly eyes. The newscaster, who is actually only known to be dressed very correctly, was happy nonetheless. "That's the secret of this show: Just let the little pig out," said Riewa. "Or the hot chili."

It was a little surprise that the native of Brandenburg was under the colorful costume. Musician Rea Garvey (48) in the advice team left the name after the performance of the chili with the song "Can You Feel It?" by the Weather Girls, but didn't pursue the idea any further. In the end he guessed comedian Michael Mittermeier (55). His colleague Ruth Moschner (45) thought she recognized a French accent. But then she typed on the German TV chef Horst Lichter (59), which was also wrong.

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As a reminder: In "The Masked Singer" celebrities appear as singers, but hide their true identities behind elaborate costumes. The stars are revealed as soon as they don't get enough votes or win at the very end. The fifth season of the ProSieben show has now begun - for the first time it runs on a Saturday.

"I had stage fright ten times more than before an 8 p.m. "daily show,"" admitted Riewa. He had meticulously prepared the performances and, according to his own statements, practiced a proud 16 songs. In America he ordered a soundproof booth for $1,200 in order to be able to sing undisturbed - and many other options were exhausted as well. "I used all the night shifts of the "Tagesschau" to sing in storage rooms or other places where nobody ever comes by," reported Riewa. Admittedly, it didn't do anything. In the final vote, he lost to a teased skunk, a hammerhead shark, and a frail teddy bear.

As Riewa admitted, the chili costume didn't really suit him that well in his private life either. "I'm famous in my private life for having zero tolerance for spicy food," he said. "For one simple reason: I get hiccups for hours." For someone who is a speaker by profession, this is rather unfavorable. Also, the first slipping into the tight costume was not easy - for really serious reasons. "When I first tried it on, I had a panic attack," Riewa said. Years ago he had a car accident in which he was trapped. For a moment he thought about canceling "Masked Singer".

In the staff of the ARD news broadcast, the wealth of experience in undercover participation in the ProSieben show is growing again with him. In the past season, "Tagesschau" spokeswoman Judith Rakers, who was in a fluffy chick costume, took part.

"Of course we're a bit starved," said Riewa about the desire for entertainment with him and his colleagues - who used to include Jan Hofer (69), who after leaving the "Tagesschau" in the RTL Dance show "Let's Dance" hired. The news program has a strict framework, said Riewa. But that is also their secret of success - the reliable, no-frills information. He did not ask for permission to participate in "Masked Singer". "I wouldn't have let it ban me either."

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The eye-catchers of the new season now include a pug dressed like the god of love Cupid, a singing axolotl - also known as a Mexican salamander - and a garbage can in which a furry creature lives called Mülli Müller. In addition, a disco caterpillar joins in, where Ruth Moschner suspected that it could be music star Helene Fischer (37), who is mentioned in almost every season but has never been there. "I think Helene is busy," said Rea Garvey. "But you never know." (dpa)