ZDF's 'Fernsehgarten' Celebrates Milestone Without Kiewel

In a significant turn of events, Andrea Kiewel, the beloved host of ZDF's popular Sunday show 'Fernsehgarten', will be unable to attend this week's live broadcast from Mainz due to the closure of airspace over Israel. Kiewel, who resides in Tel Aviv, was scheduled to celebrate her 25th season as the show's host during a special anniversary episode this Sunday.

The announcement was made by ZDF on Saturday morning, confirming that Kiewel's absence would be covered by Joachim Llambi and Lutz van der Horst. Both hosts were already set to appear as guests on the show, marking their participation as a one-time substitution for Kiewel.

'Fernsehgarten', which has been a staple of German television since its inception in 1986, has seen Kiewel at the helm since 2000, following previous hosts like Ilona Christen and Ramona Leiß. This year's season commenced on May 4 and is scheduled to feature a total of 20 episodes running through the end of September.

The upcoming episode, designed to celebrate Kiewel's remarkable 25-year journey with 'Fernsehgarten', will still proceed, albeit with a slightly altered format. Among the scheduled guests are well-known artists such as Katja Ebstein, Marianne Rosenberg, Peter Schilling, Eko Fresh, Johnny Logan, Guildo Horn, Tom Gaebel, and Marquess, all of whom are set to contribute to the festivities.

Kiewel has previously expressed her dedication to balancing her life in Israel with her commitments to the show, often traveling back for the Sunday broadcasts. She has shared her logistics of flying back to Tel Aviv immediately after the show wraps up.

As fans eagerly await the anniversary episode, Kiewel's absence will undoubtedly be felt, yet the show promises to deliver an entertaining experience with its lineup of special guests and celebratory atmosphere.