Before she devoted herself body and soul to political talk shows on television, little Maybrit’s favorite pastime was kicking soccer balls against the wall. Sometime later she stood full of passion for the game with a microphone on the sports field. This could very well be the reason that Maybrit Illner’s talks are so thoroughly goal-oriented and run so fairly. Everyone gets a chance to talk. But those who don’t know when to stop are cordially sent to the sidelines. If, for instance, a guest dares to not precisely answer the question posed by the host, then her finger points inimitably in his direction to vehemently demand the answer.

Thereby, Maybrit Illner always remains polite, open and is a good listener. She is sure of the facts and brilliantly prepared. For those interested in what’s happening in Germany, tuning in to her Thursday-night program is a must. The fact that her talk show is entertaining to boot, is due in particular to her choice of guests. The focus is always on the people in question: A Chinese guest reports about the wages and standard of living in his country, an affected party tells about the nursing shortage in a senior’s home, and the Chair for the Young Socialists discusses the condition of the SPD with Hans-Jochen Vogel.

The friendly attention of the host towards her guests is pleasant – but the professional distance is always visible and tangible. Reason enough: THE GOLDEN CAMERA from HÖRZU 2009 for the best political talk in the entire Republic goes to "Maybrit Illner".

By jury member Maria von Welser
Foto: © Arne Weychardt for HÖRZU