“DSDS” juror Beatrice Egli: Dieter Bohlen’s sayings “have become milder”

“Deutschland sucht den Superstar” is back. In addition to the already well-known jurors Dieter Bohlen (70) and Pietro Lombardi (32), rapper Loredana (29) and pop singer Beatrice Egli (36) will be taking their place on the jury chair. The 15 new episodes will be shown on RTL every Wednesday and Saturday from September 18th (first edition available since September 11th). The jury castings for the 21st “DSDS” season were filmed for the first time in Europa-Park in Rust.

In an interview with the news agency spot on news, Beatrice Egli, who won the show herself in 2013, reveals why she initially found it difficult to be a jury member, how she combined “DSDS” with her music career, how she deals with Dieter Bohlen’s comments and why Pietro Lombardi is an important support for her on the jury.

This time the castings took place in Europa-Park. What did you think of the location?

Beatrice Egli: It was very special for me personally. Apart from the fact that I had my best childhood experiences at Europa-Park, it was a double flashback for me, because it was also the first time I went back to “DSDS”. In the location we were also able to visually capture many different worlds in just a few days. It feels like we’ve taken a trip around Europe.

Did you get to experience the park outside of filming?

Egli: Yes, I love rollercoasters and I tried out a new one that was fantastic and, above all, gave me a long adrenaline rush. I like taking risks, so this was perfect for me (laughs).

How did you initially feel in your role as a jury?

Egli: It was definitely a process, because the first auditions were the hardest for me. Hundreds of candidates were eliminated, all of whom we had heard and seen, and who the TV viewers didn’t even get to see. It was difficult to say no so often, because of course only a very few were able to make it to the recall. When there were fewer and fewer of them after that, it became easier for me, because the talented people then knew that they were among the good ones and had already completed stages. Of course, it’s still not nice to say that it’s not going any further, but I was able to be more specific in my criticism and also demand more from them. It was exciting to see how the candidates developed in different ways, sometimes completely surprising people or resting too much on their laurels.

How do you try to package your criticism?

Egli: I always try to motivate them and convey to them that it is only a moment. We don’t all have the best day every day and we are all human, so I only judge today. Singing in particular has a lot to do with emotion. If it isn’t enough today, it doesn’t mean that it might not be enough again sometime or that you shouldn’t keep at it. With the last few, who really have what it takes and have a lot of potential that can be developed, I always try to bring out their strengths and make them aware of their strengths.

The jury comes from very different musical genres. Was there often disagreement because of this?

Egli: Of course we didn’t agree at times, but we don’t have to, it offers variety. That’s why there are four people sitting there and not just one. We are very different, but we can offer the audience a broad spectrum for the finale. When there were discussions, they were often not genre-specific. There were genres that one or two people had no experience with, but they still liked the performance. It quickly became clear that we weren’t just looking for our genre, but really gave everyone a chance if they excited us and captivated us. I know all too well how it feels to be pigeonholed into a genre too quickly and too firmly.

When there were disagreements within the jury, were there clarifying discussions in the background?

Egli: Of course we sat down together and there were long discussions, especially when it came to the decisions about who would go through and who wouldn’t. We fought for the candidates. I think it’s positive that everyone really gave their all and argued for their candidates. However, Dieter’s experience was always included, as he has obviously been doing this for many decades and is therefore listened to.

Dieter Bohlen is known for his harsh judgments. How did you deal with that?

Egli: “DSDS” belongs to Dieter Bohlen and his sayings are part of that too. I think they have become milder (laughs). There are a lot of nice words now and he is no longer as tough as we used to know him to be.

Rapper Loredana celebrated her jury debut with you. What does she bring to the jury?

Egli: Loredana comes from a genre of her own, is a self-confident young woman who clearly has an opinion but is also open to discussion. It shows that no matter where you come from, there is an interest in putting on the best show, making a good selection and also creating entertainment for viewers who want to experience a nice Saturday or Wednesday evening away from the serious issues in life.

Like you, Pietro Lombardi has already won the show. Does that make you feel particularly connected to him?

Egli: You can definitely feel a connection to each other, but it was very clear that Pietro already has a lot of experience as a juror. He has grown into this role very well and has found his position. I often spoke to him after filming because I had a lot of trouble saying no and being disappointed at the beginning. It was very good for me to be able to talk to him, also with the experience of both of us in the background, that we were once in that position ourselves. So he was a very important rock for me in my emotional moments as a juror.

What would you have liked to have known after your victory that you can now pass on to the other talents?

Egli: It’s not that I would have liked to have known anything beforehand. I can only tell them that they should enjoy every moment, because this casting period is something very special. It never comes back and after that everything really begins. You are no longer in a bubble where you are well looked after and protected, but you go out into the tough wilderness. That’s why it’s a gift on “DSDS” to be able to be in such an orderly, well-structured and, above all, musical environment and to be able to grow with so many colleagues, even if it’s competition. I’ve always said that when someone was eliminated: “You were allowed to experience that.” You should really be aware of that.

There is/was a stadium recall in Schalke, an overseas recall in Crete, a live final in Cologne. That’s a lot of dates. How do you reconcile that with your music?

Egli: It was actually a lot of planning, because everything had to be coordinated so that I could do my tour. I actually played a concert and the next day I was sitting at the jury desk, and when “DSDS” was over, I was on stage again for three hours the next day. But it was the best thing I could do, because I always came directly from where all the candidates wanted to go. They want to play their own tour, they want to play their songs and above all – I felt this every evening when I wasn’t at the desk – they want an audience with whom they can experience everything and who will support them. So it was certainly a physically exhausting time, but emotionally it was just perfect for me to always be able to go straight from the stage to the desk.

The overseas recall took place in Crete. Did you have any connection to the island before?

Egli: I was in Greece once with my family a long time ago and haven’t been since. It’s a hot, beautiful and, above all, culinary, very delicious country (laughs). We filmed in very different places and were able to show the diversity of the country very well. The hospitality of the Greeks was unbelievably beautiful and made it easy to film from morning until late in the evening. In the south, life always feels a little easier when the sun is shining. But it was also a challenge to keep a cool head when the temperature was over 40 degrees (laughs).

The age limit has been dropped this time, everyone aged 16 and over is allowed to take part and the oldest candidate is 92. What did you think when you first heard about the dropping age limit and how has it changed the show?

Egli: Categorizing people is definitely never the right way to go. All generations should be represented on TV and music is also ageless and limitless in all its facets. So for me, what Dieter initiated was the best thing that has happened and should have happened a long time ago. That makes it all the more beautiful and special that I am taking part in this particular season. It was certainly one of the reasons why I wanted to be involved in the first place. People with a lot of life experience often bring a completely different voice and soul to the show. It will be heart-rending, I can say, very emotional and touching and at the same time more powerful and vocal than ever before. All of that is now included, from very young to 92.

Has this also changed the dynamics in the field of candidates?

Egli: The dynamic of the group is now much more intense because, of course, worlds and attitudes to life collide. But it is so nice when all generations learn with and from each other and that this is also shown in such a format that has such a wide reach. So it is not just the music that can inspire people in front of the TV.