Advent show on ARD: Helene Fischer stirs cookie dough – and Zuckowski to tears

Pop star Helene Fischer once again appeared in a show run by her ex-partner Florian Silbereisen. At the “Advent Festival of 100,000 Lights” in the first on Saturday evening, the 40-year-old sang Christmas carols and a medley from her latest project, an album for small children. Fischer also announced in the live show from Suhl, Thuringia that he was working on new songs. The contemplative ARD show for the opening of the Christmas markets celebrated an anniversary. It was broadcast for the 20th time.

Fischer also sang in honor of Rolf Zuckowski (77), who was present, his birthday classic “How nice that you were born” and “In the Christmas bakery”. “I adore you and find you incredibly valuable for our music generation and music history,” Fischer said to Zuckowski. The old master of children’s songs had tears in his eyes.

Fischer makes even more children’s music

Fischer recently released her album of children’s songs, which she was also allowed to promote on the show. It shouldn’t be a one-off trip, Fischer announced in response to Silbereisen’s question on the show. In 2025 she wants to “continue to push the children’s song project forward”: “It’s not planned that it will stay with just one album. Yes, that means I want to grow with the children.”

At the same time, she will be working on new songs for a larger audience next year. In 2026 she will be “totally there for you again,” said the singer, who has already announced a tour for the year.

The meeting between Fischer and Silbereisen was a well-observed spectacle

An appearance by Helene Fischer at Silbereisen is always considered something special, because the two were once in a relationship for ten years and were the dream couple of the hit world. Since their separation in 2018, every public meeting has been a well-watched spectacle – and the announcement by the broadcaster MDR, which is responsible for the show, that there would be a surprise guest had fueled speculation about a Fischer appearance.

Gottschalk enveloped in “well-being”

In addition to the numerous musical performances, a celebrity traditionally reads an Advent story on the annual TV show – this time it was the presenter Thomas Gottschalk, who was recently criticized for body shaming, among other things, with a self-written story.

The 74-year-old raved about the Advent atmosphere of the show: “I think Florian is doing a great job. At a time when we really need it, he’s putting a blanket of well-being over the nation. […] Even I can’t remember anything malicious.”

Traditionally, ARD broadcasts “The Advent Festival” from Suhl on the Saturday before the first Advent. The contemplative entertainment program with Silbereisen, in which the so-called light of peace from Bethlehem is passed on, has had its current name since 2011. On average, around 4.5 million people watched on TV screens on Saturday evening; for the 2023 edition there were even 5 million.