World · Europe · 5 hrs ago
Former WDR presenter Gisbert Baltes dies aged 75
Gisbert Baltes has died at 75 after a long, serious illness, the German broadcaster WDR said, citing his family.
The presenter and editor spent decades at WDR, working in radio and television after growing up in the Sauerland region.
He became especially well known for bringing Cologne Carnival to audiences across Germany.
Baltes hosted and helped organize the annual ceremony at Cologne’s Gürzenich hall where the carnival season’s three rulers are formally introduced.
He also helped shape WDR programmes including Klingendes NRW and the Närrische Hitparade.
Baltes made his stage farewell in 2016 at an ARD carnival event, appearing as the personified trio of carnival rulers.
Former WDR presenter Gisbert Baltes has died aged 75 after a long, serious illness, the broadcaster said, citing his family.
Baltes was known for his work in radio and television, especially coverage of Cologne Carnival.
He helped bring Cologne’s customs and traditions to audiences across Germany.
He worked for many years as a presenter and editor at the Gürzenich ceremony that formally installs the Carnival season’s three rulers.
In January 2016, he bid farewell on stage at the ARD television Carnival gala as a personified version of the three rulers.
- Who
- Gisbert Baltes, a former WDR presenter and editor, died aged 75.
- What
- He died after a long, serious illness.
- When
- Not stated
- Where
- Not stated
- Why
- Not stated
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Baltes bid farewell on stage at the ARD television Carnival gala as a personified version of the three rulers.
WDR announced Baltes’s death, citing his family.
- Age
- 75
- Cause of death
- Long, serious illness
- Broadcaster
- WDR
- Radio programme
- Zwischen Rhein und Weser
- Carnival programme
- Närrische Hitparade
- Farewell performance
- January 2016, at the ARD television Carnival gala
3 sources
What people are saying
For decades, Gisbert Baltes was a guarantee of successful entertainment programming from NRW.
He helped bring Cologne Carnival and the Cologne way of life to people across Germany.
Here is Cologne, here is the Alter Markt.