Wetten, dass..? (also: Wetten dass..? and Wetten, daß..? – engl. "Wanna Bet, That..?") is a television show popular in German speaking countries and is the most successful TV show in Europe.

History

On February 14, 1981, the German channel ZDF aired the first episode in cooperation with the Austrian channel ORF and the Swiss channel SF DRS. The inventor of the show, Frank Elstner hosted the show until the 39th episode in 1987. Except for during brief interstice (1992-1993) when the show was hosted by Wolfgang Lippert , Wetten, dass..? has since continually been hosted by entertainer Thomas Gottschalk who hosted the show for the 100th time on March 27, 2004.

Concept

Common people with special skills offer to perform some difficult feat. A celebrity must bet whether the person will succeed or not and agrees on a wager, usually a humorous and/or humiliating activity to be carried out if they lose. Until 1987 the celebrity with the best betting skills was selected to be that show's ' bet king' (Wettkönig) Ever since, one of the people performing the task is selected by a telephone vote. Additionally, a member of the audience betted with the host on each show until 2001. Now, the host bets against the entire city where the show is held.

It is broadcast live six or seven times per year from different cities in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Apart from the bets (between four and seven - currently five, including the city bet), the show includes musical performances and banter with the national and international celebrity guests. There have also been three summer shows, broadcast from Xanten, Palma de Mallorca and Paris.