WDR moderator and Cologne carnival figure Gisbert Baltes dies at 75

Death announced after a long illness

WDR announced on 25 October that Gisbert Baltes, its former moderator, had died at the age of 75 after a long and serious illness. The broadcaster said the news came from his family. Baltes was a native of the Sauerland, but Cologne became central to his career, and he is remembered above all for his work on the city's carnival. Several articles describe him as one of the best-known television faces of Cologne carnival. The WDR announcement was followed by tributes from its entertainment chief and from the Cologne carnival committee.

Shaping Cologne carnival on air

Baltes became a familiar voice of the ARD live broadcasts that open Cologne's street carnival in the Old Town. He wrote the opening lines of those broadcasts, "Hier ist Köln, hier ist der Alter Markt", which brought the city's traditions to a national audience. Over many years he moderated the proclamation of the Dreigestirn, the carnival trio of regents, in the Gürzenich hall, and he acted as responsible editor for the event. According to WDR, he supported more than two dozen Dreigestirne at their first appearances on WDR television. He also reported from the Cologne Rosenmontag parade as a TV reporter for many years.

Radio and television career

Before moving into television, Baltes hosted the WDR 2 programme "Zwischen Rhein und Weser" for twelve years. He is also credited with shaping the WDR show "Klingendes NRW" as author, moderator and editor. On television he hosted the "Närrische Hitparade" with his colleague Marita Köllner over many years. In January 2016 he said goodbye on the stage of the ARD television carnival session, presenting himself as a personified Dreigestirn.

Tributes from WDR and the carnival committee

WDR entertainment chief Karin Kuhn described Baltes in the broadcaster's statement as a figure of lasting importance to its programming.

“For decades, Gisbert Baltes was a guarantor of successful entertainment programming from NRW.”

Kuhn also praised his expertise and playful ideas in carnival, saying he had won over audiences in that field. Lutz Schade, president of the Festkomitee Kölner Karneval, called Baltes a long-standing friend and critical companion of the carnival in a first statement.

“Gisbert Baltes was regarded in carnival circles for decades as a great friend and at the same time a critical companion of the kölsch Fastelovend.”

Schade said Baltes had helped bring Cologne carnival and its way of life to people across Germany, and he thanked him on behalf of all carnival figures.

What comes next

WDR-Fernsehen will report on Baltes's death in its Aktuelle Stunde at 18.45 on Sunday evening, 25 October, according to the broadcaster. The announcement was based on information from his family. The tributes from WDR and the carnival committee were issued on the same day as the announcement.