It is finally over and over: Jack van Gelder is leaving Hélène Hendriks’ Oranje talk show, Talpa confirms to De Telegraaf. “Everyone forgets that Rutger Castricum was always my sidekick!”
Hélène Hendriks’ Oranje talk shows – she makes De Oranjezomer, De Oranjewinter and De Oranjezondag – have become a great success, mainly because of Jack van Gelder’s high-profile performances. He proclaims the right-wing populist voice that is prevalent among the viewers of SBS 6, but the former sports presenter is now being put aside.
Lying Hélène
Jack was not there during the last series of De Oranjewinter and Hélène made a lot of excuses about that. First she shouted that he was on holiday, then it would have been Talpa’s decision again, etcetera, etcetera. The bottom line is that Hélène has never been honest with her viewers about Jack’s exit.
The presenter has been saying all along that Jack would join De Oranjezomer and De Oranjezondag again, but that is also not true. “I was completely convinced of that. But this is not going to happen again,” she says The Telegraph.
Conversation with Jack
Talpa takes care of Jack’s departure statement. The media company says: “A conversation recently took place with Jack van Gelder about Jack’s role and position within the Oranje programs, with the intention to continue. In an open conversation, future planning and cooperation was again examined.”
“A proposal was made for a different table composition and a less frequent layout for Jack. Unfortunately, we did not reach an agreement during that conversation. That is why it was decided in joint consultation to end the collaboration.”
Very unfortunate
What does Hélène say about it? She responds: “I think it’s a shame. He was a mood maker with a clear opinion at the table. It is clear that I would very much like to have him there. But you also have to look to the future. We have new people that we want to try out.”
In other words: Hélène thinks Jack is too old. That it had to come from her… “Everyone forgets that Rutger Castricum was always my sidekick. But due to his busy schedule with other work at PowNed, we found a nice combination with Jack.”
Head off the table
It sounds like Rutger Castricum would get the Johan Derksen role and that Jack would have to sit at the table or at the bar. Ironic, because not Rutger, but Jack is the trendsetter of the show.
Hélène says: “It doesn’t matter who sits at the head of the table in my program. They have often sat together, and that worked very well.”
Screaming match
The shouting match that took place between Jack and an editor is not a factor, according to Hélène. “No, Jack and that editor talked it out and they resolved it very quickly. That’s how it goes in an organization.”
She concludes: “I spoke to Jack, and I said that I am sorry that he is leaving. Jack is 75, and also wants to do other things in his life. On the other hand, I also think: who knows, he may one day return to the table. I cannot rule that out.”
Jack says he does not want to add anything to Talpa’s statement. Apparently that was agreed upon.
