RTL 4 has had three WNL stars audition for the position of substitute Renze Klamer: Frank van Leeuwen, Sam Hagens and Welmoed Sijtsma. Did the channel necessarily want a woman?
Ultimately, it is Welmoed Sijtsma who is saved from WNL hell: she no longer has to get up at five o’clock at night to open the broadcast of Goedemorgen Nederland. Her colleagues Frank van Leeuwen and Sam Hagen are left destitute. Of course, they would have liked such a commercial adventure at RTL 4. Unfortunately for them.
Not right step
Did RTL 4 want to have a woman at all costs in the late evening? TV critic Victor Vlam suspects so. “She will become a very big face within RTL. It is of course a very logical step for her, but I don’t think it is the right step for RTL,” he says in Show news.
It is incomprehensible, he thinks. “I would have gone for Sam Hagens if I had the choice. Last year, of course, they both presented Goedenavond Nederland and then they also presented solo for two weeks and then I was more enthusiastic about Sam Hagens.”
Substantive vision
Why is Victor more of a fan of Sam? “Because he has a slightly more substantive vision for the conversation he wants to have. I think Welmoed is a talent in terms of presenting, but she is really less strong in terms of content and that is a major shortcoming if you have to carry the program.”
Welmoed will start at RTL after the summer. The first broadcast of her own talk show will be broadcast after New Year’s Eve.