The horrible viewing figures and bad reviews of Hotel Hollandia seem to affect Paul de Leeuw much more than he always makes it seem. “I’m happy when the hotel closes,” he reveals.
Paul de Leeuw has been written off regularly in his career, but the critics have rarely been as fierce as they are now with Hotel Hollandia. After the first episode, Angela de Jong practically stood at the entrance of the Media Park with an axe, waiting for the presenter. It was all really terrible for the 61-year-old presenter.
Just a flop
Long story short: we will of course never see Hotel Hollandia on TV again. “It’s actually just a flop on Saturday evening for the NPO. Also dipped below half a million last Saturday. That is really not enough for prime time television. Such an expensive program, of course,” says show expert Bart Ettekoven Show news.
How does Paul feel about being bashed so hard? “Then you just have to work hard to make the program better. That was quite successful and I am proud of that, that we as a team did not give up, but simply: come on, guys. It’s your job, right? It is your job.”
No one killed
Paul often finds this criticism a bit hysterical. “No one has been killed, no fire has broken out, no land has been occupied. It’s just a TV program that works a little less and yes, it is hard work.”
Eliminating celebrity guests has worked. “No. Last week there were more celebrities again. Everyone just says something. You have to try to get the program right and that is difficult if you lose a lot of viewers, but again: it is a profession and I love the profession of making TV. That will be over next week, then we will do some other things.”
‘Glad it’s over’
Then Paul slips up by revealing that he can’t wait until Hotel Hollandia is over. What will he do next? “I do not know. I do not know. I’m happy that the hotel will close for a while next week and then I will make Sinterklaas and Knoop again. Those are also very nice programs and we’ll see.”