Paul de Leeuw will appear on television less in the coming TV year. After the Ranking the Stars debacle, the new A Forgettable Journey starts next week. But after that? Nothing…
Paul de Leeuw’s TV career is under pressure now that he has slipped so far with the Ranking the Stars series full of C stars such as Sjorleone. We will see him from next week in the already recorded A Forgettable Beautiful Journey at Omroep MAX, but after that there is little on the menu. Very little. And the presenter himself admits this in the VARA guide.
More often at home
Nowadays, Paul says he only wants to pick the pieces out of the pie. “Preferably projects for short periods. Like this program in Benidorm. For example, I am going to the country with the cabaret musical. It remains a family, with a team of nice people, in whom I have a lot of interest,” he says.
He continues: “I will also be making a new series for MAX. And I have my podcast De Leeuw roars further, which is very well listened to. I am also home more and more often and that is wonderful. Just being free and not having to do anything.”
Lost weight
What does Paul do with all that free time? “For example, making time for my mother, for whom I can provide informal care two days a week. I exercise a lot and, because I have lost a lot of weight, I feel a lot better as a result.”
So there is more than television? “Yes. Also because I am less in demand, I have to be honest about that. I have given up the ambition to make another big entertainment program, because no one wants that. I don’t care about grudges, I don’t beat around the bush, I don’t turn sour either, but above all I look at what is still possible in terms of a career.”
Tina Telraam
Is Paul’s urge to score gone? “Of course I am also proud of A Forgettable Beautiful Journey when 350,000 people watch it, but in the back of my mind I always keep ratings queen Tina Telraam in mind. As a TV maker you always think in terms of viewing figures, appreciation, scoring, etc..”
He concludes: “I don’t care that much anymore, but it will always remain in your system. Almost all colleagues have that, I think. But with A Forgettable Beautiful Journey it is less so because the group is central there and everyone will be impressed by that, I already know that. And that appreciation for them is the most important thing.”