Johan Derksen is by far Talpa’s most important TV star. You can make an episode of Today Inside without René van der Gijp, but without the VI mustache? That becomes a lot more difficult…
It is a fact that Johan Derksen is already 76 years old. That is exactly the age at which Viola Holt died last week, and if you look at life expectancy in the Netherlands, there is a good chance that it will be over for the opinion maker within five years. Fortunately, the health of the VI mustache is going well for the time being.
Another year
How does Johan view the coming years? He says he is not thinking about quitting work. “I don’t want to become an elderly man. That will happen if I stop. So I actually hope to die in harness,” he says Story.
Does this mean that the VI mustache will remain linked to SBS 6 forever? “After this season of VI I still have a contract for one year. After that, I know what I don’t want.”
Hotchpotch
What does Johan not want? “In my village Grolloo, they have a stew meal in the village hall once a month for people over 65. They have invited me to that a few times, but then I am always happy that John de Mol comes with a contract again.”
In this way he also keeps his marriage good. “The secret of my marriage to Isabelle is that I am on television every day. That means I am always working. During the period when I am on holiday from VI, I am at home a lot. Then we get in each other’s way and irritations arise. It is also strange for her when I am at home a lot.”
Candle Riot
During the candle riot it seemed for a moment that Johan’s TV career was over. “It didn’t keep me awake at night. And then Sigrid Kaag came on TV and said it was a good thing I disappeared from the screen, because Today Inside only came from some football program.”
He concludes: “So derogatory. Then I decided that I would be in VI again that Monday. Only because of that comment from Mrs. Kaag.”