It starts. The 20th and last season of "Deutschland sucht den Superstar" (RTL) starts in Cologne with the castings. The new jury around pop titan and returnee Dieter Bohlen (68), his musician buddy Pietro Lombardi (30), singer Leony (25) and rapper Katja Krasavice (26) gathered in KölnSky for the first recordings. The new talents and possible superstars of the future are scrutinized by the team of four – and the broadcaster also shows a first picture of the “DSDS” jury.

Cult juror Bohlen says at the start of the anniversary season: "Sitting in my jury chair again feels like a birthday and Christmas together." He promises to celebrate the anniversary of "the hottest show on German TV" "awesome". Jury member Leony is "excited" and "at the same time looking forward to the candidates", while Pietro Lombardi reminisces: "This is exactly where I had my casting for the show eleven years ago. This is where everything started for me and mine life completely changed." Now the singer is looking forward to the upcoming show.

In addition to the Cologne casting, the RTL show is also going to Munich and Hamburg in September before the greatest talents are flown to Mallorca for the first recall stop.

And there is another new addition to “Deutschland sucht den Superstar 2023”: Laura Wontorra (33) will be a backstage presenter at the “DSDS” castings – and elicit one or two secrets from the talents behind the scenes. The 33-year-old will also moderate the live shows afterwards, as the broadcaster announced. "What an honor to be part of the very last season and Dieter Bohlen's comeback," says Wontorra about her new moderation job at "DSDS".