Tonight, the final of Let's dance, the German edition of Strictly come dancing was held. Three times Eurovision Song Contest participant Katja Ebstein finished second, only beaten by actress Susan Sideropulous who won the competition. Guildo Horn, who also took part in the show, had already been evicted in the 5th show and therefore finished 6th with his professional dance partner Motsi Mabuse.
Katja Ebstein had a very good start in the competition since she won the jury vote in the first show. Over the following shows, she did not so well with the jury but always made it to the next round thanks to the televoting, even if she finished last in the jury vote on some occasions. Her professional dance partner was Oliver Seefeld who already finished second in the first edition of the show dancing with Wolke Hegenbarth whowon theGerman national final for the Eurovision Dance Contest which was also held tonight (read more here).
Generally, Let's dance has many connections to the Eurovision Song Contest (and now also to the Eurovision Dance Contest): Host of the show is Hape Kerkeling who also hosted the German national finals in 1989, 1990 and 1991 after having performed the interval acts in 1987 which was a parody on the voting procedures. The live music in the show is presented by the Pepe Lienhard Orchestra. With his band, Pepe Lienhard represented Switzerland in the 1977 Eurovision Song Contest: Despite finishing 'only' 6th, Swiss Lady was – and still is – the commercially most succesful Swiss entry ever. Since jury member Ute Lemper could not be present tonight, Dieter Bohlen joined the panel. He composed the German entry in the 1989 Eurovision Song Contest and the Austrian entries in 1989 and 1992.
Katja Ebstein represented Germany three times in the Eurovision Song Contest which is a record regarding solo performers. In 1970, she finished 3rd with the evergreen Wunder gibt es immer wieder. One year later, she returned to the international stage with Diese Welt to finish 3rd again. In 1980, it was her last attempt when she finished 2nd in The Hague with Theater. Guildo Horn represented Germany in 1998 with Guildo hat Euch lieb and reached 7th position.
