Matthias Killing has joined The Voice of Germany as the new co-host of the German singing competition. He will present the show alongside Melissa Khalaj in its 16th season, taking over the role previously held by Thore Schölermann, who hosted the programme from 2012.
The appointment brings Killing, a familiar face in German television, into one of the country’s best-known music formats. The official announcement describes him as both a television and event presenter, with a career spanning entertainment, sport and live broadcasting.
Killing was born in Hagen and began working in entertainment as an animator aboard an AIDA cruise ship. After completing internships and studying film and television business, he moved into television. Since 2009, he has been part of SAT.1-Frühstücksfernsehen, where his work has made early-morning broadcasting a regular part of his career.
Sport is another major area of Killing’s work. He has been associated with “ran” since 2010 and has worked as a courtside or ringside reporter covering football, basketball and boxing. His television credits also include presenting Das große Promiboxen and the final programme of The Biggest Loser. According to the official information, he takes on more than 150 presenting assignments in a typical year.
Killing’s experience also includes demanding live situations. On August 27, 2025, he became an official world-record holder after presenting a SAT.1-Frühstücksfernsehen broadcast while crossing a 50-metre-high slackline stretched between two buildings. He is also a licensed private pilot, another detail highlighted in the announcement about his appointment.
Beyond presenting, Killing has appeared as an actor in Die Landarztpraxis. His guest role fulfilled a personal ambition as a fan of the series. The new Voice of Germany season began on September 11, 2026, with episodes scheduled for Fridays on SAT.1, Saturdays on ProSieben and free streaming on Joyn. Killing and Khalaj will therefore lead the programme across its television and streaming platforms.
