RTL: Gaby Köster is on the gas again!

Created: 2022-01-17Updated: 2022-01-17, 6:34 p.m

By: Katja Kraft

Two soul mates: comedian Gaby Köster (left) and her friend Beate Bohr share the same sense of humor and a great desire to travel.

© RTL/Katy Wagner

At RTL comedian Gaby Köster fulfills travel dreams in a wheelchair.

In 2008, the television star suffered a serious stroke.

But he didn't take away her zest for life, as the 60-year-old proves in our interview.

An interview with Gaby Köster is only half the fun in written form. What are you missing? Her strong voice, colored by Cologne carnival slang, her dark laugh and the sometimes black humor that flashes from her clever words. The latter brought the white-blonde comedy icon back to life after a severe stroke she suffered in 2008 at the age of just 46. The illness robbed Köster of his career (“7 Days – 7 Heads”, “Rita's World”) and her freedom of movement. But she also gave the 60-year-old the knowledge that nothing, really nothing, should be postponed in life. That's why she traveled to the south of France with a "crazy bucket list" and her best friend Beate to fulfill a few heart's desires. In an interview with our newspaper, Gaby Köster explains,why this extraordinary adventure tour, which RTL will show on January 19 at 8:15 p.m., was so important to her.

A bucket list is a list of things you want to do before you die.

How difficult was it for you to make a choice?

Gaby Köster:

Oh, that was actually quite easy.

I still have a lot of nonsense in my head.

For me it has nothing to do with death either.

Everyone should make a list like this in normal life – regardless of whether they are healthy or, like me, physically handicapped.

Because as we all know, in the end you don't regret the things you did, but the things you put off.

This can't happen to you: you wanted to ride Camargue horses, check into a commune and stay on a luxury yacht.

What moved you the most on your journey?

Gaby Köster:

That was the time in the self-sufficient commune in La Borie Noble, where people from all over the world met.

I've always wanted to join a commune because I don't really know this way of life.

On my last evening, everyone sang for me and that was incredibly touching.

Your best friend Beate Bohr accompanied you on your journey.

What do you appreciate about her?

Gaby Köster:

We have a very similar center of humor, which means that chaotic situations - even when traveling - often end in laughter.

Beate is a soul mate for me.

And I know that it's extremely lucky when you meet someone like that in life.

On Stephanie Arnaud's farm (top left), Gaby Köster (middle) sits in the saddle of a Camargue horse.

© RTL

You are mostly in a wheelchair – how has travel changed compared to the time before your stroke?

Need to organize more?

Gaby Köster:

No, I'm not the type for that at all.

I don't plan big.

I just think about where I want to go and what I want to see - then I get stuck at sidewalks every now and then, but that's manageable too.

If I don't have any help with me, I just ask passers-by.

You have to have the courage to ask the community for support.

Did you find that difficult in the past?

Gaby Köster:

Of course, I had crazy problems with that at first.

I've always been a practical guy, renovated my place myself and was used to doing everything on my own.

After the stroke, I first had to learn: Asking others for help is not easy, but it can be done and is often enriching.

After your bad health 14 years ago, you had hope that everything would go back to the way it used to be.

Are you satisfied with the development?

Gaby Köster:

Not really.

I can walk a little, but not alone.

And my left arm is still feigning numbness.

So when I see that people who hold my hand have reservations, I always say: you just have to pretend that I'm your drunk girlfriend and you take me home.

(Laughs.)

With RTL you could follow the dreams on your bucket list, what would you wish from the famous fairy godmother?

Gaby Köster:

She should definitely mobilize my left arm first;

because the fact that a person has two arms has a deeper meaning.

Otherwise, I just wish that I still have enough time to achieve a few more goals.

Would you like to pack your bags again and go on more adventures?

Gaby Köster:

That would really be a dream.

Hawaii is at the top of my wish list.

Maybe a shaman could fix one or the other.

But first of all, I hope that the spectators have as much fun as I do on this first trip, which was the funnest class trip of my life.

Broadcast note: The travel documentary “Gaby Köster – My Crazy Bucket List” will be shown on RTL on January 19 at 8:15 p.m.

The comedian will then be seen live on “Stern TV”.