Barely deported from English prison, Boris Becker takes a seat in a TV studio to give an exclusive interview.
A comment by Uli Kellner.
Of course, this is a Christmas story that can hardly be topped at the end of a year marked by crises and war: tennis legend is released from prison long before the prisoner specified in the sentence and shortly before the celebration of love, which he can now spend at home with his loved ones.
A decorated room instead of a cold cell, goose in the family circle instead of brown bread with fellow prisoners.
Any director would be laughed at for coming up with such a cheesy storyline.
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Sat.1, on the other hand, gratefully grabbed it - and was able to present an exclusive story four days before the festival, which was probably only slightly behind the final of the Qatar World Cup in terms of ratings.
Interviewer Steven Gätjen sat across from Boris Becker, who looked drawn.
Deep circles under the eyes, a tired look, help was given to the color of the face and hair.
If Becker had been silent in front of the camera for three hours, it would still have been accepted that the time in prison was harder than any tie-break on one of the center courts in the world.
An interview was announced “without excuses, taboos and blabla” – and Becker delivered, according to the contractual agreement.
Described life as an anonymous number, told of threats from London's toughest criminals ("It was about bare survival, every day").
He reported that for the first time in his life he was hungry, cold, panicked in front of the shower room - as believable as it was cruel.
Becker also delivered the tears hoped for by the broadcaster – when he described how he said goodbye to his partner Lilian: "My love, you don't have to wait for me.
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But she did, and with that the TV Christmas story is almost perfect.
The only open question is how serious Becker is about his remorse and his promise to become the person “that I once was” again.
In the best case, this means that from now on he leads a life of humility, that he has really found himself.
Slight doubts were raised when the celebrity prisoner revealed that he was charged with 29 counts in the bankruptcy case - "and I won 25 of them".
He also complained that the jury did not know who was sitting in front of them ("Half under 30").
It wasn't just the athlete Becker that shone through, but also the star Boris, who probably wasn't surprised to be flown out of London in an expensive private jet.
What's next for him?
You will find out, because Becker is only officially a free man now.
He remains unfree
