German public broadcasters schedule return of political talk shows after summer hiatus

ARD and ZDF have placed their flagship political talk shows on a summer break. "Markus Lanz" enjoys the shortest pause, returning on 11 August, while Louis Klamroth’s "Hart aber fair" will be off the air for about three and a half months, resuming on 31 August. Other programmes such as "Maybrit Illner" (with Sarah Tacke covering until 3 September) and Sandra Maischberger’s show also return in August.

The hiatus ends as Germany heads toward state elections in Saxony‑Anhalt, Mecklenburg‑Vorpommern and the Berlin parliamentary vote, prompting a full slate of political talk shows to re‑enter the schedule in September.