Maral Bazargani appointed host for ZDF Morning Magazine

Maral Bazargani, a 36‑year‑old former Olympic 4 × 400 m relay runner, will join the presenting team of Germany’s public‑service news show ZDF Morning Magazine. Starting on 6 July 2026, she will anchor the early edition from 5:30 a.m. to 7:00 a.m., covering up to six weeks per year as a substitute for regular host Philipp Wortmann.

Bazargani, born in Tehran in 1990 and raised in Mainz, began her media career with a traineeship at Südwestrundfunk (SWR) before becoming a reporter and editor for the children’s news programme “logo!”. She has presented “logo!” since 2023 and commentated athletics broadcasts for ZDF since 2025. The ZDF editorial director Andreas Wunn said, “With Maral Bazargani the ZDF Morning Magazine gains a competent and likable presenter who will greet viewers with current news and engaging interviews.”