Kai Pflaume attempts live marathon world record on quiz show

Television host Kai Pflaume is taking on an unprecedented endurance challenge to kick off the thirteenth season of the hit quiz show "Wer weiß denn sowas?" in Germany. During a special live broadcast on November 2, the familiar studio environment is being transformed into a marathon track, pushing the moderator's physical stamina to its limits as he simultaneously conducts the quiz program.

Pflaume aims to set a Guinness World Record for the longest distance ever covered during a television show moderation. To achieve this milestone, he plans to complete the full marathon distance of 42.195 kilometers, which translates to roughly 1,400 laps around the studio. A representative from Guinness World Records is on site to oversee and certify the attempt.

Viewers can follow the action starting at 6:00 PM on Das Erste and in the ARD Mediathek as Pflaume guides celebrity guests through the show's questions while jogging around the track. Following the initial television broadcast window, the live coverage continues exclusively on the ARD Mediathek until the marathon attempt concludes.

Acknowledging the difficulty of the feat, the host noted that despite handling various athletic challenges in the past, this broadcast requires an exceptional amount of preparation and focus. "Even though I have already mastered a few athletic challenges, the live world record attempt at 'Wer weiß denn sowas?' is yet another completely different challenge," Pflaume stated, adding that he hopes his joints hold up so he can complete the full distance.

Pflaume is not tackling the physical challenge entirely on his own. Regular team captains Bernhard Hoëcker and Wotan Wilke Möhring are present during the special episode to assist the host and support the event as active helpers on the course.

The 59-year-old moderator is no stranger to long-distance running, having previously completed his first full marathon in New York City at the age of 56. During that previous milestone event, he successfully finished the 42.195-kilometer course through the streets of New York in a time of three hours and thirty-three minutes after seven months of training.

Following the conclusion of the live world record special, the program will return to its regular weekday schedule starting November 3, airing Monday through Friday at 6:00 PM. The quiz show alternates its traditional 6:00 PM time slot on Das Erste with another popular program, "Gefragt – gejagt".