"Chefsache ESC" 2025: Elton will be replaced in the jury in Raab's show

In the show "Chefsache ESC" Stefan Raab is looking for the German entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025. Until now Elton was on the jury. That is now changing.

After his TV comeback last year, Stefan Raab has taken the German preliminary round for the Eurovision Song Contest into his own hands. Since February 14, he has been searching for the music act that will compete in Basel in May with the show "Chefsache ESC 2025" on RTL.

Three live shows have already been broadcast, and in each edition Stefan Raab was assisted in evaluating and selecting the artists by Yvonne Catterfeld and Elton , as well as a guest judge. But that is now changing - because Elton will surprisingly not be taking part in the final, which will take place next Saturday.

"Due to a private appointment, he cannot sit on the jury podium in this edition," says an Instagram post published on Tuesday on the official "Eurovision" account. Replacements have already been arranged: The musicians Nico Santos and Conchita Wurst will sit alongside Stefan Raab and Yvonne Catterfeld.

Conchita Wurst knows all about the ESC, having won for Austria in 2014 with "Rise Like a Phoenix". In May 2020, Nico Santos was the first to win the "Free European Song Contest" for Spain , which was launched by Stefan Raab and broadcast by ProSieben. From the ninth to the eleventh season, he was also a coach on the casting show "The Voice of Germany".

In the final of "Chefsache ESC 2025", which will be broadcast on ARD on March 1st from 8:15 p.m., the jury will not decide the outcome for the first time. The audience can vote by phone, SMS or online voting on who will compete for Germany on May 17th in Basel.

There are still nine artists in the running: Moss Kena, Julika, Benjamin Braatz, Cosby, Abor & Tynna, Feuerschwanz, Leonora, Lyza and The Great Leslie. They will all present a cover song as well as their ESC title.