Thomas Johannes Gottschalk (born 18 May 1950) is a German radio and television host and entertainer.

He is best known for hosting Wetten, dass..?, for many years Europe's biggest television show,[1][2] which he steered to huge success in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and South Tyrol between 1987 and 2023.

After attending the Humanistisches Gymnasium (humanities-oriented high school) in Kulmbach, he studied history and German philology, eventually taking his exams as a teacher for primary and secondary schools; however, it was during this time that he discovered his true vocation: entertainment.

In 1976, after a brief detour to the newspaper Münchner Merkur, he became a regular contributor at the Bayerischer Rundfunk, and subsequently gained popularity as the host of the show Pop nach acht.

In 1987, Gottschalk replaced Frank Elstner as host of Wetten, dass..?, which he continued until December 2011, with only a brief interruption from 1992 to 1994 when the show was taken over by Wolfgang Lippert.

Reportedly, his withdrawal from the show was related to an accident that happened live on Wetten, dass..?

A contestant in the show, a young gymnast named Samuel Koch, was paralyzed from the shoulders down after being hit by a car during a stunt where he was to jump over it with spring-loaded boots.

Gottschalk was upset this happened and called off the show early for the first time ever when it became apparent that Koch was severely injured.