Oli.P returns to «Gute Zeiten, schlechte Zeiten» after 27 years

Petzokat played the role of «Ricky Marquardt» in the series from 1998 to 1999. During that time, the Berliner became, by his own account, a teen heartthrob across the entire German-speaking world overnight. With his rap cover version of Herbert Grönemeyer's song «Flugzeuge im Bauch», he scored one of the biggest chart hits of the late nineties; further hits such as «I Wish» or «So bist du» followed.

Whether Petszokat slips back into the role of Ricky Marquardt for his comeback or embodies a new character has not yet been announced by RTL. The broadcaster merely stated that the artist would appear in consecutive episodes. The makers are thus keeping the exact contents of the episodes under wraps.

In a statement, Petszokat was visibly moved: «Es fühlt sich absolut großartig an, wieder zurück am Set zu sein und die alte GZSZ-Luft zu schnuppern. Nach fast drei Jahrzehnten wieder hierzustehen, löst eine wahnsinnige Nostalgiewelle in mir aus», said the 47-year-old. Even walking across the familiar grounds had felt like a small journey through time for him.

Petzokat on his feelings on set

Petzokat also spoke enthusiastically about the upcoming filming and the planned episodes. «Ich freue mich riesig darauf, sowohl alte Bekannte als auch neue Kollegen zu treffen und den Fans in den kommenden Folgen etwas ganz Besonderes zu bieten», said the artist. However, fans would still have to be patient a little while longer before they could see the result on free-to-air TV.

The freshly filmed episodes are scheduled to air on RTL's free-to-air television in autumn 2026. As the broadcaster further announced, the episodes with Petszokat will also be available on the streaming service RTL+ one week before the TV broadcast. Subscribers to the platform will thus have earlier access to the material.

Broadcast in autumn 2026 on RTL and RTL+

For many fans of the series, «Ricky Marquardt» remains a cult figure to this day. In 1999, the character left the series as part of the storyline by getting «ins Auto Richtung Stuttgart» – the character has since been regarded as one of the best-known figures in GZSZ history. Millions of viewers had followed the stories revolving around the fictional café «Fasan», the protagonist's friends and the turbulent Liebesgstanzl with the characters Cora and Nico at the time.

The fact that Petszokat is now back on the GZSZ set after a long time is being received in fan forums and media reports as a minor sensation for devotees of the nineties soap. According to reports, anticipation is correspondingly high. However, RTL did not wish to comment further on the specific storyline of the new episodes or on the question of to what extent the character Ricky Marquardt will play a role again.

Cult figure and nostalgia effect

Petzokat, born in 1978 in Berlin, has appeared in public in recent years primarily as a presenter and musician. By his real name Oliver Petszokat and his stage name Oli.P, he is inseparable from the German show business. His renewed step back to GZSZ after 27 years also marks a return to the role with which he once became known across the country.

Filming is taking place at the storied production location Potsdam-Babelsberg, where other RTL formats have also been produced for many years. The fact that the production is planning three studio days and one exterior shoot for the comeback of a former audience favourite suggests a multi-part story arc in which Petszokat's character is integrated across several episodes.

With the broadcaster's announcement, the specific broadcast date is also largely fixed: in autumn 2026, the material is to be seen in RTL's programming. Whether this will be a one-off guest appearance or a longer-term return to the series universe has been left open by both the broadcaster and the actor.

Open questions about the role

Observers also see this move as an example of how series productions are increasingly relying on nostalgic effects to address new and old viewer groups alike. In the case of GZSZ, the comeback meets a loyal core audience that has been tuning in in some cases for decades – and a younger generation that knows Petszokat primarily as a musician or presenter.

Regardless of which role Petszokat ultimately plays, the return is sure to provide plenty to talk about. RTL announced that it wanted to offer fans «etwas ganz Besonderes» in the coming episodes. Until then, all that remains is to keep an eye on the broadcast date in autumn 2026 – and, if desired, to tune in a week earlier on RTL+.

The news of the comeback was disseminated on Wednesday via the dpa news channel and picked up by BILD, among others. RTL did not wish to specify in detail how the filming is proceeding or how many scenes are actually being shot on the set in Potsdam-Babelsberg.