Heinz Gröning

Heinz Gröning took a long way round to the comedy stage. After his civilian service he studied medicine in Cologne and worked as a junior doctor in pathology, while playing in several music groups and spending years as a street performer.

His solo programmes began with Mehr als nur eine Lesung and continued with titles such as Die Laughstory and Heißer Sommer. With his fifth show, Der Kaltduscher, the stage figure Der unglaubliche Heinz took its lasting form; by his own account the name comes from his fondness for the comic book character Der unglaubliche Hulk. Later programmes include Heinz G Punkt, Manche mögen's Heinz, Heinzigartig, Jammern Gilt nicht and Der perfekte Mann.

Music carries his shows. He sings and recites songs and poems he wrote himself, and the walk over to his guitar becomes a bit of its own, spiced with remarks about the people in the room. On television he hosted the first season of the comedy talk round u. A. w. g. on Comedy Central and then presented the comedy series Fun(k)haus on WDR. He won both prizes at the Alter Hut competition and later received a special prize at the Tuttlinger Krähe.