Helmut Schleich
About Helmut Schleich
Helmut Schleich is a German comedian and Kabarettist born in 1967 in Schongau am Lech, Bavaria. Active since 1983, he is one of Bavaria's most prominent figures in political cabaret. He performs in both standard German and Bavarian dialect, and is best known for his spot-on political impersonations - above all his recurring portrayal of the late Bavarian politician Franz Josef Strau脽, reimagined as a posthumous and irascible voice of commentary on current events.
Helmut Schleich co-founded the cabaret group Fernrohr in 1983, performing ten programs over fourteen years before transitioning to a solo career in 1998. His debut solo show Brauereifrei - Der Rausch packt aus won first prize at the Paulaner Solo competition. He followed with a series of solo programs including Das Auge isst man mit (2001), Mutanfall (2005), Der allerletzte Held (2008), and Nicht mit mir! (2011). From June 2011 to November 2023, he hosted the political cabaret show SchleichFernsehen on BR (Bayerischer Rundfunk), a weekly satirical review of Bavarian and national politics. Since 2025 he hosts the successor format Schleich pur on BR. His current solo stage program is Das kann man so nicht sagen (since 2023). He received the Bayerischer Kabarettpreis in 1999 and again in 2015.
Helmut Schleich is actively touring Germany in 2025 and 2026 with his stage program Das kann man so nicht sagen. A fixture at Munich's Lach- und Schiesgesellschaft and other Bavarian venues, he also performs across Germany. Clips from his BR show SchleichFernsehen are available on the BR Kabarett & Comedy YouTube channel. His new BR format Schleich pur airs since May 2025.
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Frequently asked questions
Who is Helmut Schleich?
Helmut Schleich is a Bavarian comedian and Kabarettist born in 1967 in Schongau am Lech. He is one of Bavaria's leading political satirists, known for his long-running BR television show SchleichFernsehen (2011-2023) and his impersonation of the late politician Franz Josef Strau脽. He has been active in cabaret since 1983.
What is Helmut Schleich's most famous show?
His most recognized work is SchleichFernsehen, a weekly political cabaret show on BR (Bayerischer Rundfunk) that ran from June 2011 to November 2023. In it he analyzed Bavarian and national politics with satirical sketches and sharp impersonations. Since May 2025 his successor format Schleich pur airs on BR.
What style of comedy does Helmut Schleich do?
Schleich performs in the German Kabarett tradition with a strong Bavarian regional character. He blends political impersonation - particularly his iconic portrayal of Franz Josef Strau脽 - with commentary on Bavarian and national politics. He performs both in standard German and Bavarian dialect, and his humor is known for its precision and bite.
Where is Helmut Schleich from?
Helmut Schleich was born in 1967 in Schongau am Lech, Bavaria, Germany, and is based in Munich. He is deeply rooted in the Bavarian cabaret scene and is a regular performer at Munich's Lach- und Schiesgesellschaft, one of the oldest political cabaret clubs in Germany.
Where can I watch Helmut Schleich?
Clips from SchleichFernsehen are available on the BR Kabarett & Comedy YouTube channel. His newer show Schleich pur airs on BR since May 2025. He is actively touring Germany with his solo stage program Das kann man so nicht sagen.
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