Martin Thür goes on maternity leave – focus on new faces at ZiB2”!

Martin Thür goes on maternity leave – focus on new faces at ZiB2”!

Martin Thür, the prominent ORF presenter, is withdrawing from “ZiB2” until October. The 42-year-old is taking maternity leave. In his absence, Marie-Claire Zimmermann and Stefan Lenglinger will take over the moderation of the popular news program. These changes are not new for the two of them, as Zimmermann already supported Margit Laufer during her maternity leave in 2022 and Lenglinger also worked in moderation in the summer of 2024. ORF editor-in-chief Johannes Bruckenberger emphasizes: “Marie-Claire Zimmermann and Stefan Lenglinger are simply among the best in their profession, together with Armin Wolf and Margit Laufer, the 'ZIB 2' is also excellently positioned in the coming months,” as ORF reported.

While Thür takes his private break, he remains present for the listeners of Hitradio Ö3. On election Sunday, October 9th, Thür will meet Tom Walek in a special format called “Walek wanders” in the Maurer Forest. They exchange ideas about Thür's plans to start a family and also about his personal view of getting older. "Grey hair is actually good for business for me. If a news presenter has gray hair, then he immediately seems a little wiser - even if that's not always true," says Thür, who also gives humorous tips on what to wear on election Sunday. “Go vote however you want – even in your sweatpants,” he suggests, as Ö3 reported.

Thür's withdrawal from “ZiB2” has several facets: his return to the show is planned, while at the same time he examines his role as a journalist and as a private person. The look back at his personal challenges and expectations for the future shows the human side of the presenter, beyond his professional facade.