Footballer Lukas Podolski has been infected with the corona virus - and will not be a juror for the RTL show "Supertalent" for the time being.

Further recordings take place without him.

He is not expected to return until the live shows.

"Unfortunately, it caught me," the 36-year-old is quoted in an RTL message on Wednesday.

"I have Corona and unfortunately I have to go into quarantine first.

I have no symptoms, I feel like the last few months and weeks.

What hurts is that I can't be there today in my hall and today at the 'Supertalent' because I was really, really looking forward to it. "

Co-juror Janzen is also in quarantine

Due to a 14-day quarantine, Podolski will not be able to participate in the jury castings of the show, according to RTL. They consist of seven episodes, in the first of which the footballer was still there. The "Supertalent" still has three live shows to offer, which will be broadcast in December, including the final. "We strongly assume that he will then be there," said an RTL spokesman.

Co-juror Chantal Janzen is also in quarantine until further notice.

She tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday, as the broadcaster explained.

Another test on Wednesday was negative: "Nevertheless - safety first." Chantal Janzen said that they would wait for another more intensive laboratory test.

"I have no symptoms, I am fully vaccinated and I already had Aunt Conny Covid last year."

According to the broadcaster, the recordings of the "super talent" will continue.

At the side of Michael Michalsky, the Ehrlich Brothers, Motsi Mabuse and Riccardo Simonetti stepped in as replacements.

In March of this year, RTL announced that it would not only re-establish the casting classic “Deutschland sucht den Superstar” (“DSDS”), but also “Das Supertalent”.

Permanent juror Dieter Bohlen was kicked out of both shows.

They want to become more family-friendly, said RTL managing director Henning Tewes about the new strategy.

At the end of June, the broadcaster announced Podolski's engagement.

“Das Supertalent” has been around since 2007. Participants present all kinds of talents. Some sing, others are acrobats or have other unusual abilities.

For the past season, between 2.6 million and 3.0 million tuned in on Saturdays.