Chantal Janzen Eurovision 2021 host

Chantal Janzen is one of the four hosts for Eurovision 2021.

While she may be a familiar face for Dutch audiences, much of Europe and Australia will only be meeting her for the second time after Eurovision: Europe Shine A Light — the EBU’s replacement show for Eurovision 2020.

So, we’ve compiled 10 facts you need to know about Chantal Janzen. Let’s do this!

Eurovision 2021: Facts about Chantal Janzen

1. She has two sons

Chantal is married to Marco Geeratz, and together they have two boys. James was born in 2009 while Bobby arrived in 2018. The couple’s wedding took place in 2014. Geeratz has three children from a previous relationship.

2. She’s an actress

Despite her TV fame, Chantal’s career began in the theatre. She has appeared in many stage adaptions of famous musicals. Her roles include Stephanie Mangano in Saturday Night Fever, Belle in Beauty and the Beast, Jane in Tarzan and Glinda in Wicked. And these aren’t small show. They’re often the biggest productions in the whole country.

Next to musicals, Chantal has also starred in several Dutch movies, like Soof, Pak van mijn hart and the award-winning Alles if Liefde. She’s also lent her voice to Dutch dubs of movies such as Shrek The Third and Enchanted. She had a cameo in Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo.

3. She’s the Netherlands’ biggest TV presenter

Of course, Chantal is a TV host. Throughout her career, she’s presented some of the country’s biggest shows, including adaptions of major international formats like Idol, All Together Now, Dancing With The Stars and The Voice Of Holland.

4. She threw a pyjama party on live TV

Based on another format she presented on Dutch television, Chantal hosted a live show in the Ziggo Dome arena in November 2019. Called Chantals Pyjama Party, it saw her welcome a host of entertainers, including a magician, a stand-up comedian and several singers such as Glennis Grace. Because of high ticket sales, a second show was arranged for the same week.

5. She’s hosted and won at the Gouden Televizier-Ring Gala

Chantal has hosted one of the most prestigious shows on Dutch television. The Gouden Televizier-Ring Gala is an annual gala that honours TV shows, stars and moments. She hosted the event for three consecutive years between 2008 and 2010. Even more impressively, she’s won the prize for Best Female Presenter six times since 2014. She could have won even more times, but the award show rules prevent anyone from winning the prize more than three times in a row. This meant that Chantal was out of contention in both 2017 and 2021. Her Eurovision 2021 co-host Jan Smit has presented the bash a few times too.

6. She’s appeared on TV internationally

Eurovision isn’t Chantal’s first time before an international audience. She’s an all-rounder gifted with many talents. Therefore, it is not surprising that she has made her way onto German television. Chantal has hosted the backstage segment on the German version of The Voice Kids. Further afield, she was one of the 50 international jurors on the American talent show The World’s Best.

7. She has her own media brand

Chantal is more than a presenter. She’s also something of a media mogul. Her &C brand houses a monthly magazine, a website, an app, an online shop, TV programmes and live events. The TV show is called &Chantal. It’s a Saturday night talk show, and sees the host sing, dance and interview special guests. The overall &C brand is targeted towards women aged 18 to 48. According to its website, it aims to have fun, move and inspire.

8. She released a charity Christmas song

In name of &C, Chantal recorded a Christmas song called “Ik ben een kerstbal” (I Am A Christmas Ornament). Several famous Dutch singers, including co-host Eurovision 2021 co-host Edsilia Rombley sing parts of the song. All proceeds raised were donated to the Princess Maxima Hospital for children’s oncology. She also sang a song against cancer, called “Vecht Mee” (Fight With Us).

9. She’s a comedian

And Chantal has another gift. She is really funny. For example, she plays several Dutch and international roles in the Dutch satire show TV Kantine (“Television canteen”). We cannot wait to see her bring some funny jokes to the Eurovision stage.

10. She’s from a rival network

While Chantal is a massive name on Dutch TV, her selection as Eurovision host was somewhat surprising. That’s because The Netherlands’ Eurovision efforts are overseen by the public broadcasters AVROTROS, NOS and NPO. However, Chantal is contracted to RTL — a privately owned rival network. While she previously worked with AVROTROS, she jumped ship in 2011 so that she could experience new things. Employees from the commercial channel are usually prevented from getting involved in programmes from the public broadcaster. But given the importance of Eurovision, this rule was waived for Chantal.

Are you excited to see Chantal at Eurovision? Let us know in the comments.

Read more Eurovision 2021 artist facts here.

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Alec
2 years ago

Idole

Carl
Carl
2 years ago

that’s because she is.

jokes aside, no she’s confident which sometimes may come across that, but judging from a number of interviews my impression is that she is quite humble.

voix
voix
2 years ago

A class act. Great choice Netherlands

Darren
Darren
2 years ago

11. She looks exactly like Claire Byrne from RTÉ.
If you know, you know, if you don’t, Google Claire Byrne RTÉ.

GojoSatoru
GojoSatoru
2 years ago
Reply to  Darren

Claire Byrne looks more like Alexandra Rotan in my opinion.

Carl
Carl
2 years ago

This lady is on a class of her own. I’m more looking forward to seeing her presenting than watching some of the participating countries.