Konrad Beikircher, a prominent German cabaret artist and former prison psychologist known for his sharp observations on Rhineland culture, died on 27 July at the age of 80.
Beikircher was born on 22 December 1945 in Bruneck, South Tyrol, and moved to Bonn in 1965 to study psychology. He spent 15 years working as a prison psychologist at Siegburg correctional facility before his breakthrough in 1984, when public broadcaster WDR gave him his own radio column. His debut stage programme "Himmel un Ääd" went on to achieve cult status, and his final show, "Arrivederci," was recorded in Düsseldorf on 8 May.
WDR is revamping its schedule in tribute, airing a self-portrait documentary late on 29 July and broadcasting the "Arrivederci" recording on WDR 5 on 1 August.