He was supposed to be an engineer in a scout radio station, because he was a strict, technical mind. He himself says that he was responsible for the “cables” and did not necessarily want to cast his vote into the air. Fate wanted it otherwise. One evening he accidentally had to speak into the radio microphone because the tape of the previously recorded broadcast ran out and the situation could not be saved in time. There was no choice but to apologize to the listeners. And then, as the journalist said in an interview with Radio Yanosik, “it was over.” And it has been going on like this for 60 years, because whoever heard Tadeusz Sznuk’s voice on the radio had to fall under his spell.
Tadeusz Sznuk has been running “One of Ten” for 30 years
When Telewizja Polska decided to broadcast the British format “Fifteen to One”, the problem – which is rare in such a situation – was not the choice of host. They chose Tadeusz Sznuk, who already had extensive experience not only in radio but also in television. He was an announcer, an excellent narrator, he hosted festivals, had his own radio programs, and his voice was widely known. Although it was not enough for him to get elected to the Senate in the first free elections, the result of 155,000 votes guaranteed that a significant part of the viewers would turn on their TV sets to see him on their screens a little more regularly than from the big bell.
The first episode was recorded as a test, with friends, family and acquaintances who agreed to answer the questions. Sznuk, then 50, was not hosting a game show for the first time. He knew he had to keep a straight face, which he later described in interviews as “a bit goofy” – he didn’t want to outshine the participants, nor did he want to suggest answers to them, discourage them, or embarrass them. And although in the next 30 years of hosting the game show there were various, sometimes extremely hopeless, mishaps, he always maintained seriousness and full personal culture. He never lost his temper on camera, regardless of what was happening in the studio.
“” has enjoyed unflagging popularity for thirty years, and Tadeusz Sznuk has enjoyed great sympathy from viewers. Very little is known about his private life – unlike many other TV stars, he is secretive, does not like to give interviews and gives skillful, very sensitive answers to too personal questions. In 2021, however, it turned out that the results and viewers’ likes are not worth much when the ideas of “refreshing the format” come to the fore. Most game shows on Polish Television have gone through this process. The hosts of “Jaka to melodia” and “Wheel of Fortune” were replaced, and the hosts of musical talent shows changed almost every season. Today, not much is known about the person appointed as the new host of “One of Ten” except that he recorded one test episode. Ultimately, it never made it to the air, and although Tadeusz Sznuk himself knows who it was, he diplomatically does not boast about this knowledge.
He’s not planning to retire either, but that doesn’t mean he’s not thinking about it. The game show still takes up a lot of his time, and although it has seasonal breaks, half-hour episodes are shown every day. You need to prepare for each one and work on the questions you received on paper earlier. “I got into the program around the age of fifty, and it has taken over my life, it is devilishly time-consuming,” he said in an interview with Newsweek. Tadeusz Sznuk has always done without a computer that would prompt questions or without the famous “ear” that would suggest what to say next. However, he himself admits that such a headset might not be a bad idea, because “hearing does not become sharper with age.” In recent years, any rumors about the end of the program or an unfortunate farewell to the viewers caused great excitement and concern among fans of the game show. For 30 years, the show has gained not only thousands of participants, but also children – and sometimes grandchildren – of the first players.
Viewers now send their best wishes to the program and its host. Numerous comments include memories of episodes in which the commentators took part, and there is also a general belief that it is hard to find a presenter on television who would have the same class and tact as Tadeusz Sznuk. “A sensational program, one of the few (if not the only) that maintains the level and class. Brilliant Host. Mr. Tadeusz – eloquence and mastery. All the best!”, “Mr. Tadeusz Sznuk is the First Gentleman of Polish Television”, “The best and the wisest , cultural and at a high level. You want to watch it and you can learn a lot,” viewers write.
Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
