Kampusch launches TV career

2008-06-02 07:26

Vienna - Escaped kidnap victim Natascha Kampusch made her debut as talk show presenter on Austrian television on Sunday evening, interviewing Formula One legend Niki Lauda.

Kampusch put on a smiling face but appeared shy as she asked Lauda about his career, family and relationships during the 40-minute pre-taped interview, which was broadcast on private television Puls 4.

Lauda, however, needed little prompting and did most of the talking, recounting the 1976 accident at the Nuernburgring Grand Prix in Germany that nearly killed him.

"We have both in different ways experienced extremes," the 59-year-old told his host.

Kampusch had said she wanted this talk show to move away from a traditional format and at times Lauda took over the role of interviewer, asking the 20-year-old woman about her escape from captivity and her new life.

But compared to the media-savvy Lauda, Kampusch's questions and answers appeared rehearsed despite the informal setting.

Kampusch was kidnapped on her way to school in 1998, aged 10, and was held captive in a house outside Vienna for over eight years before escaping in August 2006.

Shortly after regaining her freedom, she expressed an interest in journalism, saying that newspapers and television had been her only window to the outside world during her captivity.

After being at the centre of media attention - her first televised interview was broadcast on some 120 channels around the world - the young woman said in December she wanted to reverse the roles and become the interviewer.

Initially set for February, the talk show, entitled Natascha Kampusch meets..., was postponed twice.

Puls 4 has said it has planned at least six episodes, to be aired once a month.

Kampusch was not being paid for the show but was using this experience as an "opportunity to learn," her media adviser Dusan Uzelac said.

If it is sold abroad however, she will receive the majority of the profits, he added.

- AFP