Veterinarian Doctor Mertens - The shooting commences, and a new vet is introduced for season nine.
The hit ARD show "Dr. Mertens, Veterinarian" is returning for a ninth season. The show was set to conclude in 2021 after seven successful years with Elisabeth Lanz (52) in the lead role, but the First network has chosen to keep it going. The 2023 episodes attracted an average of 4.31 million male and female viewers, prompting the making of a new installment.
"Tierarztin Dr. Mertens": A New Veterinarian Joins the Team
Filming for the continuation of "Dr. Mertens, Veterinarian" has commenced, as announced in a June 3 press release. This season, Susanne Mertens (Lanz) takes on a leadership role at the Leipzig Zoo, where she mentors aspiring vets and vet techs. She gets to pass on her skills, experience, and responsibility to upcoming doctors and professionals, both in animal care and human interaction.
Meanwhile, the chief veterinarian of the Leipzig Zoo, Dr. Matteo Berger (Tobias Licht, 46), gets a new colleague. Dr. Mertens and Dr. Berger, both dedicated professionals in the world of animal care, hit it off professionally. However, their personal lives take a turn for the better as well. Susanne is now in a relationship with Mike Redmann (Matthias Komm, 58), her long-time co-worker.
Joining the regular cast in the ninth season are Antonia Breidenbach (28), Madeleine de le Roi, and the young up-and-coming vet Noel Okwanga (20). Seasoned actors like Ursela Monn (playing Charlotte Baumgart, 73), Gunter Schoß (Prof. Georg Baumgart, 83), Lennart Betzgen (Jonas Mertens, 28), and more stars from the previous seasons will also return.
The 13 new episodes of "Dr. Mertens, Veterinarian" will be shot in Leipzig and the surrounding areas through late November. The anticipated air date is scheduled for 2025.
