Diederik Jekel (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈdidərɪk ˈjeːkəl]; born 22 June 1984) is a Dutch science journalist, television presenter and physicist. In 2018, he was elected president of the Dutch Physical Society (NNV).

Diederik Jekel
Jekel in 2011
Born (1984-06-22) 22 June 1984 (age 40)
Bilthoven, the Netherlands
Occupations
  • Science journalist
  • Television presenter

Career

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Jekel was born in Bilthoven, the Netherlands. He studied physics at Twente University, where he obtained a Master's degree in physics in 2010. Since 2011 he regularly appeared in the early-evening Dutch television talk show De Wereld Draait Door to discuss science-related topics. In 2013, he acted as a host alongside Matthijs van Nieuwkerk and Isolde Hallensleben, in the spin-off television programme De wereld leert door, in which scientists were interviewed about their research.[1] Between 2015 and 2018, Jekel explained scientific concepts and experiments in the Dutch television game show Professor Nicolai & Dr. Beckand, presented by Ruben Nicolai and Tijl Beckand. In 2016, he won the National IQ Test with an IQ of 137.[2]

He was one of the contestants in the 17th season of the Dutch television show Wie is de Mol? where he finished in 3rd place.[3] In 2018 and 2019, Jekel and Elisabeth van Nimwegen presented the television show De Kennis van Nu. In 2020, Jekel and Patty Brard presented the Dutch television series Brard & Jekel: VetGelukkig?! about people who are overweight.[4] In that same year, he appeared in the second season of the television show The Masked Singer.[5]

Since 2021, he appears as one of the Champions in Beat The Champions, the Dutch adaptation of the British game show The Chase's spin-off Beat the Chasers.[6] In 2021, he also played the role of traitor in the television show De Verraders.[7][8]

In 2022, he looked at historic scientific experiments in the Dutch television series Jekels Jacht.[9]

Jekel and Jon Karthaus are the script writers of the 2022 Dutch feature film Costa!!.[10][11]

Selected filmography

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As presenter / host / expert

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  • De wereld leert door (2013)
  • Professor Nicolai & Dr. Beckand (2015 – 2018)
  • De Kennis van Nu (2018, 2019)
  • Brard & Jekel: VetGelukkig?! (2020)
  • Jekels Jacht (2022)

As expert

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  • Beat The Champions (2021 – 2023)

As contestant

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Publications

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Jekel's publications include:

  • Ironing out pnictides, Master's thesis Twente University, 2010. In Dutch.
  • Zeven rampen die niet gaan gebeuren, Contact, Amsterdam, 2011. In Dutch.
  • Bèta voor alfa's, Uitgeverij Atlas Contact, Amsterdam, 2014. Reeks Kleine boekjes. In Dutch.
  • with André Kuipers et al., Antidepressiva en agressie, wiskunde redt mensenlevens, Hannover Messe. DVD video, NTR, Hilversum, 2014. In Dutch.

References

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  1. ^ "De Wereld Leert Door 'beetje uit de klauwen gelopen'". Trouw (in Dutch). 14 January 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  2. ^ "Diederik Jekel wint Nationale IQ Test 2016". NU.nl (in Dutch). 2 January 2016. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  3. ^ "Sanne Wallis de Vries en Jochem van Gelder in Wie is de Mol? 2017". NU.nl (in Dutch). 8 November 2016. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  4. ^ "Diederik Jekel vond programma Vet Gelukkig lastig om te maken". NU.nl (in Dutch). 2 May 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  5. ^ "The Masked Singer trekt 2,6 miljoen kijkers, wederom nieuw record". NU.nl (in Dutch). 17 October 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  6. ^ "Dit zijn de vijf Champions van Beat The Champions". www.rtl.nl (in Dutch). 18 December 2020. Archived from the original on 19 December 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  7. ^ "Déze BN'ers maken deelnemers De Verraders compleet". RTL Boulevard (in Dutch). 2 March 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  8. ^ "Niemand blijft gespaard in eerste aflevering De Verraders". RTL Nieuws (in Dutch). 14 March 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  9. ^ Smitsloo, Monique (2 February 2022). "Diederik Jekel krijgt nieuw programma over wetenschap". Superguide (in Dutch). Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  10. ^ "Katja Schuurman en Abbey Hoes spelen mee in nieuwe Costa!!-film". NU.nl (in Dutch). 23 August 2021. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  11. ^ "Dutch Filmworks geeft eerste beelden vrij van nieuwe Costa-film". Entertainment Business (in Dutch). 21 October 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
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