Virginio Scotti (born 3 March 1956), known professionally as Gerry Scotti, is an Italian television presenter, actor and former member of the Italian Parliament.
Early years Scotti was born Virginio Scotti on 7 August 1956 in the hamlet of Camporinaldo, in Miradolo Terme, Pavia. After giving up studying law, Scotti began his broadcasting career as a disc jockey" at Radio Milano International. In 1982, he moved to Radio DeeJay and a year later became the host of DeeJay Television, the first Italian programme for music videos, broadcast by Italia 1. Scotti also hosted other music programmes such as Festivalbar.
Television career Scotti was a member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies for the Italian Socialist Party from 1987 to 1992.
Since the 1990s, Scotti has been a television presenter, almost exclusively for Canale 5. He is known as a quiz show host, having hosted Chi vuol essere milionario?, the Italian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, Passaparola, the Italian version of The Alphabet Game,The Money Drop and The Wall. He also directed entertainment programmes such as La sai l'ultima?, La Corrida, Paperissima, Buona Domenica (with Harold Davies), Lo Show dei Record and The Winner Is. He has been one of the co-hosts of the satirical show Striscia la Notizia, and acted in several films and situation comedies.
In 2008, he returned to radio on R101 (the former Radio Milano International), and became deputy-president of Monradio (the radio division of Arnoldo Mondadori Editore).
He was the host of Avanti un Altro! along with Paolo Bonolis in 2014 and 2015.
In 2015, he began hosting Caduta libera, the Italian version of Who's Still Standing, which achieved good ratings. In the summer of 2017, he presented The Winner Is. Since 2024, he hosts the Italian version of Wheel of Fortune, called La ruota della fortuna.
He co-hosted the first night of the Sanremo Music Festival 2025 alongside Carlo Conti and Antonella Clerici.
Awards
Scotti won the Italian television Telegatto prize in 1984, 1985, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2007.
In 2008, he won the platinum Telegatto in the Excellence category. Since 2011, he has held the Guinness World Records for the most episodes of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? hosted by a male presenter.
Personal life Scotti was married to Patrizia Grosso, with whom he had one son, Edoardo, in 1992. Since 2011, he has been in a relationship with architect Gabriella Perino, in 2025 they celebrated a secret marriage https://www.gente.it/people/gossip/a71440378/gerry-scotti-gabriella-perino-sposati-matrimonio-segreto/ . His son has two children, born in 2020 and 2023.
On 27 October 2020, Scotti tested positive for COVID-19 and spent time in the hospital. He has since recovered.
Filmography Films +Film roles showing year released, title, role played and notesTitleYearRoleNotesCucciolo1998HimselfCameo appearanceNatale a casa Deejay2004BaccoToy Story 32010Chatter Telephone (voice)Italian dub; voice roleA Dog's Purpose2017Bailey (voice)Italian dub; voice role
Television +Television roles showing year released, title, role played and notesTitleYearRoleNotesDeejay Television1983–1987Himself/ PresenterMusical programme (seasons 1–5)Zodiaco1985Himself/ Co-hostGame showCandid Camera1986–1987Himself/ PresenterPrank comedy showDomenica Deejay1987Himself/ PresenterSpecialDeejay BeachHimself/ PresenterSpecialSmile1987–1990Himself/ PresenterPrank comedy showCandid Camera Show1988–1991Himself/ PresenterPrank comedy showFestivalbar1988–1992Himself/ PresenterAnnual music festival (editions 24–29)Il vigile urbano1989Angelo ZemellaEpisode: "Panettoni D.O.C."Evviva l'allegria1990Himself/ PresenterVariety showIl gioco dei 91990–1992Himself/ PresenterGame show (seasons 3–4)I tre moschettieri1991PorthosTelevision filmSabato al circoHimself/ PresenterVariety showL'OdisseaMenelausTelevision filmSimpaticissima1991–1995, 1998Himself/ PresenterVariety show (seasons 1–4, 7)Serata d'amore per San Valentino1992Himself/ PresenterSpecialFesta della mammaHimself/ PresenterSpecial1992 TelegattoHimself/ PresenterAnnual ceremonyOre 121992–1993Himself/ PresenterTalk showLa grande sfida1992–1994Himself/ PresenterGame showLa sai l'ultima?1992, 1995–1999Himself/ PresenterVariety show (seasons 1, 4–6)Campionissimo1993Himself/ PresenterGame showBuona Domenica1993–1995Himself/ PresenterVariety show (seasons 6–7)Donna sotto le stelle1993–2003Himself/ PresenterFashion show (editions 8–12, 16, 18)Il Quizzone1994–1997Himself/ PresenterGame show (seasons 1–4)Stelle a quattro zampe1995–1998, 2000Himself/ PresenterDog's talent show (seasons 2–3, 5, 7)Tutti in piazza1996Himself/ PresenterVariety showNon dimenticare lo spazzolino da denti1996–1997Himself/ PresenterVariety show (season 2)Io e la mamma1997–1998GigiLead role; 40 episodesStriscia la notizia1997–presentHimself/ Guest hostVariety show (seasons 9, 11, 17, 19, 26, 28–34)Scopriamo le carte1998Himself/ PresenterVariety showForza papàHimself/ PresenterGame showFinalmente soli1999–2004GigiLead role; 85 episodesPassaparola1999–2008Himself/ PresenterGame showUn disco per l'estate2000–2001Himself/ PresenterAnnual music festivalChi vuol essere milionario?2000–2020Himself/ PresenterGame showTelegatto 20012001Himself/ PresenterAnnual ceremonyGian Burrasca2002FatherTelevision filmLa Corrida2002–2009Himself/ PresenterVariety show (seasons 11–18)Paperissima2004–2013Himself/ PresenterComedy show (seasons 9–13)Additional voicesChi ha incastrato lo zio Gerry?2005Himself/ PresenterVariety showIl mio amico Babbo NataleAchille MalerbaTelevision filmIl mio amico Babbo Natale 22006Television filmFinalmente Natale2007GigiTelevision film50-502008Himself/ PresenterGame showFinalmente a casaGigiTelevision filmFinalmente una favolaTelevision filmItalia's Got Talent2009–2013Himself/ JudgeTalent show (seasons 1–5)Io canto2010–2013Himself/ PresenterTalent showI liceali2011HimselfEpisode: "Il Milionario"The Money Drop2011–2013Himself/ PresenterGame showLo show dei record2011, 2015, 2022Himself/ PresenterGame show (seasons 4, 6, 8)Avanti un altro!2014–2015Himself/ Co-hostGame show (season 4)Tu sí que vales2014–presentHimself/ JudgeTalent showCaduta libera2015–2025Himself/ PresenterGame showMasters of Magic2016Himself/ PresenterTalent showLitte Big Show2016–2017Himself/ PresenterGame showThe Wall2017–2019Himself/ PresenterGame showPaperissima Sprint2018–presentAdditional voicesComedy show (seasons 25–present)Amici Speciali2020Himself/ JudgeTalent showIo canto Generation2023–presentHimself / PresenterTalent showLa ruota della fortuna2024–presentHimself/ PresenterGame show (season 20–present)Sanremo Music Festival 20252025Himself/ Co-hostAnnual music festival, 1st night co-host
References
External links
Gerry Scotti at Italian Chamber of Deputies website