Paolo Bonolis (; born 14 June 1961) is an Italian television presenter, television writer and producer. He made his debut in 1981 on 3, 2, 1... contatto!, a programme for children that aired on Italian national broadcaster Rai.
Biography In 1982, he moved to Italia 1 where he hosted Bim bum bam, still a programme for children. He anchored Bim Bum Bam until 1990 and then he hosted some variety shows such as Urka!, Bulli & pupe, Non è la Rai and Belli freschi. After that, he signed back with Rai and hosted a few prime-time shows such as I cervelloni, Beato tra le donne and the quiz show Luna park, on air in the evening in Rai.
In 1996 he went back to Mediaset, where he successfully hosted Tira & molla and the prime time shows Ciao Darwin and Chi ha incastrato Peter Pan?. Beginning in the same year he also hosted on Canale 5 the satirical news programme Striscia la notizia. The programme was anchored along with Bonolis's longstanding collaborator, the singer and comic actor Luca Laurenti.
He returned to Rai in 2003, when he presented Domenica in and, later, Affari tuoi, the Italian version of Deal or No Deal, one of Rai's most fondly-remembered game shows. After that, he presented the Sanremo Music Festival 2005, the most important Italian music festival, with great success. He repeated this experience in 2009 with Ivan Olita.
In the second part of the 2000s (decade), he hosted, for Canale 5, programmes such as Il senso della vita and some new editions of the successful shows Ciao Darwin and Chi ha incastrato Peter Pan?.
In 2006, he debuted in the movie industry with the film Commediasexi.
As of 2023, Paolo Bonolis' net worth is estimated to be around $30 million. Most of his wealth comes from his work in television and other entertainment businesses.
World records Paolo Bonolis has pronounced 335 words in one minute. The words are a part of the first chapter of The Betrothed (Italian: ).
Advertising From 2000 to 2011, together with , he took part in 30 adverts for Lavazza coffee, replacing Tullio Solenghi in the advertising campaign "Paradise", created in 1995.
Personal life Bonolis, who has Romanian roots, is a devoted fan of Inter Milan. In an interview with the TV Show 'Oggi', his daughter Anna Carollo claimed that Bonolis turned into a 'kid' whenever Inter played, due to his strong passion. Bonolis took part in Inter's official party celebrating the club's fifteenth scudetto and as the speaker for the Inter-Siena match on 17 May 2009, a game in which the Nerazzurri lifted their seventeenth Serie A trophy (Italian: ).
Filmography Film YearTitleRole(s) Notes1996Classe mista 3ª ATony Costa1999Stuart LittleSnowbellItalian voice-over role2006CommediasexiMassimo Bonfili2007EarthNarratorItalian version2021Tom & JerryReal Estate RatItalian voice-over role2025SmurfsPapa Smurf
Television YearTitleRole(s) Notes1980–19813, 2, 1… contatto!Himself (host)Variety show (season 2)1982–1990Bim Bum BamChildren's and teens variety show (season 1–9)1985I cartonissimiChildren's comedy show (season 1)1989–1990Sabato al circoHimself (performer)Variety show (season 1)1990Speciale Bim Bum BamHimself (host)SpecialDoppio slalomGame show (season 6)1991Urka!Game showSei un fenomenoVariety showEvviva l'allegriaVariety show (season 2)1992Bulli e pupeVariety show1992–1993Non è la RaiVariety show (season 2)1992–1994Occhio allo specchio!Sketch comedy show1993Belli freschiVariety show1994Sabato notte LiveItalian version of Saturday Night Live1994–1996I cervelloniVariety show (season 1–3)1994–1996Miss Italia nel MondoAnnual beauty contest1994–1997Beato tra le donneVariety show (season 1–4)1995–1996Luna ParkHimself (host; only on Fridays)Game show (season 2)Fantastica italianaHimself (host)Talent show (season 1)1996Castrocaro Music Festival 1996Annual music festival 1996–1998Tira & MollaGame show (season 1–2)1997Il gatto e la volpeVariety showThe SimpsonsLionel Hutz (voice)Italian voice; episode: "Realty Bites"1997–1999Un disco per l'estateHimself (host)Annual music festival1998–presentCiao DarwinVariety competition program; also co-creator1999–2017Chi ha incastrato Peter Pan?Children's variety show2000Miss Italia 2000Himself (head of jury)Annual beauty contest2000's TelegattosHimself (host)Awards ceremonyRicomincio da 20Himself (co-host)Special2000–2003Striscia la notiziaHimself (host)Satirical program (season 12–15)2001ItalianiGame show2003–2004Domenica inTalk show (season 28)2003–2005Affari tuoiGame show (season 1–2)2005Sanremo Music Festival 2005Himself (host and artistic director)Annual music festival2005–2011Il senso della vitaHimself (host)Talk show2006Fattore CGame show2009Sanremo Music Festival 2009Himself (host and artistic director)Annual music festival2011–presentAvanti un altro!Himself (host)Game show; also co-creator and producer 2013Jump! Stasera mi tuffoHimself (judge)Game show2015–2018Scherzi a parteHimself (host)Hidden camera prank program (season 13–14)2015Expo Milano 2015: The OpeningSpecialArena di Verona, lo spettacolo sta per iniziare2017–2022Avanti un altro! Pure di seraPrimetime version of Avanti un altro!2018Romolo + GiulyHimselfGuest star; episode: "C'eravamo tanto odiati"2025Tú sí que valesHimself (judge)Talent show (season 12)2026I CesaroniHimselfEpisode: "Nel nome del padre del padre di mio padre"
References
External links
Paolo Bonolis: "Sono il farfallone della tv" Interview