Paul Janke appears in TV dating show as bartender — and Mallorca is pleased

Paul Janke appears in TV dating show as bartender — and Mallorca is pleased

When the Tramuntana wind whistles along Passeig Mallorca in Palma and the streetlights come on early, celebrities often end up again in the nation's living rooms. This time it's a familiar face from dating TV days appearing on screens — but not to hand out roses.

The man who has lived on the island for years appears in the new dating show as a bartender. He is thus part of the setting, mixes drinks, listens and observes the events from a distance, instead of competing for sympathy himself. In one episode he had a special role and spoke with some contestants to plan a date — a task that gave him the role of a neutral observer rather than that of a fellow competitor.

Those who know Paul in Mallorca often meet him in the evenings: behind the turntables as a DJ, occasionally with a rose in hand in a Peguera bar or walking with headphones by the sea. The island stage has long become his second home. The TV presence is not a loud appearance, but rather a quiet reminder of a media career that began many years ago, and of the many small appearances since then.

This has its advantages for Mallorca. Local entrepreneurs and event organizers get a face that viewers recognise. Guests who hear the name think of Peguera nights, beach walks and island evenings. Such connections help the local scene because they create attention that can go beyond a mere headline moment: bookings for clubs, a look into gastronomy and topics of conversation in bars and cafés.

At first glance the role as bartender seems unexciting, but if you walk through the alleys of Peguera or Palma's nightlife, you notice how personalities strengthen the social fabric on site. People meet over a beer, tell each other who was just on TV, and arrange to experience the same DJ for an evening or to visit the place where he hands out roses during the week. That creates small economic cycles: a few more reservations, an earlier evening shared by locals and visitors.

Personally the appearance doesn't seem like a desperate attempt to stay in the public eye. Rather it suits someone who has settled here: a life with music, hospitality and a place in the island community. It's good for Mallorca's image, because it shows that fame here doesn't only produce empty headlines, but is often rooted in everyday life.

A typical evening in Peguera — the sound of waiters, the clinking of glasses, a scooter rushing by — and somewhere behind it the quiet laughter of guests discussing the new episode. This is the everyday scene that accompanies such TV moments. For young local operators this is an opportunity: they can use such appearances to draw attention, plan events or simply nurture their regular customers.

Looking ahead: anyone strolling through Palma in the coming weeks might hear the familiar name on the radio or recognise someone at the bar. For the island this means a continuation of the coexistence of fame and neighbourhood — not loud, but on a small scale. And perhaps that's the nicer news: celebrities who live here bring attention without overrunning the island.

All in all, it's a rather friendly story for Mallorca — a well-known TV face who appears as a bartender in a dating show, and whose connection to the island gives local life a little extra presence. One evening, one drink, a bit of TV glamour — and the bars in Peguera and Palma will talk about it for a long time.