Verhulst claims he knew at very early age that he wanted to become famous.[9] In 1987 he applied at the Royal Conservatoire Antwerp[9] where he was rejected, he would recall this as a gift from Heaven.[10] Later that year he got his first job at the former BRTN (now VRT) as continuity announcer.
Samson en Gert
Samson & Gert is a Flemish children's television series produced by Eline van Noppen, centered on the talking dog Samson and his owner Gert. In its entire run, the show was originally aired on TV1 from Christmas Day 1989 until 1 December 1997, where it moved to Ketnet and continues airing all of its episodes to this day. As a continuity announcer Verhulst wanted to make the announcements before children's television programmes more appealing by having an animal puppet next to him.[11] He got in touch with puppeteer Danny Verbiest, who created the puppet dog Samson. Samson, an Old English Sheepdog, made his screen debut on 2 September 1989.[12] The pair's popularity grew very rapidly in Flanders and they were given their own television series in 1990. The show, named Samson, premiered on 2 September 1990. During the show, Samson and Gert and their friends would encounter many funny and chaotic situations. The plot would be interrupted for contests, fan mail and a variety of cartoons, such as The Smurfs, Ovide and the Gang, and Mrs. Pepper Pot.
Zeg eens Euh!
Verhulst presented the language game Zeg eens euh! [nl] (translated: Say Uh!) It was a game that was broadcast on Friday between 1992 and 1997[13] and whose concept was clearly inspired by the British radio game, Just a Minute. The panelists alternately were given a theme that they had to talk about for one minute. Together with the theme they got a banned word that they could not use. In the panel were four Flemish celebrities including: Emiel Goelen [nl],[14]Margriet Hermans, Koen Crucke and Jaak Pijpen [nl]. Occasionally one of these panelists was replaced by Mark Tijsmans [nl], Andrea Croonenberghs [nl], Walter Baele[15] and Paul Ambach [nl].[16] During the summer months, the viewer share rose from 700,000 to 800,000 viewers. When Verhulst moved to Vtm, Donaat Deriemaecker [nl] took over the game but after a scandal involving one of the panel members, Emiel Goelen, the show was dismissed.[17]
Move to VTM
In 1997 Verhulst moved to Vtm where he presented Wat zegt u? (translated: What do you say ?).[18] This was followed by Linx[19] and in the summer of 1998 Verhulst presented Sterrenslag (translated: Star battle)[20] for several weeks because presenter 'Herbert Bruynseels' had had to withdraw due to illness. In the summer of 1999, the dialect game Watte? (translated What?) started[11] with the panel members: Walter De Donder, Koen Crucke and Simonne Peeters [nl].
Studio 100
Gert Verhulst and Samson at the Plopsa themeparkSamsonGert Verhulst and Walter Baele at the Book Fair 2009 in Antwerp
Verhulst founded Studio 100 in 1996 together with Danny Verbiest, and Hans Bourlon [nl]. They came together in 1989, when the programme Samson en Gert (translated Samson and Gert) was first produced.[21] Studio 100 started in 1996 with one program Samson en Gert. They immediately decided to create a new program to be able to advertise themselves more. They chose Kabouter Plop (translated Gnome Plop).[22] It has been broadcast on VTM since 1997. In 1999, Studio 100 expanded significantly with four new projects, all launched in Flanders: a musical, a film, and two new television programmes. For both the musical and the film, Vtm was asked to provide financial support.[23] In October of '99, Studio 100 and the VMMa (Vlaamse Media Maatschappij, founded in 1987 as Vlaamse Televisie Maatschappij by nine publishers each with an 11.1% share),[24] announced that they would incorporate Meli Park. Right now Studio 100 features Amusement parks in Belgium[25]Plopsaland,[26]Mayaland Indoor[27]Plopsa Indoor [nl],[28]Plopsa Indoor Hasselt [nl], Plopsa Coo[29] and Plopsaqua,[30]Plopsa Indoor Coevorden [nl], Netherlands[31] and Holiday Park in Germany[25] The headquarters of Studio 100 are located in Schelle. Studio 100 has access to the largest recording studios in all of Belgium. Frequently, big events are hosted there, such as the preselections for the Eurovision Song Contest. The Dutch department of Studio 100 resides in the Mediapark in Hilversum. They also operate animation studios in Paris, Sydney & Munich,[32] 2 TV stations. Studio 100 bought Flying Bark Productions, so they could create Master Raindrop and is continuously doing business with more than 160 broadcasters on average, operate on a regular base in 110 territories worldwide through selling TV, video on demand and home video licenses. For example, Maya the Bee has been sold to broadcasters covering even more than 150 countries.[33]
Personal life
Gert Verhulst and the mayor (Walter De Donder) in a Samson en Gert-show in Plopsaland (summer 2017)
In 1998 he married Valerie Calliau[34] with whom he had a son (Victor Verhulst, 1993) and a daughter Marie Verhulst [nl], 1995), before splitting up in 2003. His daughter, Marie Verhulst, is also an actress. At the time of the musical "Sleeping Beauty" there were rumours that Verhulst was in a relationship with Karen Damen from the popular girl group, K3. Verhulst always denied the relationship, but in February 2005, pictures of the couple appeared in a Dutch newspaper. In April the couple broke up, after a relationship of four years. From 2008 to 2011, Verhulst had a relationship with Ellen Callebout, a restaurant owner from Blankenberge.[35] In 2012 Verhulst had a very short relationship with Josje Huisman,[36] also a singer from K3, but after a few months they split up. Since then, he has gotten back together with Callebout and the couple married in 2019.[37][38]
In 1999, Verhulst bought an institution for poor children "Villa Zonnelicht" (“villa sunlight”) in Kapellen, Belgium[39] for BF7.100.000 or €176,000 and made it his private home.[40]
