Filming for the 7th season of "Veterinarian Dr. Mertens"

Since May 12, 2020, filming for the 7th season of the series “Veterinarian Dr. Mertens” has been underway in Leipzig and the surrounding area for Das Erste. Due to the Corona pandemic, the series is leaving its traditional zoo motif in Leipzig for the new episodes and setting up its set in Erfurt, Magdeburg and Halle.

So far, the zoo filming for all broadcast episodes has taken place in Leipzig. Due to Corona and the associated regionally different guidelines and requirements at the start of filming, the upcoming recordings for the 7th season in the Leipzig Zoo can only take place in documentary form or only in front of the main entrance.

For the scenes in and around the enclosures, the production is therefore traveling and shooting the new six episodes in various zoos in the broadcast area. The locations are the Erfurt Zoo Park, the Bergzoo Halle and the Magdeburg Zoo. The shoot is subject to strict safety and hygiene rules in compliance with the general regulations in force to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Set visits for the public and set appointments for media representatives are therefore not possible.

In the new TV episodes, Dr. Susanne Mertens (Elisabeth Lanz) wants to show that she has everything under control, and not just in the zoo. Together with Dr. Christoph Lenz (Sven Martinek), who is living with her again, she is planning a six-month break in Asia. She wants to work for six months on an aid project in Borneo with orangutans. Christoph wants to start working as a human doctor in a nearby hospital.

Everything could be so easy if so many things didn't get in the way: a pubescent foster daughter, a son with a broken heart and a surprising message that changes everything. Ursela Monn, Gunter Schoß, Lilly Wiedemann, Lennart Betzgen, Dennenesch Zoudé and Thorsten Wolf play alongside Elisabeth Lanz and Sven Martinek.

“Veterinarian Dr. Mertens” is a production by Saxonia Media Filmproduktion (producer: Dr. Susanne Wolfram) on behalf of the ARD joint editorial team for prime-time series. The scripts were written by Christiane Bubner (episodes 81, 82, 84), Andreas Heckmann (episodes 79, 80, 84) and Herbert Kugler (episode 83).

Dennis Satin is the director. Denise Langenhan (MDR) is the editor, and Jana Brandt (MDR) is the executive producer.

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