Anke Haverkemper

Judith Rakers discovers the largest of the East Frisian Islands through the people who live and work or holiday here. At around 30 kilometres, the "pearl of the North" is the furthest away from the mainland of all the East Frisian islands, which also influences the climate. The high seas climate is ideal for allergy sufferers and asthmatics because the air here is particularly low in pollen and high in iodine. You can't breathe deeper anywhere!

Judith Rakers gets to know Usedom on land, on water and from the air: In the self-built plane of an islander, there is a spectacular view from above, she explores the Usedom "Mörderhus" with acting star Katrin Sass and in the catamaran of an islander, the Tagesschau anchorwoman ploughs through the Baltic Sea waves. The "last" island fisherman takes her along on his cutter. And then she faces her greatest challenge: bathing in the ice-cold Baltic Sea, and in a historical swimming costume.

Sylt - the exceptional island where the "rich and beautiful" cavort in luxury boutiques and unaffordable villas, the jet set celebrates wild parties and the locals can barely afford to live. These are the clichés that many people associate with the North Sea island. Judith Rakers gets to know the island through the people she meets there. She explores the magic of contrasts with them.

The North Sea island of Langeoog lies in the East Frisian Wadden Sea. Judith Rakers discovers the special features of the attractive island through the people who live, work or holiday here. Among others, she meets East Frisia crime novelist Klaus-Peter Wolf, who has "hidden" many a corpse here. Mudflat guide Joke Pouliart takes the presenter on a culinary hike through the Wadden Sea Biosphere Reserve and entertainer Ingolf Lück takes her on a journey into his past at the school hostel on Langeoog.

The East Frisian North Sea islands of Langeoog and Juist in the East Frisian Wadden Sea are characterised above all by a heavenly tranquillity. Judith Rakers discovers the special features of the islands through the people who live, work or holiday here. Among others, she meets East Frisia crime novelist Klaus-Peter Wolf, who has "hidden" many a corpse on Langeoog. Entertainer Ingolf Lück takes her on a journey into his school hostel past, and on Juist she meets horse-drawn carriage driver Hilke Nanninga and Juist singer and songwriter Jannik Brunke.

Norderney is the second largest of the East Frisian islands, Föhr the second largest North Frisian island. But do the two popular North Sea islands have anything else in common? Judith Rakers wants to find out and discovers the beauties of the islands through the people she meets there. On Norderney she enjoys the rehearsals of the "Döntjes-Singers" and a walk in the dunes. The crossing to Föhr has to be earned: Judith Rakers lends a hand on a crab cutter. Afterwards there is a crash course in Frisian at the island radio station "FriiskFunk".

Judith Rakers' island stories this time take her to Helgoland, Germany's only high-sea island, and to the Dutch North Sea island of Ameland, also known as the "Wadden Diamond". On her Helgoland tour, the presenter meets Helgoland fan Hubertus Meyer-Burckhardt and visits a lobster nursery. Ameland is one of the five inhabited West Frisian islands and is considered a popular travel and excursion destination. Judith Rakers meets singer Loona, who has her roots in the Netherlands, on Ameland.

Spiekeroog is also called the "green heart of the North Sea" because of its natural beauty. The East Frisian island in Lower Saxony's Wadden Sea may only be 18 square kilometres in size, but it offers everything you need: unspoiled nature, kilometres of beaches and the endless expanse of the sea. Hiddensee's diverse beauty with rugged cliffs and snow-white sandy beaches is presented over an area of just under 19 square kilometres. The mixture of charming landscape and almost meditative tranquillity has been attracting celebrities and artists here since the 1920s.

Spiekeroog is also called the "green heart of the North Sea" because of its natural beauty. The East Frisian island in Lower Saxony's Wadden Sea may only be 18 square kilometres in size, but it offers everything you need for a family holiday: unspoilt nature, kilometres of beaches and the endless expanse of the sea. On her island tour, presenter Judith Rakers meets Revolverheld frontman Johannes Strate, among others, and performs in the ring with children at Circus Tausendtraum.

Judith Raker's "island stories" take her from Sylt's dreamy sandy beaches and the best-known hot spot "Buhne 16" to the nudist campsite on Amrum. She explores the islands through locals and newcomers and through prominent island fans: among other things, she delves into the island's history with Sylt expert Sylke von Bremen and competes with Sylt's best-known restaurateur Jürgen Gosch in crab picking. On Amrum she meets the actor Heinrich Schafmeister, who used to spend his holidays here as a child.

Fehmarn is Germany's third-largest island after Rügen and Usedom and not only perfect for family holidays, but also the hotspot for windsurfers. And Fischland-Darß-Zingst was already a sought-after holiday destination for young and old in GDR times - anyone who could get hold of a holiday place there was lucky. Judith Rakers discovers both islands in her usual manner through the people she meets there.