# Gerry Scotti

Virginio "Gerry" Scotti (born 7 August 1956) is an Italian television presenter, actor and former member of the Italian Parliament.

## Early years

Scotti was born Virginio Scotti on 7 August 1956 in the hamlet of Camporinaldo, in Miradolo Terme, Pavia. After giving up studying law, Scotti began his broadcasting career as a disc jockey" at Radio Milano International. In 1982, he moved to Radio DeeJay and a year later became the host of DeeJay Television, the first Italian programme for music videos, broadcast by Italia 1. Scotti also hosted other music programmes such as Festivalbar.

## Television career

Scotti was a member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies of the Italian Socialist Party from 1987 to 1992.
Since the 1990s, Scotti has been a television presenter, almost exclusively for Canale 5. He is known as a quiz show host, having presented Chi vuol essere milionario?, the Italian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, Passaparola, the Italian version of The Alphabet Game and The Money Drop. He also directed entertainment programmes such as La sai l'ultima?, La Corrida, Paperissima, Buona Domenica (with Harold Davies) and The Winner Is. He was the co-host of the satirical show Striscia la Notizia, and acted in several films and situation comedies.
In 2008, he returned as a host on R101 (the former Radio Milano International), and became deputy-president of Monradio (the radio division of Arnoldo Mondadori Editore).
In 2011, after Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? ended, he presented The Money Drop, until its end in 2013.
He was the host of Avanti un Altro! along with Paolo Bonolis in 2014 and 2015.
In 2015 he presented Guinness World Record and Caduta libera, the Italian version of Who's Still Standing which achieved good ratings. In the summer of 2017, he presented The Winner Is. In December 2017 he started to present the Italian version of the American game show The Wall. In January 2018 he briefly returned to present Striscia la notizia.
He co-hosted the first night of the Sanremo Music Festival 2025 alongside Carlo Conti and Antonella Clerici.

## Awards

Scotti won the Italian television Telegatto prize in 1984, 1985, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2007.
In 2008, he won the platinum Telegatto, in the Excellence category. In 2011, he was mentioned in the Guinness World Records as the TV host who hosted the most episodes of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?.

## Personal life

Scotti was married to Patrizia Grosso, with whom he had one son, Edoardo, in 1992. Since 2011, he has been in a relationship with architect Gabriella Perino. His son has two children, born in 2020 and 2023.
On 27 October 2020, Scotti tested positive for COVID-19 and spent time in the hospital. He has since recovered.

## Filmography
### Films

Film roles showing year released, title, role played and notes :
| Title | Year | Role | Notes |
| Cucciolo | 1998 | Himself | Cameo appearance |
| Natale a casa Deejay | 2004 | Bacco | |
| Toy Story 3 | 2010 | Chatter Telephone (voice) | Italian dub; voice role |
| A Dog's Purpose | 2017 | Bailey (voice) | Italian dub; voice role |

### Television

Television roles showing year released, title, role played and notes :
| Title | Year | Role | Notes |
| Deejay Television | 1983–1987 | Himself/ Presenter | Musical programme (seasons 1–5) |
| Zodiaco | 1985 | Himself/ Co-host | Game show |
| Candid Camera | 1986–1987 | Himself/ Presenter | Prank comedy show |
| Domenica Deejay | 1987 | Himself/ Presenter | Special |
| Deejay Beach | 1987 | Himself/ Presenter | Special |
| Smile | 1987–1990 | Himself/ Presenter | Prank comedy show |
| Candid Camera Show | 1988–1991 | Himself/ Presenter | Prank comedy show |
| Festivalbar | 1988–1992 | Himself/ Presenter | Annual music festival (editions 24–29) |
| Il vigile urbano | 1989 | Angelo Zemella | Episode: "Panettoni D.O.C." |
| Evviva l'allegria | 1990 | Himself/ Presenter | Variety show |
| Il gioco dei 9 | 1990–1992 | Himself/ Presenter | Game show (seasons 3–4) |
| I tre moschettieri | 1991 | Porthos | Television film |
| Sabato al circo | 1991 | Himself/ Presenter | Variety show |
| L'Odissea | 1991 | Menelaus | Television film |
| Simpaticissima | 1991–1995, 1998 | Himself/ Presenter | Variety show (seasons 1–4, 7) |
| Serata d'amore per San Valentino | 1992 | Himself/ Presenter | Special |
| Festa della mamma | 1992 | Himself/ Presenter | Special |
| 1992 Telegatto | 1992 | Himself/ Presenter | Annual ceremony |
| Ore 12 | 1992–1993 | Himself/ Presenter | Talk show |
| La grande sfida | 1992–1994 | Himself/ Presenter | Game show |
| La sai l'ultima? | 1992, 1995–1999 | Himself/ Presenter | Variety show (seasons 1, 4–6) |
| Campionissimo | 1993 | Himself/ Presenter | Game show |
| Buona Domenica | 1993–1995 | Himself/ Presenter | Variety show (seasons 6–7) |
| Donna sotto le stelle | 1993–2003 | Himself/ Presenter | Fashion show (editions 8–12, 16, 18) |
| Il Quizzone | 1994–1997 | Himself/ Presenter | Game show (seasons 1–4) |
| Stelle a quattro zampe | 1995–1998, 2000 | Himself/ Presenter | Dog's talent show (seasons 2–3, 5, 7) |
| Tutti in piazza | 1996 | Himself/ Presenter | Variety show |
| Non dimenticare lo spazzolino da denti | 1996–1997 | Himself/ Presenter | Variety show (season 2) |
| Io e la mamma | 1997–1998 | Gigi | Lead role; 40 episodes |
| Striscia la notizia | 1997–present | Himself/ Guest host | Variety show (seasons 9, 11, 17, 19, 26, 28–34) |
| Scopriamo le carte | 1998 | Himself/ Presenter | Variety show |
| Forza papà | 1998 | Himself/ Presenter | Game show |
| Finalmente soli | 1999–2004 | Gigi | Lead role; 85 episodes |
| Passaparola | 1999–2008 | Himself/ Presenter | Game show |
| Un disco per l'estate | 2000–2001 | Himself/ Presenter | Annual music festival |
| Chi vuol essere milionario? | 2000–2020 | Himself/ Presenter | Game show |
| Telegatto 2001 | 2001 | Himself/ Presenter | Annual ceremony |
| Gian Burrasca | 2002 | Father | Television film |
| La Corrida | 2002–2009 | Himself/ Presenter | Variety show (seasons 11–18) |
| Paperissima | 2004–2013 | Himself/ Presenter | Comedy show (seasons 9–13) |
| Paperissima | 2004–2013 | Additional voices | Comedy show (seasons 9–13) |
| Chi ha incastrato lo zio Gerry? | 2005 | Himself/ Presenter | Variety show |
| Il mio amico Babbo Natale | 2005 | Achille Malerba | Television film |
| Il mio amico Babbo Natale 2 | 2006 | Achille Malerba | Television film |
| Finalmente Natale | 2007 | Gigi | Television film |
| 50-50 | 2008 | Himself/ Presenter | Game show |
| Finalmente a casa | 2008 | Gigi | Television film |
| Finalmente una favola | 2008 | Gigi | Television film |
| Italia's Got Talent | 2009–2013 | Himself/ Judge | Talent show (seasons 1–5) |
| Io canto | 2010–2013 | Himself/ Presenter | Talent show |
| I liceali | 2011 | Himself | Episode: "Il Milionario" |
| The Money Drop | 2011–2013 | Himself/ Presenter | Game show |
| Lo show dei record | 2011, 2015, 2022 | Himself/ Presenter | Game show (seasons 4, 6, 8) |
| Avanti un altro! | 2014–2015 | Himself/ Co-host | Game show (season 4) |
| Tu sí que vales | 2014–present | Himself/ Judge | Talent show |
| Caduta libera | 2015–present | Himself/ Presenter | Game show |
| Masters of Magic | 2016 | Himself/ Presenter | Talent show |
| Litte Big Show | 2016–2017 | Himself/ Presenter | Game show |
| The Wall | 2017–2019 | Himself/ Presenter | Game show |
| Paperissima Sprint | 2018–present | Additional voices | Comedy show (seasons 25–present) |
| Amici Speciali | 2020 | Himself/ Judge | Talent show |
| Io canto Generation | 2023–present | Himself / Presenter | Talent show |
| La Ruota Della Fortuna | 2024–present | Himself/ Presenter | Game show (season 20–present) |
| Sanremo Music Festival 2025 | 2025 | Himself/ Co-host | Annual music festival, 1st night co-host |