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Leif "Loket" Olsson is laid to rest

He became the people's program leader with "Bingolotto". On Friday, Leif "Loket" Olsson was buried in St. Paul's Church in Gothenburg. Leif was like a grandfather figure, says Lotta Engberg.

» Published: March 14 2025 at 10:50

Leif "Loket" Olsson is laid to rest
Photo: Adam Ihse/TT

A red heart of roses outside – a portrait of Leif "Loket" Olsson surrounded by living candles deep inside the church.

The pews were filled with people who wanted to say goodbye when the popular TV host was taken to his final rest.

It's incredibly nice to be here, says Lotta Engberg.

Leif was like a grandfather figure. When you called him, you always got an answer. He was quick, he was funny, and what he was passionate about, he was really passionate about.

"Very strange"

On site to perform music were Arvingarna, Streaplers, and Christina Lindberg, who sang "The Last Sweet Years". Tomas von Brömssen reminisced about the time when he and "Loket" were confirmed together in Sankt Pauli church.

It feels very strange, said von Brömssen.

He also performed the song "I Remember", a self-written interpretation of the French song "Comme d'habitude", which was made popular in English by, among others, Frank Sinatra with the title "My Way".

When Leif "Loket" Olsson passed away in January, 82 years old, condolences and tributes poured in. With "Bingolotto", "Loket" became one of the country's most popular TV hosts during the 1990s.

In barely ten years, he led the successful program, which every week attracted a million viewers. "Loket" had previously also been a handball referee and, among other things, judged matches during the Olympic Games in Munich 1972.

He actually judged a semifinal in the Olympic Games. He was that good, says friend Stefan Thylin, and notes that it's "sad" to say goodbye.

"Hurts terribly"

At the same time, "Loket" died without any close relatives – his parents were no longer alive, and he had no children or siblings either.

It bothers me so deeply that he, who was so celebrated, became so extremely lonely in the end. It's terrible and hurts me deeply, says Lasse Kronér.

Taking over as host for "Bingolotto" after Leif "Loket" Olsson describes as a suicidal mission.

I still don't understand how I thought that. He was a big personality for "Bingolotto" and for community life, says Lasse Kronér.

Born on July 12, 1942, in Örgryte, Gothenburg.

Was a handball referee at elite level. Judged, among other things, at the Munich Olympic Games 1972. Was chairman of the Gothenburg Handball Association and the Handball Association's referee committee.

Was a reporter, sports commentator, TV host, and sports manager at Sveriges Radio in Gothenburg 1978–91.

Led "Bingolotto" between 1989 and 1999, as well as in the spring of 2004. First in the local Gothenburg channel Kållevisionen and from 1991 in TV4. Made a huge success. The viewer record was set when over 3.1 million Swedes sat down in front of Bingolotto's TV couch on Christmas Eve 1995.

Sang in the early 1990s on a Christmas album with, among other things, the rap duet "A Really Good Christmas" together with Harald Treutiger.

Became in 1993 the first to receive the award Årets göteborgare.

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By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

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