He is one of the most emblematic animators of television but he is now very rare on the small screen. Jean-Pierre Foucault has indeed decided to withdraw, even if it means refusing certain programs offered by TF1. This is what the 74-year-old man explained on the set of Europe 1, on August 9th. Guest of the Club of the summer, the presenter has indeed revealed that he had declined a proposal from the first channel to embark on Dancing with the stars. But Jean-Pierre Foucault also said no to another flagship entertainment from TF1: Mask Singer.
The septuagenarian could indeed have become one of the mystery candidates of the game presented by Camille Combal. But Jean-Pierre Foucault did not wish to join the cast, as Laurence Boccolini, Valérie Damidot or Karine Ferri had been able to do before him. “I didn’t work 50 years to end up in zucchini!”, Said with a touch of irony the host at the microphone of Europe 1.
Jean-Pierre Foucault also explained that the occasional presentation of the EuroMillions draws and the Miss France ceremony once a year was enough for him. “When I handed over to Camille Combal for Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, it was because I no longer wanted to. Now when I watch television, I appreciate my colleagues, my sisters, my colleagues, but I I don’t want to be in their shoes,” he said.
The television man thus regretted a lack of “freedom” in the programs now offered on the Paf. “I was spoiled, I had the most magical programs and concepts in the world for 50 years,” he said. On the other hand, Jean-Pierre Foucault does not hide a certain nostalgia for the radio.
He started on RMC in 1966 before appearing on Europe 1 or RTL. On television, he made the heyday of TF1 and Antenne 2 with shows like Sacred Evening, The Academy of Nine, Intervilles, Miss France, or Who wants to earn millions?
Jean-Pierre Foucault multiplied the entertainment prime times before passing the torch to the new generation. In 2019, he presented his final number Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, now hosted by Camille Combal. He will be back on the air on December 18 for the coronation of Miss France 2023 in Châteauroux.