Patrice Laffont, the strong man of public service entertainment. Flagship face of the PAF, he presented many game shows during his career. Among his emblematic programs, the octogenarian retains a particular affection for Fort Boyard, on the air for 33 years.
After leaving the animation of Numbers and Letters in 1989, Patrice Laffont sets out to attack an old prison lost off the coast of Charente-Maritime. At that time, Antenne 2 entrusted him with The Keys to Fort Boyard, broadcast for the first time on July 7, 1990. The host finds himself immersed in an unprecedented adventure where he accompanies a team of candidates to recover keys and clues in order to lay hands on the treasure of Father Fouras, well guarded by his tigers and the masters of time.
Patrice Laffont is also supported by a co-host (Marie Talon, Sophie Davant and Cendrine Dominguez) and his famous Passe-Partout (André Bouchet) and Passe-Temps (Alain Prévost) or La Boule (Yves Marchesseau, who died in 2013). Over the seasons, his show attracted millions of viewers each summer. In 1999, the host chose to leave the France 2 program after hosting 143 numbers.
“When I left the Fort, the producer told me that I was crazy, she had pierced me well, and that I could stay for a few more years. But all of a sudden, I couldn’t take it anymore. I had gone around, “he confided in 2019 to Parisian. But it is never easy to leave the Fort Boyard family for Patrice Laffont. In 2000, he was welcomed as a candidate by his successor Jean-Pierre Castaldi.
The former accomplice of Father Fouras will return to face him twice (in 2003 and 2009) and will join the current host Olivier Minne for the 30th anniversary of the program. A special occasion for Patrice Laffont who takes on the role of Hibernatus and offers the candidates to take on cult events that have marked the game. Three decades after its creation, Fort Boyard continues to surprise the actor thanks to the work of the ALP production. “They negotiated the turn well. There was a lot of work on the editing. It’s like a video game, very clipped”, he assures our daily colleagues.
From host to Fort Boyard candidate, Patrice Laffont remains popular with the public today. What moment stood out for you on the show? Planet reveals 5 highlights in images in our slideshow.
