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Famous journalist Jean-Pierre Pernaut has died aged 71. He wanted to talk about his fight against cancer to promote prevention and free speech on this disease which is still too often taboo.
A monument of the PAF attached to the France of the terroirs
Arriving at TF1 in 1975, Jean-Pierre Pernault quickly became one of its most brilliant journalists. In 1988, he took the reins of the 1 p.m. news and revolutionized this lunchtime newspaper. It imposes its mark with its appointments in the regions, a real ode to the France of the terroirs.
Its regional postcards and local news constitute the imprint “JPP”. And success is there with 7 million viewers on average. A record for French television. He will only leave the news in 2020 after 33 years.
In 2018, he had to temporarily leave the JT to treat prostate cancer. He had voluntarily not silenced the fight he had to lead against this cancer he had overcome. Without taboo, he had spoken of the importance of prevention, the consequences of treatment…
“Cancer is not shameful”
Three years later, he announced in November 2021 to be affected by lung cancer. An inveterate smoker, he had once again publicized his fight and took advantage of his notoriety to launch messages of prevention against the disease.
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“If it can allow 2 or 3 people to quit smoking, that’s already good”
Asked by Dr Gérald Kierzek for Doctissimo, he told us “That’s why I’m talking about my lung cancer, I’ve always believed that it only concerned others (…) I take this opportunity to talk about this disease today, because if it can allow 2 or 3 people to quit smoking, it’s already good”.
With his usual good humor, he had concluded “Life is beautiful and you have to enjoy it“.
His fight against the disease and the taboo that surrounds it have advanced the fight against this scourge. Faced with this terrible news, his farewell during his last JT come back to us: “I embrace you from the bottom of my heart. I love you. I will never forget you“.