Jean-Pierre Foucault presents his 28th Miss France show this Saturday, December 17, 2022. Disguised as Elton John, he ignited the web.
[Mis à jour le 17 décembre 2022 à 22h11] Jean-Pierre Foucault always gives 100% for the presentation of Miss France. This Saturday, December 17, the presenter hosts his 28th edition of the beauty contest on TF1. For the occasion, this legendary animator lent himself to the game by disguising himself as Elton John for a painting on the theme of the film “Rocketman”.
And as much to say that this surprise ignited the web, and more particularly the viewers of Miss France 2023 on Twitter: “After Francis Bond, Elton Foucault. What an evening my friends!” writes a user of the social network, while another believes that “we have our meme for the evening!”
Soon retirement for Jean-Pierre Foucault?
The sacred monster of French television gave an interview for the occasion at the Parisian in which he goes straight back to his age – 75 – and the eternal question of retirement. And Jean-Pierre Foucault says it bluntly : he absolutely does not plan to stop, “because it’s only once a year, and it’s a real treat.” “It’s the only last great live entertainment show. And this adrenaline, it’s my job, it’s my life”, assures one of the oldest television presenters still in activity who compares the Miss France competition to “a happiness” which he looks forward to every year. .
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Besides, Jean-Pierre Foucault does not overload his agenda, he who has freed himself from the majority of his activities on television and radio. to flow days quiet in Carry-le-Rouet in the Bouches-du-Rhône, with his relatives : apart from this annual marathon of more than three hours, he says he works “50 times a minute 30 a day” for the lottery draw. A schedule that suits him perfectly and which he himself describes as “semi-retired”.
As for Miss France, strong in his link with the organization, he remains for the show surrounded by the same team for 30 years, he says. And when Nikos is rumored to be presenting to the Misses, the two men call each other jokingly.
Jean-Pierre Foucault was born on November 23, 1947 in Marseille. His mother Paula, born Pesa Leba Leska, was a Polish Jew and survived Nazi barbarism. She died in 2008. Her father, Marcel Foucault, saved her nephews during the Second World War: he was assassinated in 1962 by unknown persons in Algiers. Jean-Pierre Foucault made his radio debut in 1967 and then turned to television from 1976.
In 1967, thanks to a competition, Jean-Pierre Foucault was hired by RMC radio. After being dismissed after six months, he worked for the competing station Europe 1 for two years then returned to RMC from 1969 to 1989. He then hosted a morning show from 1989 on RTL. In 1994, he returned to Monaco radio to become program director until 1998 when he was dismissed by the new shareholders, RMC becoming a privatized radio station. That same year, he hosted the program on MFM “This year”, directed by Emmanuel Petit, who later became his right arm from 2000 to 2011.
Following the departure of Philippe Bouvardhe relaunched the show “Quitte ou double” on RTL in 2001. For four years, starting in 2007, he hosted the game “La Bonne Touche” on RTL with Cyril Hanounathen Christophe Dechavanne, Eric Laugérias and finally Jade but the show runs out of steam and it ends up being deprogrammed. In July 2014, RTL separated from him, so he returned to Europe 1 to be a columnist on the program “Les Pieds dans le plat”, hosted by Cyril Hanouna, until 2016.
It was from 1976 that Jean-Pierre Foucault began his career on television, thanks to Guy Lux, with the show “Ring Parade” on Antenne 2. Then he enjoyed success from 1982 to 1987 with the show ” The Academy of Nine”. In September 1987, he was hired by TF1, the channel having just been privatized, he was the first host to sign a permanent contract. He hosted the famous program “Sacred Evening” there from 1987 to 1994, where every Wednesday evening, three personalities from the world of cinema, song, theater or literature are invited and for whom they have reserved a surprise, orchestrated with the help of a loved one.
Following the discontinuation of the show, due to declining audiences, he presented “The Tube Years” from 1995, and this for 5 years. From 1989 to 1998, he was also co-presenter of the weekly program “Disney parade”. The show starts with a cartoon then a series, coming from the show “The Wonderful World of Disney”, and ending with an old short film of Mickey Mouse or the mail.
Also from 1995, and until today, Jean-Pierre Foucault is the presenter of the Miss France election, a national beauty contest that has existed since 1920, where he presents each miss and asks them questions. For Miss France 2007, a confusion is made during the interview of the misses by Jean-Pierre Foucault, the files of the candidates having been mixed up. For several years, in the media, he has expressed his desire for a Miss Provence to win, also coming from this region himself.
From July 2000, Jean-Pierre Foucault hosts a new question game called “Who wants to earn millions?” and achieved great success. The principle is to answer a series of questions to which are associated levels of money, which increase with each new question and the questions becoming more and more difficult. The presenter has since been frequently associated with this game, which is often parodied or taken up in humorous scenes, in particular the music of the show and the question “Is this your last word?” spoken by Jean-Pierre Foucault. This game and its presence in it have marked the spirits, to the point of becoming legendary. However, from 2010, the daily version is deleted, due to declining audiences, they only keep the show with primetime personalities who play for an association.
In 2019, Jean-Pierre Foucault leaves the reins of the show “Who wants to earn millions?” to the new presenter of TF1, Camille Combal, in a new version. A handover that made people talk and that excited more than one. The first season airs from May 13 to June 21, 2019 and gets decent ratings. On June 14, 2019, Camille Combal announces that the show is renewed daily but will return later in the year.
Jean-Pierre Foucault’s salary intrigues the public. According to the magazine Capital, he receives 35,000 euros for each edition of the Miss France contest. Who wants to win millions would have brought him 15,000 euros per show, and 4,000 euros for each lottery draw. according to information from TV 2 weeks. For Sacred evening, the host would receive nearly 30,000 euros according to Purepeople.
Alongside his career in radio and television, Jean-Pierre Foucault has diversified somewhat, turning to other fields. Thus we can see him playing his own role in various films such as Best Female Hope of Gerard Jugnot in 2000 or even boudu, also by Gérard Jugnot, in 2005. In 1972, he sang in a duet with Mimi Filipacci then again in 1978, this time with Léon Orlandi, for the Football World Cup. In addition, he has written several books, mainly on cars, but also autobiographies such as “Le Sourire aux tears”, published in 2005.
In 2003, he was made a Knight of the Legion of Honor by his friend the mayor of Marseilles, Jean Claude Gaudin then during the program “Grand concours des animators”, hosted by Carole Rousseau and broadcast on March 2, 2018 on TF1, he received the medal of honor for work, vermeil level.
Jean-Pierre Foucault, even if he is becoming rarer, is not yet ready for retirement! Although he stopped the radio and entrusted his mythical show to Camille Combal, Jean-Pierre Foucault remains the presenter of the Miss France show and he also draws the lottery and the Euromillions, alternately with other presenters, and for which he receives 4,000 euros per show. Two years ago, he also spoke about this gradual withdrawal: “It is logical that I leave room for the rising generation. Myself, I was their age and I would have taken it badly that ‘a personality is there to block the careers of others’. A car fan, he also shot a documentary on the mythical Route 66 in the United States. The animator is therefore rarer to make room for newcomers and, of course, to be with his family.
Jean-Pierre Foucault was married to a woman whose identity we do not know. With her, he had a daughter, Virginie Foucault, who was a presenter on the Téva channel and who now produces and creates programs. Since 1983, his companion is Evelyne Jarre, met during a plane trip where she was a flight attendant. Discreet, she accompanies and supports him and is part of the company of his companion, Parasol Production, sitting on the administration committee.
Jean-Pierre Foucault has a special relationship with his hometown, Marseille. Since 1996, he has been the president of the OM Association and directs the training center, thanks to his friend Jean-Claude Gaudin, who is mayor of Marseille. From 2005 to 2009, he was president of the new local channel LCM. In 2010, he launched his school of journalism by creating the ECS in Marseille, he acts as an advisor and shareholder. As far as politics is concerned, he supports Jean-Claude Gaudin in the municipal elections of 2014 and Christian Estrosi during the regional elections of 2015. He currently lives in Carry-le-Rouet near Marseille with his partner.