TV PROGRAM | FRANCE 2 and FRANC 3 – 9:10 p.m. Mika, who agreed to be the sponsor of Telethon 2024, recently announced that he no longer wanted French television at all…
It’s the unmissable charity event of the end of the year, but also a television marathon. This November 29 and 30, France Télévisions will broadcast the Telethon with a live broadcast of around 30 hours and two exceptional evenings intended to raise funds for research into rare diseases. On France 3 this Friday evening, then on France 2 Saturday evening, the Telethon will offer festive programming with numerous artists and sporting challenges to encourage pledges of donations. And it is a leading personality who agreed to be the godfather of this 38th edition: the singer Mika.
Known for her global hits like “Grace Kelly” or “Relax, Take It Easy”, the Anglo-Lebanese artist lived in France for a long time and participated in numerous shows, The Voice notably. When the AFM-Téléthon asked him to be the face of this new edition, the singer immediately accepted. “I’m not going to say that I’m honored or excited, but extremely touched,” he confided in an interview with Télé 7 Jours. “It’s such a human and important cause, with concrete results every year.”
Having Mika as a sponsor was not easy for the Telethon. “I had already been offered this role in the past, but I was unable to accept for scheduling reasons,” he explains. “This time was the right time.” Throughout the two days, the star will meet families, volunteers and researchers mobilized against genetic diseases. An ambassadorial role that he takes very seriously.
Proof of his investment, the singer even got his family involved. “I mobilized them to organize a sort of competition between them,” he laughs. “I wanted them all to propose an action in favor of the Telethon. We will see who will collect the most donations. The whole family is involved, even my 10-year-old nephew is getting involved, with his musical talents.”
Mika also measures the extent of the physical challenge that awaits him with these 30 hours of non-stop live. “Maybe I’ll regret it,” slips the 40-year-old artist, “but I’m ready to take the risk for this cause…” Accustomed to TV sets and long tours, the singer knows the energy that these TV shows ask. “It’s remarkable all these teams mobilized! And again, it’s nothing compared to months and months of preparation…”
Is it this requirement of television or something else? The Telethon will in any case be a sort of last stand for the star, who recently decided to stop all broadcasts in France. In Taratata in mid-November, Mika announced this radical decision. “No, in France, it’s over, I’m stopping all my TV shows in France,” he was content to respond to a surprised Nagui. We will therefore no longer see Mika as a coach on The Voice or in another program…