Secret Story is back this Tuesday evening on TF1, with new features that will both relaunch and revolutionize the program…
After a long wait of seven years, Secret Story makes its big return to TF1 this Tuesday, April 23. At 11:30 p.m., on the first channel, Christophe Beaugrand takes over the reins of a reality TV program which marked its time in the 2000s, both by its format (although strongly inspired by Loft Story), as well as by the wave of trashy programs that he announced in the following years. First notable change: after this broadcast on TF1 in the second part of the evening, the program will switch exclusively to a daily format, each late afternoon at 5:30 p.m. TF1 focuses mainly on the consumption of shows on its TF1+ streaming platform, in addition to “live” shows between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m., then between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Other size change: Secret Story version 2024 will be more family-friendly and less focused on the clashes, the bad luck and the romantic (even sexual) stories of the candidates, promises the first channel. To make the concept more presentable without losing its flavor, TF1 has planned to strengthen the game (guessing the secret of several people locked in the villa for several weeks), with rules and new regular events that have not been seen before. Christophe Beaugrand, who took over the reins of the program after Benjamin Castaldi in 2015, made the rounds in the media to underline the ambition to make Secret Story more accessible, offering “pure entertainment”.
But a final detail was announced at the beginning of the week, just a few hours before the launch of season 12 of Secret Story : “The Voice”, emblematic figure of the show, will change. Dominique Duforest, who has lent his vocal chords to the program since its beginnings in 2007, distributing information and instructions to contestants in the villa, recently revealed he was leaving his role. “After 17 years of good and loyal service, ‘the Voice’ has decided to take a little rest,” posted TF1 on social networks this Monday, notably on the official accounts of Secret Story. A new “Voice” will therefore take up the torch, which promises to be “more playful than ever”, in the words of the production, obviously dissected by fans since.
This announcement, barely 24 hours before the show resumed, caused a tidal wave of speculation among social networks. One theory in particular captured viewers’ imaginations: What if “The Voice” returned not just to guide the contestants, but as the contestant herself? And why not with a star to play him? “Imagine, in fact, the Voice is withdrawing because she is going to participate as a candidate in Secret Story??? Nah, but that would be crazy though”, suggest some fans, dazzled by this possibility.
The scenario would be worthy of a strong comeback of the program, which was meticulously prepared by the production for two years. But for the moment, official signals do not point in this direction. In a video broadcast Monday evening, Dominique Duforest assures that he simply has another life and other strings (not just vocal) to his bow. After the promotion of season 12, he “wanted to pass the baton to the Voice which will follow so that it can be dubbed”, assuring that it will be “surprising”. A female voice is obviously expected. But as the “Voice” has rightly said for years in Secret Story : “Do not judge on appearance…”