It is an understatement to say that the death of Philippe Bouvard, at the age of 96, marks the end of a whole section of radio, television and the written press in France. Because this little man, barely over 1m60 tall, has left his mark on the history of the media and his era.
Nothing really predestined Philippe Bouvard, born December 6, 1929 in Coulommiers, to the world of the press. A mediocre student according to him – he only had his primary school certificate – it was at school that he developed a taste for writing. However, he managed to enter journalism school… only to be expelled a few months later with the mention “is not gifted for journalism but will succeed in commercial professions.”
A sharp feather
After a military period, he joined “Figaro” as a simple courier. As he is rather resourceful, Bouvard manages to get hired in the photo department, where he captions the photos with certain talent. Spotted by his bosses, he began to write a few lines and articles here and there. We end up entrusting him with a section that no one really wants, the one devoted to Parisian social evenings. His sharp pen, combined with a great sense of formula, made this column a great success.
Radio Luxembourg therefore offered him several meetings, including a society column – yet another – which was a hit. Because Philippe Bouvard displays his talents as an orator there. His sense of provocation and his humor hit the mark with the station’s listeners.
On television, from January 1971 to 1975, he produced and hosted a cultural current affairs debate show, from the very chic restaurant Chez Maxim’s, “Saturday evening”, where he received “all those who matter”. His gift for quibbling questions – from which Thierry Ardisson was greatly inspired – stands out at a time when people were more willing to be consensual with personalities.
The genius idea
It was on April 1, 1977 that he made his biggest move by creating a new show on RTL: “Les gros têtes”. The show was only supposed to last for a short time but was so successful that it still exists. Surrounded by very varied personalities – intellectuals, philosophers, writers, actors, singers and presenters – Bouvard combines culture and Gaulishness. “The big heads” will have their television version on TF1 then on France 2.
On the small screen, same success since 1982 with “Le Théâtre de Bouvard” on Antenne 2 where, every evening, the journalist highlights young comedians who offer all kinds of hilarious sketches. With its millions of viewers, the show will launch the careers of Les Inconnus, Mimie Mathy, Smaïn, Gustave Parking, Chevallier and Laspalès, Michèle Bernier and Muriel Robin.
Alongside all this, Philippe Bouvard continues his career in the written press. In particular at “France-Soir” (of which he even became the director), where his columns lasted until 1998. He also collaborated with “Nice Matin”.
“If I work so much, it’s because I get more pleasure from completing a task than from getting rid of it, and because I’m very lazy,” he liked to say.
A life of luxury
Leading the way – he owns a beautiful villa in the beautiful Vésinet district of Paris, a villa in the south of France, several sports cars and a Rolls-Royce equipped with an office and telephone – Philippe Bouvard never stops. He published a gigantic number of books, including his famous “Almanac”, filled with witticisms, with this always funny look at celebrities, politics and society in general. The latest of his works, “The Little World of Don Bouvardo”, was published in 2022.
We also see him in the cinema, notably in Claude Zidi’s comedy, “The Wing or the Thigh”, alongside Louis de Funès and Coluche. Less funny, Philippe Bouvard appeared on a list of personalities that public enemy number 1, Jacques Mesrine, planned to kidnap.
Ousted for the first time from “Grosses têtes” in 2000, then recalled in disaster, due to a drop in audience, Philippe Bouvard left the show in pain for good in 2014. He then hosted a new meeting on RTL, “Allô Bouvard”, then a column, “À mon humble opinion”, followed by “Bouvard remembers”.
This immense career will end in January 2025. Since then, Philippe Bouvard, who became almost deaf and blind, lived peacefully in Cannes. “It is not by looking at myself in my bathroom mirror that I notice certain irreparable changes. It’s by surprising my reflection in the eyes of others,” he said with humor.
