The Local France

Cult French TV gameshow set for grand return this summer

Fri, 23 May 2025 14:38:11 +0200

Long-running cult gameshow Intervilles - in which French towns battle against each other - is making its big comeback after being absent from French TV screens for more than a decade.

Shipping magnate buys France’s BFMTV news channel

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 10:56:56 +0200

One of France’s biggest news channels, BFMTV, has been bought by billionaire shipping magnate Rodolphe Saade.

Paris Catacombs: stuff of fascination and TV series

Wed, 27 Dec 2023 09:52:56 +0100

The Paris Catacombs, the massive underground ossuary which attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists a year, are once again the focus a television series.

Reader question: What are the best French TV channels and how can I watch them?

Fri, 10 Feb 2023 16:37:19 +0100

Watching French TV is a great way to learn a little about the country and improve your French - but knowing what to watch and how to access it can be a little daunting.

Is Cyril Hanouna the most unpleasant person on French television?

Tue, 23 May 2017 18:14:21 +0200

French TV presenter Cyril Hanouna's name has been causing a splash with the French and foreign press since Thursday, after a TV prank in which he targeted gay men live on air became just the latest in a series of scandals associated with the host.

Homophobic prank lands TV presenter in hot water

Tue, 23 May 2017 14:26:27 +0200

French TV presenters get away with a lot more than their more politically correct British or US counterparts, but one appears to have gone way too far with an allegedly homophobic prank that sparked a record number of complaints.

Breast-kissing scandal show faces homophobia claims

Thu, 15 Dec 2016 13:14:09 +0100

A French TV show at the centre of a breast-kissing controversy earlier this year routinely disparages gays under the guise of humour, a gay rights group claims.

French TV is about to change: What you need to know

Mon, 04 Apr 2016 16:13:49 +0200

Are you ready for this evening’s Great Digital Terrestrial Television Takeover in France? No, aliens aren’t coming to steal your TV. It's just going to get a major upgrade.

Prude Brits left red faced over French 'porno' TV drama

Mon, 14 Mar 2016 17:22:52 +0100

Steamy French period drama is arousing the anger of the prude Brits and the French are enjoying mocking their "conservative" neighbours.

Woman stabs boyfriend in row over 'The Voice'

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:32:47 +0200

An argument between a French couple slipped into violence when the woman stabbed her boyfriend over a TV reality song contest.

Porn scenes interrupt children's film on French TV

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 16:42:15 +0200

A children’s film broadcast on French cable channel Canal + was interrupted this weekend – by a scenes from a porn film.

Local opposition sinks Sponge Bob sea statue plans

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 21:17:00 +0200

Plans to place giant statues of the cartoon character Sponge Bob in the sea off one of France's top natural sites have been scrapped in the face of stiff local opposition.

Sexualized French girls 'turning into Lolitas'

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 12:53:00 +0100

French schoolgirls as young as eight wear padded bras, high heels or take make-up bags to school, it has been claimed. Now an parliamentary report has proposed putting a stop to the sexualization of young girls.

French TV reporter killed in Syria

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 19:18:00 +0100

Paris demanded an investigation on Wednesday after French television reporter Gilles Jacquier was killed in the Syrian city of Homs, a centre of opposition to the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

French firm fined €32M over Spike Lee film

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 17:16:18 +0200

A Paris court has ordered private French television station TF1 to pay €32 million ($46 million) in compensation for failing to distribute a war film by US director Spike Lee.

French TV viewers shun X Factor final

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 15:43:00 +0200

As the singing contest reached its climax on Tuesday night, French audiences gave a Gallic shrug to the X Factor reality television programme.