This Wednesday, January 8, France 2 is offering a new season in the second part of the evening of its documentary series In Olivier’s eyesstill with Olivier Delacroix at its head. The journalist tackles six strong and current themes by giving voice to anonymous witnesses. Some personalities also lend their voice to five of the season’s subjects: Maëva Coucke, Michèle Bernier, Firmine Richard, Rose, Nikita Bellucci and Olivier Delacroix himself who, discreetly, evokes his experience in the subject dedicated to suicide. Meet the man who, for 13 seasons, has tackled strong or taboo themes and given his interlocutors time to tell their stories.
“We have had some extraordinary witnesses this season“: Olivier Delacroix discusses the new season of his show In the Eyes of Olivier
Tele-Leisure : What are the themes covered during these six episodes?
Olivier Delacroix : Families of criminals, cybersexism, suicide, suffering at work, sexual crimes and the fight after an accident.
How would you present the season in a few words?
It is very important for us that these themes are really linked to those which drive our society and echo current events. We start with Family of criminalswhich is a very strong film, a bit like all films in the end! We have had extraordinary witnesses this season: something has developed between us, which means that at the end of the day, we have a fairly exceptional quality of speech. This is why this season is successful and very intense, because it was true, it was far, it was profound. I have a lot of fun doing this program every year and there are a lot of highlights this season.
How do you approach personalities during these delicate interviews?
The same as with all the other witnesses. You know, this perhaps comes from a professional deformation, but at the age of 22, I was hired by Christophe Dechavanne, during the heyday of Heaven, My Tuesday! And I very quickly became his friend as well as his right arm. And it allowed me to meet a whole bunch of people, great people in the world, great artists, singers, actors, politicians. And very early on, finally, in my young life as a journalist, I was confronted with people that everyone would want to meet. No doubt I imbibed a little of his very spontaneous way of speaking to people, whether they were known or not. For me, there is no difference between an anonymous person and a personality.
“They all have my number“: the journalist Olivier Delacroix discusses his links with the witnesses of In Olivier’s eyes
They are like everyone else…
In this documentary series, we still address very important things in life and there, it is not really a question of starification. We’re talking about pain, we’re talking about an ordeal, we’re talking about a time in life that you experience exactly the same, whether you’ve known yourself or not. And this is precisely why we made this decision: it seemed important to us to show that even if we evolve in a universe of light, of money, where we can be adored, in the face of death, the test, worry, you will fight with your weapons. Fame no longer comes into play in this moment of life. We are forced to confront.
How do you manage to find all these witnesses?
It’s painstaking work, but we are very demanding regarding the exclusive aspect of speech. With In Olivier’s eyesyou will not see a testimony that you have already heard everywhere. Our collaborators are in search of a rare word.
What connection do you maintain with the witnesses of the show?
They all have my phone number. Many write to me, send me an SMS, I always answer them. Others, however, give no news.
You testify in the episode dedicated to suicide, because your father killed himself, did you hesitate for a long time?
I asked my mother and my brother for their consent before because it was the only thing that could have held me back. I can’t tell you that this film was easy to make. It was a special, intense and necessary shoot.
“I am very grateful to be alive“: Olivier Delacroix talks about his gratitudes and his fears
You write, you will also release your first novel before the summer, you also make music. What other passion serves as an outlet for you, specifically after difficult recordings?
I have always surfed. As soon as possible, I leave: there is nothing more calming than surfing a wave.
Your sensitivity shines through in every episode of In Olivier’s eyes. Have you always assumed it?
This has never been a problem. You’d have to ask them, maybe it was one for my loved ones, but I’m not sure. My sensitivity has always led me to feel the presence of others. So I don’t live without worrying about what surrounds me and without being aware of others. She is very feminine too. I like what she puts me through, she chases me sometimes, she tires me too! I am very grateful to be alive.
You turned 60 in 2024. Changes in tens are sometimes pivotal milestones. How did you experience it?
It was extremely difficult. I’m not going to lie to you, I’m a lover of life. These 60 years were accompanied first by the illness of one of my loved ones, then his death. He was younger than me, he was 52 years old. I was, and still am, extremely impacted. I’m afraid of death, of illness and I realized that at 60, maybe I only have 5 World Cups left, maybe 6 or 7 to see. I would like to live ten more lives. I’m going to have to work on it and find some calm about it because I know I can’t live in fear or insecurity. I have the feeling of having a very intense, very interesting life and when you look at it like that, maybe you’re burying your head in the sand. I hit myself at these 60 years and I didn’t see it coming. But I do things today that fulfill me and that I would never have dreamed of 25 years ago, like making these documentaries or hosting a radio show.
