It’s a page, or rather thousands, that are turned. This Thursday, November 7, François De Brigode, historic presenter of “7:30 p.m.” – the equivalent of the “8 p.m.” news in Belgium – presented his latest issue on La Une, the RTBF channel. It is with a mixture of humility and emotion that the emblematic journalist of Belgian television took leave of his audience this Thursday, before giving way to a special program, “Jeudi en Prime”, entirely dedicated to his journey and his farewells. Nathalie Maleux, a long-time colleague and friend, hosted this edition, asking the journalist to remove their headset and be surprised by the tributes from colleagues, friends and loved ones.
“Thank you for these years of laughter, complicity, rigor”
In a sequence rich in memories, the general administrator Jean-Paul Philippot and the information director Jean-Pierre Jacqmin took turns to evoke the highlights of François de Brigode’s career. Testimonies from colleagues, archive footage and sidewalk microphones have painted the portrait of a journalist appreciated for his sincerity, his rigor, but also his humor and modesty. “Thank you for these years of laughter, complicity, rigor… It’s a sometimes explosive cocktail that I will miss. I’m going to miss you“, addressed him, not without emotion, his sidekick Nathalie Maleux.
For viewers, François De Brigode will remain the emblematic face of the RTBF news. For 27 years, he has captivated, informed and sometimes even surprised. Among the memorable moments of his career, the Belgian media notably remember the presentation of “Bye Bye Belgium” in 2006, a fake television news imagining the independence of Flanders, which provoked strong reactions.
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At the end of this farewell evening, François De Brigode expressed his gratitude to the RTBF teams and his loved ones. “I’m not used to talking about my private life on air, but thanks to my partner, Marie, and my daughter. (…) I am also thinking this evening of my two grandchildren, they are 6 years old and 4 years old, because above all I wish them a world that is a little better than the one we sometimes present“, he confided.
The journalist ended his speech with a cinematic touch, referring to the film “Good Night and Good Luck”a symbol of quality journalism to which he remains deeply attached. With his usual sense of derision, he added: “And for once, I’m going to shut up“, before bowing out. On the set, the entire JT team then gathered for a final round of applause. If François De Brigode leaves the JT, he nevertheless remains present at RTBF. From next January , he will be at the helm of a new cultural program broadcast in prime time on Friday evenings on La Une. An opportunity for him to reconnect with his passion for culture, while exploring new horizons.
