The deputy mayor for culture, Yves Ugalde, also president of the bullfighting commission, explains: “'Intervilles' without cows is like singing in the rain without the rain, or preparing a steak without meat. Television wants to revive a cult show without taking responsibility for its substance at all. The cow is the constituent element, the salt of this entertainment. How can we rewrite history? » The elected representative from Bayonne regrets that we are “diverting the spirit of this game for new societal visions. It’s a vision of the future that we don’t share.”
The city of Bayonne was not on the program for the 2025 edition, but in any case, “we will not provide the Bayonne signature to this new version. There is no question of supporting the reception of this program under these conditions in our arenas,” adds Yves Ugalde.
The cow is the constituent element, the salt of this entertainment. How can we rewrite history?
The Bayonne breeder Michel Agruna, now based in Aire-sur-l'Adour, was the main supplier of Intervilles cows until 2011. Beyond the material aspect, he does not understand the new philosophy of the show. “‘Intervilles’ without cows won’t work, quite simply because it doesn’t exist,” says the breeder.
“This decision was taken by animalists who criticize without knowing the breeding conditions of racing cows,” he adds. I regret that they do not come to see how they are raised, how we maintain our culture, how we take care of our Golden Horn. Do you think it happened by chance? »
Michel Agruna, who also supplies, among other things, the cows for the Bayonne holiday races, is not upset. “They do anything, ''Intervilles'' is a show that appeals thanks to the racing cows. I say it again, I invite the producers of the show to come and visit our breeding farm. »
Rosa, the star
Olivier Alleman says nothing else. Municipal councilor in Bayonne, he hosted “Intervilles” from 2007 to 2011. “After “Fort Boyard” without its tigers, here is “Intervilles” without its cows. It's a shame to lose what forms the DNA of this game, he says. In this type of entertainment, you have to create laughter with the unexpected, by associating it with the history of the towns you pass through. The cow fully fulfills this role in the South-West, it is its basis. »
The ex-host knows Nagui well, he has worked with him since 2004 on this show. He respects his attachment to animal welfare, but regrets his choice. “Nagui taught me everything about speaking, rhythm and running a game show like “Intervilles”. I always told him that there are no more pampered cows than the cows on this farm. At the time, it was enough to see how Rosa behaved when she became the star of “Intervilles”. She was particularly well treated,” recalls Olivier Alleman.
