Host Jean-Pierre Descombes, who co-presented the very popular show “Les Jeux de 20 Heures” on FR3 from 1976 to 1987, died on Sunday at the age of 76 from Parkinson’s disease, his son announced Monday to the ‘AFP.
Jean-Pierre Descombes, who had suffered from this neurological disease for more than ten years, died at his home, according to his son Romain Descombes.
After “Les Jeux de 20 heures”, Jean-Pierre Descombes was the voiceover for other successful entertainment shows in the 80s and 90s, “Le juste prix” and “Une famille en or” on TF1. From 2018, he participated in Cyril Hanouna’s shows on C8, such as “Touche pas à mon poste!” or “La grosse rigolade”.
But Jean-Pierre Descombes is best known for “Les Jeux de 20 heures”, born at a time when there were only three channels in France. In this show, which competed with the news programs of TF1 and Antenne 2, general knowledge questions were asked to celebrities on set and anonymous candidates in duplex from a provincial town.
The show was co-presented by Jean-Pierre Descombes, microphone in hand in the audience from the province, and other hosts on set, including Marc Menant, Jean-Pierre Foucault, Harold Kay and the referee Maître Capello (the linguist Jacques Capelovici).
In the 2000s, Jean-Pierre Descombes moved into hosting trade fairs, galas and events such as the tour of former stars from the 60s and 70s, “Âge tendre et tête de bois” in 2012.
