Nagui's position is controversial in the South-West

Opposed to the new concept, Dax, Mont-de-Marsan and Bayonne will not participate in the big return of the show “Intervilles” on France 2 next summer. A Landais has also launched a petition so that the cult game show keeps its historical identity: its popular theme song and above all, the cows.

“Intervilles without the cows, it’s no longer Intervilles. It’s distorting this iconic show. It’s the cows that have made its success and its identity.” Sébastien Cazaubon launched an online petition which has collected more than 2,700 signatures to date.

A fan of the show, this 43-year-old from Landes finds “abnormal” that Nagui, flagship host of France 2 and new producer of “Intervilles” chose to exclude cows in the name of animal rights and his anti-bullfighting commitment. The absence of these animals in the 2025 version is therefore interpreted by some as an attempt to reduce a popular tradition, in the name of a personal ideology.

“As a child, it was the must-see TV event of the summer,” remembers Sébastien Cazaubon who lives in Commensacq, in the Landes department. Committed unionically and politically, Sébastien Cazaubon, AESH in a college in Laboueyre, wanted to launch a petition.

It's true, it's not a substantive subject. But it is symptomatic of today's society where you have to be for or against, always in the extremes.

Sébastien Cazaubon

At the origin of the petition

Little by little, his petition is gaining signatures. “Like many other Landais, I think that the show must keep its identity. I have nothing against Nagui, I respect his ideas, but what I don't appreciate is that he takes up a show while changing the concept He removes the cows and he will also change the credits, while this music is known and recognizable by everyone.s, adds the Intervilles defender.

“Nagui fights bullfights and calls himself a defender of the animal cause. He wants to ban everything, even cow racing. Whereas in the Landes, there is no killing or banderillas on these animals. Contrary to what some say, we do not take cows for toys. It's even the cows who take humans for toys in the arena! ” argues Sébastien Cazaubon.

When questioned, Nagui did not hesitate to speak on X to defend his convictions and invite this fan to attend the show, a “ popular show”.

Sébastien Cazaubon posted his petition on social networks tagging #Nagui. The star presenter of France 2 responded by inviting him to the recording of the show which will take place in the Paris region, live or in live conditions, it has not yet been decided. “I thanked him and I will happily go to the Intervilles registration in 2025 on the condition that Nagui agrees to come and watch a Landes race and visit a ganaderia (a cow and bull breeding farm, editor’s note)

► VIDEO. See or rewatch the report on the protest in the Landes over the choice of a program “Intervilles” without the cows. First broadcast September 5, 2024.

Dax, Mont-de-Marsan in the Landes and also Bayonne in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, three historic participating towns of Intervilles and where the culture of cow racing is still alive, refused to participate under these conditions.

“The cows are essential to the show, estimates Julien Dubois, mayor of Dax. We were contacted this summer by the production company of the show who offered us to participate on the new game show. The cows are an important component and contribute to its interest. So for us, there is no longer any interest in participating and it would be implied that the cows on the show are suffering!” Julien Dubois also believes that his city must defend local culture. “In 2013, we participated in an anniversary show,” Dax’s last participation in Intervilles, he adds.

France Télévision has not yet made its decision, but star host Nagui, a fervent defender of the animal cause, has however indicated that he is against it.