On France Inter, Eva Bester offers a break of measure and nuance in a fragmented world

She regularly gives us her news on the air. Shares her doubts, her fears, her moods which often reflect the world in which she wakes up every morning. Working ten to twelve hours a day, weekends included, she sometimes posts on Instagram – she who is so wary of social networks and what they do to her thoughts – apologies when she admits she cannot respond to all messages received – those from loved ones included.

Resolutely without filter, she is also and completely control freakwhich means that she gives herself entirely while asking us not to mention this or that thing. For fear, often, of hurting certain people: “I am incapable of concealing – which is not always a quality”she tells us on this Monday evening, November 18, after the live recording of her show “La 20^e Hour “ where she received Vincent Lindon.

Whatever the case, Eva Bester, 39, continues to beautify our ears with her daily, which has become largely the leader in the slot (from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.) with its 633,000 listeners.

An open conversation

After studying English, she began with an internship at France Culture. And it is on France Inter with her “Remedy for melancholy”, which became “L’Embellie” in 2021, that she fully finds her voice. Enough for Adèle Van Reeth, the director of the channel, to offer to take over the “L’Heure bleue” slot after the departure of Laure Adler in June 2023.

The beginnings are epic. While her eldest parachute jumps, on the cover of The Teamand resumes studies, Eva Bester suffers from tendonitis, subscribes to antibiotics and cortisone: “I was terrified and I didn’t realize how much it was going to change my life in terms of pace. » That of the listeners too, who find with her a space where thought can unfold, between her questions supported by solid documentation and relevant archives chosen with her team, including the precious Lola Costantini: “Eva probes her guests in depth, manages to establish a dialogue, with breaths and silences”notes the director.

Indeed, and even if the show is correlated with cultural news, it is never just a promotional exercise, but rather a conversation, widely open and accessible, welcoming and benevolent (she is keen to do so, and for a long time). Which does not sometimes prevent some harsh remarks on social networks. Particularly when current events come to her table – she who refuses to be in the hot reaction. She defends her position: “I don’t want to be asked to take sides: that’s not my role. And then, I don’t necessarily have sufficient skills. Well, my opinion is not that interesting. »

“Popularize in the noble sense”

What interests him, however, is listening attentively. Open up avenues for reflection. Find the right distance. And try to apply moderation and nuance when emotions arise and overflow, at the risk, as she says, “to prevent one from being reasonable”. In this way, she could be the radio face of Karim Rissouli (“C ce soir” on France 5) whom she recently received and with whom she shares an observation, one that a daily newspaper certainly damages, but also nourishes. “It’s wonderfulshe said, to inspire the entire intellectual and artistic world, to be able to question, transmit, popularize in the noble sense – that is to say, to make works and thoughts accessible to as many people as possible. »

She herself admits: “My university was radio. » Today, spending so much time preparing for her shows, she listens to it less. And, as she works at home and records at 8 p.m. – and this since the nights are only a space for rebroadcasting and not for production -, she rarely meets her colleagues and speaks more to those who have not no voice: the maintenance men and women, the security agents who adore him as we were able to see when we arrived at the Maison de la radio this Monday evening.

Eva Bester arrives two hours before recording to chat with her team. To the question “What is a good interview?” »she replies: “It’s when the guest was surprised by a question and their own answer. » She says she’s scared. So many things. “From illness. Let the listener get bored. Let the guest be bored. I’m a perfectionist, that sums up all my fears because perfection doesn’t exist. » Add: “I’m really in control of the tasks that are entrusted to me because I have a knightly thing: if I’m entrusted with a mission, I have to do it perfectly. » Leaving her at the bus stop, we say to ourselves that Eva Bester, signet ring of “La 20^e Hour”, is the guardian of our nights.