There was “Le 20h de Ruquier”, from September to December 2023. Then a return of Yves Calvi until June 2024. Before giving way to Éric Brunet for a brief stint between September and December, with a broadcast of first called “Liberty, equality, Brunet” then, at the end of October, renamed “20h Brunet”.
From January 6, it’s Maxime Switek’s turn to try out the “8 p.m.” BFMTV version, from Monday to Thursday. “Every evening, a big newspaper from 8 p.m. with the big news of the day,” summed up the 44-year-old journalist shortly before going on air, referring to “a collegial 8 p.m.
Because on set, the man is accompanied by Amélie Rosique for the economy and consumption, Elsa Vidal for the international and Christophe Barbier for politics. But also viewers, asked to ask their question via video using a QR Code. At 7:59 p.m., however, he is alone, sitting at a huge desk, before launching the titles, as Gilles Bouleau does on TF 1 and Anne-Sophie Lapix on France 2 at the same time.
Half an hour, quite fast-paced
On the program, first, a subject on taxes which the government promised would not increase for the middle classes. All then enhanced with comments from Amélie Rosique and Christophe Barbier, as could have been the case on other news sections of the channel.
Then no subject but the intervention on stage by Alexandra Gonzalez, deputy head of the police-justice service of the Fifteen to discuss the trial of Nicolas Sarkozy and 12 other defendants in the case of suspicion of Libyan financing of the presidential campaign of 2007.
Short reports follow on the Floriane storm, the farmers’ demonstration, Marine Le Pen’s comments on the government’s management of the cyclone in Mayotte, the resignation of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the coronation of “Émilia Perez” at the Golden Globes with the participation on set of Steven Bellery, head of the culture department, as well as the impact on health of Dry January, told by Aurel Guedj, health consultant. All this in half an hour, quite rhythmic.
At 8:34 p.m., Amélie Rosique, Christophe Barbier and Elsa Vidal position themselves in front of a wall of images. Like students at school, they are invited to comment on an image: that of Nicolas Sarkozy in court, already broadcast 15 minutes earlier. The presentation is mastered, 16/20.
Difficult to avoid repetitions
Then the 8 p.m. takes another turn with first interviews: that of Maître Christophe Ingrain, Nicolas Sarkozy’s lawyer, then that of Annie Genevard, Minister of Agriculture. And for its second hour, after a reminder of the titles, a more magazine aspect including a long sequence on the dangers of hacked QR Codes. But also a poignant interview with the writer Sigolène Vinson, survivor of the “Charlie Hebdo” attacks ten years earlier.
However, it is difficult to avoid repetitions, as with the case of Nicolas Sarkozy or, at 9:20 p.m., Marine Le Pen’s trip to Mayotte, although discussed an hour earlier. And again mentioned thanks to questions from viewers at 9:45 p.m. where we talk about Sarkozy, taxes and savings to be made, with some additional information. Main concern of an 8 p.m. program that is nevertheless well put together although a little too long, where the public finds a summary of the news of the day but which nevertheless struggles to really stand out from the other news sections of the channel.
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