This Monday October 7 on TF1, Patrick Parouxaka Christian Parizot in Camping Paradislends his features to the title role of a new fiction: Mr Parizot. This is the opportunity to discover the daily life of a retired Parizot in the middle of winter in Colmar, in Alsace. Passionate about detective novels, he finds himself investigating the suspicious death of his cycling accomplice Dodo, played by happy dad Philippe Caroit. To support him, he will be able to count on the young gendarme Alexandra Bauer (Clémence Lassalas, soon to return in Tomorrow belongs to us for a wink). Patrick Paroux spoke to Tele-Leisure about this new fiction.
Mr Parizot “is also a recognition” for Patrick Paroux
Télé-Loisirs: You are finally headlining on television: not too much pressure?
Patrick Paroux : It’s an ensemble film and I’m well surrounded. The pressure is alleviated a little by all the people who are part of this project. It is also a recognition, and, naturally, I am not insensitive to it. It feels good.
What new facets of Parizot will we discover in this fiction?
The story takes place in winter in Colmar, so he won’t be in sock slides! He doesn’t have Tom Delorme either [Laurent Ournac, ndlr]his usual partner, to whom to complain to at the Paradis campsite. But he will find other people to oppose. We also discover his passion for detective literature: Agatha Christie, Conan Doyle, Exbrayat…
Why do you think it appeals so much to viewers?
He is unfiltered, and even if he is wrong or wrong, we still give him credit. He is dynamic, he advances, he is endearing, full of contradictions like us all, and has something childish about him. He’s a free character that allows the writers to put him in lots of situations…
Patrick Paroux (Mr. Parizot): “The public’s feedback touches me“
And whose popularity has continued to grow with the public!
In the street, they call me Monsieur Parizot! But I’m neither surprised nor offended by that. From time to time, when someone calls me Patrick Paroux, I’m surprised! [Il rit.] The public’s feedback touches me. Every day, I receive very warm testimonies, both from elderly people and children. I’m even surprised that this character provokes this kind of reaction.
Did you put a bit of yourself into this character?
I’m a bit of his opposite. I like visiting him, I have a lot of fun. Parizot is a magnificent playground. He wouldn’t have waited fifteen years to have his series, and would have gone to see the production and the channel to tell them to put him in the lead! [Il rit.] I am more discreet, I doubt a little more and I do not seek conflict. I inject doses of empathy into Parizot when I can. I like to bring flaws to it.
Don’t you fear being imprisoned in this role?
When I was offered fiction Mr ParizotI was a little cautious at first because I am so associated with this role! But I was also curious as to how he could be outside of the campsite. I thought maybe it was a way for people to say to themselves: “Hey, there is an interpreter behind this character!“
