Nathalie Maleux returned to the first news stories of her colleague – who had been at the presentation since 1997 – and the technical hiccups he experienced on the public channel. Archive footage was broadcast, edited and commented on in a humorous way by other journalists. “There are frankly things that I no longer remember,” confided François De Brigode, amused by the extracts shown on the screen.
Obviously, the journalist’s farewell could not take place without addressing the famous episode of “Bye Bye Belgium”. “We didn’t have the easiest 72 hours after the broadcast of ‘Bye Bye Belgium'”, confided François De Brigode, who questioned himself a little after this broadcast. Jean-Paul Philippot, the general administrator of RTBF, came to discuss this significant episode on set to pay tribute to the career of his journalist.
“I had been expecting this departure for a long time”: Marie-Bernard, the partner of François de Brigode, confides in her life alongside the star of the news
Anecdotes and tributes from artists
Colleagues then revealed anecdotes about De Brigode’s habits, notably the news manager Salvatore Insalaco who revealed that the presenter takes off his shoes when he is on the news set.
For 27 years, François De Brigode received numerous personalities from the world of cinema and even sport for his news. Excerpts from these interviews were shown on screen, before Jérôme de Warzée showed up on set for a humorous tribute to the journalist, returning in particular to his slips of the tongue during the news.
He then received video messages from several singing stars and other celebrities, including François Damiens, Typh Barrow, Alain Chamfort, Clara Luciani, Pierre De Maere and Alex Vizorek. The RTBF team also broadcast a sidewalk microphone to viewers. “She’s a news icon,” summed up a young woman interviewed.
François De Brigode spoke at the end of the program to thank all those who surrounded him during his years at the JT: “I usually say that we are what we are thanks to others “. He had a word for his partner and his daughter, but also his two grandchildren to whom he “wishes a better world than the one we often present”. He concluded his little speech with a reference to a film that he particularly appreciates, “Good night and good luck”, which addresses the profession of journalist, and then launched: “For once, now I’m going to shut up!” .
His relatives and colleagues then joined the set and applauded him for a long time. Which has the gift of bringing tears to his eyes.
“He is as famous as Brad Pitt!”: François de Brigode seen by his two best friends, Franco Meggetto and Jean-Luc Labbé
