Gérard Jugnot, Thierry Lhermitte, Marie-Anne Chazel… The Splendid almost complete, Michel Blanc's very discreet companion

This Wednesday, November 20, part of the Splendid team was gathered at the Buddha-Bar in Paris, for the launch of their book, The Splendid on the Splendid. A work that begins with a tribute to Michel Blanc.

The Splendid troupe was once again able to pay tribute to their friend Michel Blanc, who died on the night of October 3 to 4, after anaphylactic shock. Gérard Jugnot, Marie-Anne Chazel, Thierry Lhermitte and Bruno Moynot met for the launch of their book The Splendid on the Splendid (editions du Cherche Midi) during an event which took place on Wednesday November 20, 2024 at Buddha-Bar, in Paris, at the initiative of Five Eyes Production. If Christian Clavier and Josiane Balasko were missing, the other members of the troupe were able to find Michel Blanc's companion, Ramatoulaye Diop.

The latter remained discreet, not wanting to appear in the photos, she still took part in the signing game for some fans present that evening. Michel Blanc's companion spent a good part of the evening in the company of her circle of friends before leaving relatively early. In their work, the Splendid troupe paid tribute to Michel Blanc, by writing a few lines on the first pages. “And thank you President Blanc for all these years of laughter and talent. A few weeks ago, we said to ourselves that we should all see each other together regularly, otherwise the next time it would be at the cemetery… We were counting on this forthcoming book to do so. Too late…and tears won't change anything.” wrote Josiane Balasko, Christian Clavier, Marie-Anne Chazel, Gérard Jugnot, Thierry Lhermitte and Bruno Moynot, before signing their first names.

Will the Splendid troupe soon be reunited at the cinema?

After the death of Michel Blanc, numerous extracts from films made by the Splendid team were broadcast on the networks, taking us back with nostalgia to the era of Tanned or even Santa Claus is trash. Since the release of the last part of Tanned, in 2006, the return of Josiane Balasko, Gérard Jugnot, Christian Clavier, Marie-Anne Chazel, Bruno Moynot and Thierry Lhermitte is long overdue. Recently, Jean-Pierre Lavoignat, who helped Thierry Lhermitte coordinate the writing of the book Le Splendid par le Splendid, told Ici Paris about a possible return of the troupe in front of the cameras.“They want to come back but not in yet another Bronzés” admits the journalist. According to him, the actors “have some leads but they haven’t yet found the right idea. The disappearance of Michel Blanc will perhaps change things, but it is too early to know.”