Nagui responds to the controversy over the absence of cows in the new version of Intervilles

Guest of C the weekly this Saturday, November 23, Nagui reacted to the controversy concerning the absence of cows for the big return to the screen ofIntervilles.

After years of absence and new programming constantly postponed, Intervilles will make his big return to the screen on France 2 in 2025. Nagui will once again succeed Guy Lux and Léon Zitrone, the animators who created this cult game in the 60s. But as the companion of Mélanie Page, this return will be without one of the emblematic figures of the program, the famous cow who chased the candidates in the arena. “For two years, in 2004 and 2005, I hosted Intervilles and saw what was happening with these animals and I don't want to repeat that. And I'm not the only one”, he explained. This decision, however, is far from unanimous among game aficionados and has even created the beginnings of controversy among elected officials from cities likely to participate in the program.

The mayors of several cities refuse to participate in Intervilles in the absence of cows

The mayors of several of the municipalities which made the history ofIntervilles have already announced their intention not to participate in the show without these cattle. “The production company that wishes to deliver Intervilles up to date, but without the cows – implying that the cows would suffer trauma by participating in Intervilleswhich is absolutely not the case. So in this context, I declined the offer that had been made to us.”declared Julien Dubois, the mayor of Dax, to France info. “I think that indirectly, it is also, not a form of attack, but a denigration of traditions around animals like the Landes cow and others…”, protested Charles Dayot, the mayor of Mont-de-Marsan, interviewed by France Bleu. Philippe Corti, who co-hosted Intervillesagreed with them. “Nagui asked me if I would like to come back if it was Intervilles. No, without cows, it's no. Otherwise we would have to do the swimming Olympics without water in the pool, on concrete! It's good thinking, Nagui, he's woke”, he got annoyed.

Nagui believes that cows do not belong in a swimming pool

Nagui spoke in C the weeklyAurélie Casse's show, to respond to this controversy. “I have no doubt that Landes cows are happy in the wild.”he reacted after a reaction from Charles Dayot, the mayor of Mont-de-Marsan, in the show. “That's why I would like them to stay happy in freedom. I think there are plenty of people who play pool games in the summer, without necessarily having a cow in their pool. I don't believe that it is the natural element (…) of a cow to be in a swimming pool or on the track with black soap”, he observed. It remains to be seen whether his words will be enough to convince the city councilors!