A very special evening. If one of the thirty candidates will be crowned Miss France 2025 on the stage of the Arena Futuroscope in Poitiers, this Saturday, December 14, Jean-Pierre Foucault will celebrate a very symbolic birthday. The host will in fact celebrate his thirty years at the helm of the national beauty contest. Master of ceremonies par excellence, he does not shy away from his pleasure of hosting this exceptional show broadcast live on TF1. At the dawn of revealing the name of the new beauty queen, Jean-Pierre Foucault agreed to answer questions from Gala.fr.
Gala.fr: This year, you are celebrating your 30th anniversary at the helm of Miss France. How are you approaching this evening?
Jean-Pierre Foucault : Pretty good. I approach it with the memory of the first show that I presented in Lille in 1994. For the thirtieth year in a row, I am delighted to be surrounded by twenty-year-old girls. I feel like I'm not getting old. I'm happy to be able to enjoy this bath of youth.
Did you think you would become a personality inseparable from this election?
I would never have imagined that thirty years later I would be here presenting the same show. Well, not quite the same because it has evolved considerably. I'm a bit like the Mickey from television (laughs). It's true that my name is very associated with the election of Miss France but there are worse things in life, right?
Do you remember your first Miss France evening, in December 1994?
I remember it very well. The show had just arrived on TF1. It didn't have a very good image because it was a bit outdated. We tried to make it a big, beautiful, quality show. It's not unpleasant what I'm going to say, but it's the observation: we've dusted off the election a little, which was simply a beauty contest. Now, young women have understood that being elected Miss France is a social elevator that allows them to open the doors to a great career.
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“It’s a joy to be able to do my job live”
What continues to please you about this show?
Live! Anything can happen. It's a real pleasure to be able to do my job live for 3.5 hours. But it's not simple at all. You have to be in good conditions and know your subject well. This is why rehearsals are essential. I arrived at 8:30 a.m. and continued until midnight. We pay very close attention to places and lights. Nothing is left to chance.
Do you still get that little thrill when discovering the name of the new Miss France before everyone else?
I always get a little thrill knowing the new Miss France before anyone else. Every year, it's a moment that marks me the most. It's a real privilege to be the first to know the name of the young woman who is going to have a completely turned upside down life. On top of that, for twenty-nine years, when I open the envelope, I say to myself: 'Damn, you're wrong again'. I hope that won't be the case this year (laughs).
You shared the stage with Geneviève de Fontenay, what memories do you have of her?
She was a woman of character. I must say that I don't miss it either. There were sometimes sparks between her and me. But we must recognize that she has been and will remain the great figure of Miss France.
A test is feared by the contenders, speaking in front of the members of the jury. What advice can you give them?
To stay herself and not learn anything by heart. If we learn something, there is a risk of forgetting what happens next. They need to speak as naturally as possible as if they were doing it as a family. We must not forget that naturalness is essential in a Miss.
What do you think of thirty regional Misses ?
I think the greatest of things about it. They are very proud to represent their region. For now, they look at each other a little and discover each other. We must not forget that it is a competition. I'm going to tell you a secret. Among them, there is a candidate who is 34 years old (Angélique Angarni-Filopon, Miss Martinique 2024, editor’s note) I had difficulty distinguishing it.
“If I no longer had the strength to do Miss France, I would stop”
Every year, rumors suggest that you leave Miss France. Aren't you tired of hearing the same thing over and over again?
No, I'll let them say. It's always nice to see that these people were wrong. (laughs).
Let us imagine the victory of Mégane Bertaud, Miss Provence 2024are you going to hang up your microphone?
In fact, it's to measure the number of people who can't supervise me (laughs). Those who don't like me should vote hard for Miss Provence. For now, I feel like there are more people who love me. I thank them!
Do you ever think about slowing down from time to time?
For now, let's be honest, I'm not harming the program. If I felt that I no longer had the strength to do it and that I was a negative, of course I would stop. For now, TF1 Don't ask me to do it and I don't want to. I assure you, it will not last decades. For thirty years, it's already not bad! There's going to be a day when I should stop. This is the logic of things.
Viewers are very attached to you, do you plan to return to television more often?
Non. TF1 trusted me by asking me to co-present Gladiators (on the first channel at the end of the year, editor's note) alongside Hélène Mannarino and Denis Brogniart. I am very happy like this. For the moment, I am not asking. I'm waiting for suggestions to be made to me.
When you're not on the small screen, you recharge your batteries at Carry le Rouet . How do you spend your free time?
I have lots of things to do! First, I look at the sea and I smell the salty air. I live with my family and friends. I travel a little. I'm doing everything I didn't have time to do when I was busy.
After your health concerns how do you feel?
Everything is fine ! It's all in the past. For the moment, there is no problem.
What can we wish you?
May all the wishes we made this year finally come true. Whether for you or for me, I hope that all our wishes come true in 2025.
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