Broadcast between 1998 and 2004 on TF1, the cult game was reborn identically for thirty issues, notably with the presence of Bill the alien, at the controls of his flying saucer.
Why did you agree to take on this iconic game?
In twelve years, I have been offered it four times. Each time, I refused. I didn’t want to make a subBigdil. I would have had a hard time being told in the street “it was better before”. This time, I accepted because the producer provided the means. I found the bigdil as I loved it and as I created it. I couldn’t dream of anything better. If we manage to make a hit with this thing, I don’t know if I’ll do anything else after that.
Moreover, we find the same setting and the same actor to play the alien Bill…
This was part of the sine qua non conditions. I wanted Gilles Vautier to come back. The Bigdil, it’s like a circus, it’s a real family. I needed my team from back then. There is even my son who is a camera operator on set.
The Gafettes are also making a comeback. Not very 2025…
Totally, we found two girls who are not only beautiful. One is a director and the other opened a yoga school. I also wanted them to be equipped with a microphone because they have a punch. The world has changed, I have to learn to deal with it. The first show, I was in 100% Lagaf’ mode. The producer told me: “We’re going to prune. We can’t do that anymore. » When I do the Portuguese accent, I’m not making fun of the Portuguese. I still had a lot of fun holding back. We laugh by not making fun of anyone except ourselves.
Do you have pressure for audiences?
I don’t have a contract clause. At TF1, if I was below 6 million, I got a slap on the wrist. Times have changed. At the time, making someone win 1,500 euros was commonplace. Today, making someone win 1,500 bucks feels like you’re putting some sunshine back into their life. We feel the crisis. The waste of gifts is no longer relevant.
If successful, could the show return to daily?
I’m no longer old enough. I’m good at it but I’m in a terrible state. I have forty-one pieces of scrap metal in my body, half a lung missing. I would still like viewers to say to themselves: “Physically, he hasn’t changed too much, and in his head, he’s still the same kid. »
“Bigdil” can be found on RMC Story on Friday 10/01 from 9:10 p.m.
