Don’t think that Patrick Sébastien hasn’t done anything since he was fired from France 2! If he is no longer in charge of the show The largest cabaret in the world for several years, the former host has not been idle. On tour with two different shows, he is also celebrating his 50-year career with a book, The Carnival of the Ambitiouspublished on October 31, 2024 by XO editions. On this occasion, the multi-talented artist who refuses to participate in Les Enfoirés gave an exclusive interview to Tele-Leisure. Guaranteed 0% maintenance!
Patrick Sébastien: “I am 71 years old and I do not have an exemplary diet”
Télé-Loisirs: Why did you want to write this book?
Patrick Sébastien: Firstly because writing is one of my favorite activities. I can’t go a day without creating something. I write about one book a year and now, on the occasion of my 50th career, I wanted to write a book. I didn’t want to do a chronological story and I found it more interesting to write this little semi-philosophical treatise on ambition because, throughout these 50 years, there has been my own ambition, but above all that of everyone those I met. I had the chance to meet almost everyone: very famous people, others who were and are no longer famous, and I found this analysis relevant. When I write a book, I try to speak to the readers, to make it resonate with them. However, we all have an ambition in life, at least to exist as well as others. And if possible better!
How did you choose the personalities among all those you have met in 50 years?
I first chose Presidents because it is still the supreme ambition to become President of the Republic. Then I took the people I got started. I am in the best position to analyze their ambition, since I knew them when they were nothing and watched them grow. Some turned out well, others less well. For example, Céline Dion, who I had as the opening act for one of my shows when she was 16 years old. This little one, she was cheerful, lively and today she suffered a lot, she is sick. So yes, she is successful, she is very rich, she is a world icon, but the question I ask myself is: “Which of the two was happier?“. I think maybe the 16 year old was happier. She didn’t have any money, but she already had René with her and I’m sure she misses him a lot.
In the prologue, you write: “The last one maybe” and in the epilogue you say “Time to write one or two more books”. Where is the truth?
I don’t know ! It’s my health that will decide. I am 71 years old on November 14, 2024, I do not have an exemplary diet, I do not do sport. At my age, I know very well that it could be the last. If tomorrow my health no longer allows it, we’ll see, but I still want it. I always have a thousand projects. It’s my way of staying alive.
Patrick Sébastien: “I need both, the public and solitude”
In your book, you say you are happy, but alone…
Yes, but I don’t suffer from it because I chose it. There are so many people who don’t choose it. I chose solitude because today, with cell phones, as soon as you take a step outside, you spend your time taking selfies. It’s very good, but in small doses. And then I’m not alone all the time. I have friends who come over from time to time. and Nana is always by my side, even if we are separated. We work together, we are friends, the only difference is that we don’t live together, that she has her own love life and I have mine. In fact, I need both: the crowd, the public, but also the solitude.
You relate personal conversations with Dany Boon, Jean Dujardin, Céline Dion or Albert Dupontel, things that they only confided to you. You’re not afraid that some people will blame you for it?
No, I think they won’t blame me since most of the things I say about them are not negative, on the contrary. I wouldn’t allow myself to throw away things they wouldn’t want. In this book, I don’t do pigeon shooting. I try to understand the characters and I only say good things about them. I had the chance to know them, some very closely, others less closely, but I find that it’s a bit of a human comedy.
Why did you devote a chapter to those you call the sulphurous? By giving your opinion on Dieudonné, Berlusconi or Strauss-Kahn, you know that you will provoke a reaction or shock…
No because it’s the truth. Please note, I am not exonerating them of anything, I am simply giving an opinion on these characters that I also know, because I know them, but without asserting anything. I’m not defending them, I’m trying to be honest. In the book I say: “When we cover people with mud, we no longer see their true faces.“My thing is to try to show the guy’s true face, then everyone can make up their own mind. I’m simply saying that I’m on the side of the victims every time, that is to say the victims of filth when there was any, and victims of the media court Because for me, as long as someone is not judged by the courts, they are presumed innocent. However, we are in a society today. today where we are rather presumed guilty.
Patrick Sébastien: “I am politically incorrect and I fully accept it”
You sometimes make comments that could be described as politically incorrect today.
But I am politically incorrect and I fully accept it. I always have been and it has cost me quite a lot. That’s why I’m not on TV anymore. Afterwards, there is a kind of political correctness that they try to impose on us which annoys me, yes of course! But a majority of French people are politically incorrect. They don’t recognize themselves in what they see on TV and don’t accept what’s happening today. I am in contact with people every day and I feel close to them. It’s not even a party question. I’m not nice to politicians, and that’s right!
Among the celebrities, you pay tribute to Camille, your father. Why now and why in this book?
I put him in parallel with Johnny because they are two different destinies: one is very well known, the other is completely anonymous and, once again, which one was happier? I wrote this book to show that ambition does not necessarily lead to happiness. Camille is someone I greatly respected since he raised me. He was a country guy, a quiet guy who didn’t have a huge culture, but who had basic values like integrity and courage, and who taught them to me. He never told me I love you but he showed it to me and proved it to me.
Regarding the brutal ousting of Jacques Martin, you write: “The public service leaders did not fire him. They killed him”. It’s very violent. Do you own your words?
Yes ! I wrote it because the very evening of the announcement, he had a stroke because of it and died some time later. The word may be strong, but it is a reality.
You don’t fear a defamation lawsuit?
If they want it, if it amuses them, I am willing. There is no problem. They didn’t stab him or shoot him, but the decision they made killed him, indeed. So it’s manslaughter, they didn’t do it to kill him, but the fact is that it had that consequence. And he’s not the only one that TV killed! There are presenters who have committed suicide, there are people who have fallen from great heights. Look at the state Loana is in today!
Generally speaking, you seem very nostalgic and not really comfortable in our current times…
Of course I’m nostalgic, I’m 70 years old! And then my nostalgia is mostly the people I miss. TV is behind me, I had a lot of fun, I spent 30 years there, it was great and I’m not at all bitter about it. I moved on and it’s another TV today, which doesn’t suit me and which isn’t made for me. It is not made for artists. I look at it, there are some really good things that I like, but it’s behind me. Nostalgia is the good times we had and especially the people who left. I have so many beautiful memories with Gainsbourg, with Coluche. You realize, in ten years, there are Bébél, Delon, Hallyday, Aznavour who have left. They were monuments to me, these people, they rocked my youth. At the same time, I reassure you, I am facing forward. I prefer GPS to road maps, I’m on my tablet every evening and I watch Netflix like everyone else. I am not stuck in the past, far from it!
Patrick Sébastien: “The Voiceit’s karaoke, I like it average”
What are you watching on TV today?
I watch sports a lot, especially rugby because I’m a rugby fan. Canal+ does a fabulous job on rugby every weekend for the Top 14 and Pro D2. I watch Reichmann at lunchtime because it relaxes me. I also watch Cyril Hanouna because he gives everyone a voice. I don’t always agree with what happens there but it’s very relaxing. I watch a lot of stuff on Arte because there are some very good films and great documentaries. I like everything that is diverse too. Besides, there is something that I have always regretted not having done, which is Bring in the accused. I would have loved to present this show with Dominique Rizet. Afterwards, I take a look at the games. Mask SingerI’m not going to do it, but it’s nice, it’s well done, it’s cheerful. On the other hand, I’m not a fan of competitions. The Voiceit’s karaoke, I like it average. I would prefer there to be authors, composers. In any case, artists were kicked out of TV, they were replaced by columnists and politicians.
When you took your first steps on stage on your 21st birthday, did you imagine you would still be here 50 years later?
I didn’t even imagine a thousandth of what happened next. I came from Brives, I had nothing, no money, I didn’t know anyone. I thought I would have a small career in cabaret and that it would end there. I even told myself that if it didn’t work after a year, I would return home. I didn’t imagine that, fifty years later, I would have a career behind me with record audiences for television entertainment, that my songs would be everywhere, that I would have done everything I love, television films, plays, and that I continue to do most of them. I have no merit, but I am inscribed in people’s memories. I was fulfilled.
