Jean-Pierre Pernaut died at the age of 71 on Wednesday. The one who has invited itself for 33 years at lunchtime in the kitchens and dining rooms of millions of French peoplepresenting the 1 p.m. television news on TF1, had been suffering from cancer for several years.
During his career, he came to the Channel on several occasions, notably to Sainte-Mère-Eglise, on the occasion of the significant anniversaries of the landings. Thus on June 6, 2014, making a detour to the France Bleu Cotentin studio a few minutes from its newspaper installed in front of the church of the town on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of D-DAYJean-Pierre Pernaut confided that he had chosen Sainte-Mère rather than Calvados “because this is where the popular festival takes place”.
For Jean Quétier, former mayor of the town who had witnessed the excitement around the distribution of his newspaper in the heart of Sainte-Mère-Eglise, “His popularity was striking and the crowd he attracted was impressive. His warm side, of easy contact seduced people”. His predecessor Marc Lefèvre also rubbed shoulders with the journalist and believes that he “Created a bit of competition with the veterans. The crowd also came to see Jean-Pierre Pernaut. We’re a little sad tonight, especially since he was very loyal to Sainte-Mère-Eglise”.
– TF1