Those last weeks, Numbers and letters is at the heart of an unprecedented controversy. Not only has it been decided to switch the France 3 game to the weekend, which leaves room for Cyril Féraud and his new entertainment during the week, but in addition, the new version of the program will be done without Bertrand Foxa numbers specialist since 1975, and Arielle Boulin-Pratpro letters since 1986. The latter were simply fired with “a rare violence” according to them and the names of their replacements have already been revealed.
At war with France Télévisions, Bertrand Renard and Arielle Boulin-Prat have a hard time digesting the pill. “It’s a waste“, lamented the mathematician who spent nearly half a century on this show in an interview for Gala published this Thursday, September 1. For his comrade, this unfortunate situation even ended up having an impact on his health. “We are despised and mistreated. I lost 5 kilos and I can’t sleep anymore“, she revealed. And to regret: “We won’t even be able to say goodbye to viewers.“
Laurent Romejko and Patrice Laffont affected by this departure
At the origin of the quarrel: a request for a CDI refused when they have been on fixed-term contracts for thirty-six years for Arielle, and forty-seven years for Bertrand, and a significant drop in salary of around 60% ( which can perhaps be explained by the fact that there will only be two shows a week instead of five). The public service had meanwhile defended itself by ensuring that a “increase in their cachet” had been offered to them to compensate. While the lawyers of each of the parties are studying the case from a legal point of view, this internal conflict makes the rest of the teams very sad, including Laurent Romejko. He who will continue to lead Numbers and letters said to himself “wholeheartedly with them“. Just like Patrice Laffont, former emblematic presenter of the game who became its artistic director. “Bertrand and Arielle have been friends for years. He is immensely cultured, travels a lot, and introduced me to the classical music festival of La Roque-d’Anthéron. She is of exquisite finesse and femininity.“, he admitted to them.
All these little people have indeed formed a big family over the years. Between Bertrand Renard and Arielle Boulin-Prat, a great complicity was particularly established. “We have lived so many things side by side. We supported each other a lot when our parents died.“, underlined the one who is the wife of a famous actor. From now on, they will have to support each other to go through this ordeal.