Between 2007 and 2014, Benjamin Castaldi hosted the first eight seasons of Secret Story. Alongside Adrien Lemaître and Dominique Duforest, the former columnist for Touche pas à mon poste has rubbed shoulders with a number of candidates who have since become celebrities, such as Emilie Nef Naf, Benoît Dubois, Caroline Recevoir, Andy Raconte, Nadège Lacroix and Amélie Neten. After a final game crowned with failure called The Winner Is in August 2014, the host finally left the channel, to host the relaunch of the New star on D8. In conflict with Cyril Hanouna at that time, he finally joined NRJ12 a few months later, to try to compete with TPMP with the relaunch of The Academy of Ninebut who didn’t really convince…
Chronicler of Do not touch My TV from September 2016 and until June 2023, Benjamin Castaldi has for seven years strongly criticized this show that he hosted for a long time, notably by revealing that the secrets were false. He had also not been the most tender with his former employers, and neither with his successor, Christophe Beaugrand. In November 2017, he destroyed his colleague, accusing him of having caused the program to plunge: “In the case of Secret, I will tell you one thing, obviously that out of pride, you are very happy, when you leave a show, that you are no longer in the program, that the show is failing. Obviously that it gave me immense pleasure. We don’t want a show that you left to survive” he said, even asserting that Christophe Beaugrand tried to plagiarize it in his animation style.
“The show will not be entrusted to me, that (is) disappointing”
But on X this Sunday October 29, 2023, Benjamin Castaldi seems to have changed his mind… If in numerous interviews, the host of Secret Story has long assured that he would never want to return to running the game, the formalization of his return seems to have made him change his mind. The son of Catherine Allégret and Jean-Pierre Castaldi admitted in a series of tweets that he had not been approached by the management of TF1, and seems to visibly regret it : “Unfortunately, I must announce that the presentation of the show will not be entrusted to me. Although this may be disappointing, I prefer to move on without bitterness. It’s life and the opportunities that present themselves to us sometimes evolve unexpectedly. I would also like to warmly thank TF1, the former management, in particular Nonce Paolini, for giving me the chance to launch this extraordinary program. Their support and trust have been invaluable and I am grateful to have been able to be part of this adventure“ commented Cyril Hanouna’s former columnist.
And to continue: “A new stage is now opening before me, and I look forward to sharing new experiences with all of you. Your continued support will always be appreciated and I am counting on you to follow me in my future projects. Once again, thank you from the bottom from the heart for your loyalty. You are the true heroes of this story, and I’m honored to count you among my television friends. With all my gratitude, my respect and don’t forget the public is always right”. Very criticized by Internet users who accuse him of having long criticized Secret Story on the set of TPMPBenjamin Castaldi did not hesitate to respond to them with a final tweet: “For all the asshole haters who jerk off anonymously behind their cell phones, I responded and I’m just being polite and courteous by kindly responding to messages received on Secret. But it’s true that on X, kindness, benevolence and intelligence, it’s quite rare.”