On January 29, the Sunday newspaper announced that its famous literary columnist Bernard Pivot was finally retiring. He had been collaborating there since 1992! In December 2019, he had already given up the presidency of the Académie Goncourt. It must be said that the octogenarian must spare himself if he wants to live a peaceful retirement. According to France Sunday, he is currently hospitalized.
In its edition of Friday February 4, 2022, the magazine reports that Bernard Pivot would have been hospitalized for a month. His last media intervention dates back to January 4, in the program Boomerang hosted by Augustin Trapenard on France Inter. The opportunity for him to discuss the release of his new book, a collection of memories entitled But life goes on (Albin Michel). Unfortunately, since this promo, the host of cult shows Apostrophes and Broth of culture “would be very weak” according to information collected by the magazine. However, despite a “health that deteriorates a little more every day“, the magazine does not specify the exact cause of his hospitalization.
It was the journalist Anna Cabana who announced in the JDD a vibrant farewell message to Bernard Pivot.
Bernard Pivot worked for a long time, passionate about words and his job. A career that has often taken him away from his family life. “If I had wanted to be an exemplary father, I should have given less space to my show. Raising my two daughters was a big responsibility, but having a program every Friday evening that encouraged the French to read was also a great mission. National duty prevailed. Today, it’s true, I regret it“, he had thus confided to Gala in 2018. The presenter had, however, built a relationship with his daughter Cécile late, thanks to their common passion for literature. “We exchange our literary favorites. Even if our opinions differ, we never argue. Our complicity is joyful and light, we don’t take ourselves seriously“, he added.
France Sunday, on newsstands February 4, 2022.