A cult program returned to the front of Belgian television last September. “The storms of life” is interested in the tragic incidents that can punctuate life. And above all leave indelible marks on the victims. For the return of this flagship program which brought together more than 500,000 viewers, the Belgian private channel decided to hire Christophe Dechavanne for the presentation. The former historic host of the show, Stéphane Pauwels, having been involved in a home-invasion affair which had hit the headlines and triggered his suspension from the antenna. As well as stopping the program for four years. Since very discreet in the media, Stéphane Pauwels has nevertheless decided to come out of silence to openly criticize his French replacement, the current co-host of “Quelle Epoque!” on France 2.
“Humanly, he talks to people and you feel there is no empathy”
On the set of the LN24 program “Les visitors du Soir”, he wanted to empty his bag on the new version of the show: “I watched one, Strépy (on the tragedy that occurred at the Carnival of Strépy-Bracquegnies in March 2021, editor’s note), because it is something that has affected all Belgians. I’ll be honest with you, I had tears after the show”, he first confided. Then, about his replacement: “Humanly, he talks to people and you feel there is no empathy. He asks what are the Gilles. We end the show, he is dancing, fooling around with an orange when there have been seven deaths. he says, visibly unconvinced by the choice to have replaced him with Christophe Dechavanne. Worse, he explains that the star of the show should never be the host, but the witnesses: “I don’t think he’s the right person. I would not have chosen him to present this program.” Finally, bitter, he regrets even the choice to choose a French presenter: “I think we have people in Belgium who have skills and know how to do things, even at RTL.”, he concluded.
The main accused says he is delighted to work in Belgium, a country he “adores”, for this program in particular which traces difficult life paths, with their joys, their sorrows, their emotions. He had declared to RTL: “We all have “Storms in life”, difficulties which are not necessarily medical (…) I tried to remain as natural as possible. It’s my personality that they came to look for. It is impossible for me to take a posture facing someone who is dragging a ball and chain so I can only be very natural. Both funny and sensitive. Because after all, I am too. I’m like everyone else, I cry. I’ve had very emotional moments where I pulled away a bit to clear my eyes.
France Live
See also: “He stole the sequence!” : first falling out between Léa Salamé and Christophe Dechavanne!