Journalist Bruce Toussaint has presented numerous morning shows, including that of franceinfo in 2017. He is leaving BFM TV in 2023, with the aim of presenting “Bonjour!” the first and new morning show on TF1. He therefore has three weeks left to have a social life, before waking up again in the middle of the night.
Seduced by this ambitious project, both on a financial and human level, it is from Monday January 8, 2024, that we will find him between 7 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. With Garance Pardigon presenting the newspapers, he will be surrounded by a team of 17 columnists. The decor is intended to be warm, apartment-style, and this new band will inform us, talk to us about leisure, culture, sport, cooking, etc. According to him, it will not be another morning show in the audiovisual landscape, since it will give pride of place to the regions of France, through its correspondents. A significant strike force, especially in the event of a special edition.
franceinfo: I don’t know if we should thank you, because you are going to overshadow our own morning. Especially since you left franceinfo explaining that you no longer wanted to get up so early. Explain to me what happened?
Bruce Toussaint: I was sincere at the time. I had imagined everything. After 10 years of mornings, I thought I had pretty much explored all the horrors, but also the joys of this difficult, but prestigious segment.
“I didn’t imagine that TF1 would one day consider launching a morning show. And when this proposal was made to me, I brushed aside all my past statements. I dove again!”
Bruce Toussaintat franceinfo
Don’t we say “no” to TF1?
Yes, because it is the first channel in France, because it is an extremely ambitious project. Considerable resources are being implemented and not just financial resources, human resources, a challenge, an ambition. So yes, we can always say “no”, no one forced me, on the contrary, I was completely free in my choice. But I was convinced immediately.
Did you have a desire for somewhere else before the TF1 proposal or was it really the opportunity that did the trick?
We were in the middle of the season. I had left to complete the entire season on BFM TV. There may be contacts between channels and journalists earlier, in the spring. At the beginning of autumn, it is rarer. It surprised me enormously.
So, it’s a challenge because there is already a successful morning show on France 2 with “Télématin”, there is also that of BFM and to a lesser extent, those of CNews, LCI, franceinfo. Do you really think there is a place for TF1 in this niche?
Of course, there is always room. We could even, why not, create two or three others. There is no limit to the number of morning shows. What is important is the editorial offer. It’s about trying to stand out as much as possible. The franceinfo morning show is not the same as that of other stations.
“Each morning has its identity, its DNA. With ‘Hello!’ we’re going to create an offer, a possibility for the viewer to have a new choice. It’s great.”
Bruce Toussaintat franceinfo
You will create an offer with newspapers, 17 columnists who will talk about well-being, travel, history, heritage, politics, which, ultimately, is done elsewhere. You, your difference at TF1 will be the regional prism. Is this what you are going to focus on and perhaps make a difference?
Yes, it’s one of the strong points of this editorial team, with very present regional offices, which we see a lot, especially in the 1 p.m. news. We will rely on this network of correspondents, which we have even strengthened by hiring around twenty people, to be there from 7 a.m., live, not only in the newspapers which will be presented by Garance Pardigon, but also throughout of this section to talk about culture, leisure, heritage etc.
Will these be the same subjects as for the 1 p.m.?
Why not. The 1 p.m. will keep its own territory, its identity.
“We intend, every day, to open windows in the region, not to make a show that is too Parisian.”
Bruce Toussaintat franceinfo
But in the event of big national news, what will you do? Will you upgrade to a special edition?
Absolutely. It is a program which is proposed by the information department. Thierry Thuillier, the big boss of this morning, is in charge. We will be able to rely on the entire TF1 editorial team for each major event and obviously, we will break the program and we will do a special morning show when the news requires it.
There is also the atmosphere that you want to create with a very cozy set, like an apartment and then the atmosphere between columnists so that there is a group. How are things going between you? Did you know each other?
I know some of them, others I discover them and I am delighted to discover them. The idea is in fact to create a sort of alchemy, not just a succession of columnists on the air, but people who will have an opinion because they are citizens, journalists, fathers, mothers.
Do you have, in the back of your mind, the desire, the hope, the dream that you will one day be offered on 1 p.m. or 8 p.m. on TF1?
Not at all, but then not at all. I think I am much more comfortable in the exercise proposed to me, which is a broader, longer section of two and a half hours, which is more of an information talk. I don’t think I’m cut out for this exercise.
It doesn’t sound like you have a career plan.
If it’s a plan, it’s a funny plan! It’s a bit odd. No and fortunately, my God what a horror, a career plan!
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