Is Plus belle la vie the longest running French TV series?
October 15, 2022
5:00 AM
On November 18, Plus belle la vie bows after more than 18 years on the air. Launched in August 2004, the daily soap very quickly managed to establish its place in the hearts of the French, but as the years went by, viewers gradually lost momentum, leading France Télévisions to cancel the series.
But with 18 seasons, 4,665 episodes and 29 bonus episodes, is Plus belle la vie really the longest running series in French television history? Yes and no… If in terms of number of episodes, Plus belle la vie flat out beats all competitors, in terms of years of existence, it is far and away the longest running series of PAF. Discover the ranking!
1- Commissioner Mullen
32 years old – 70 episodes In its 18 years of existence, France 3’s daily soap opera Commissioner Moulin beats loudly. Launched in 1976, this detective series by Yves Rainier ended its 32-year run in June 2008.
2- The judge is a woman
29 years old – 138 episodes First portrayed by Florence Pernell as Florence Larrier for 7 seasons and 17 episodes from 1993 to 2002, the judge is a woman who continued to date Alice Nevers (Marine Delterme). The series evolved over time for more comedy and soap opera, and changed format (from 90 minutes to 52 minutes). The detective series finally aired on February 29, 2022.
3- big family
26 years old – 56 episodes Between 1992 and 2018, members of the Beaumont family, led by the duo Annie Duper / Bernard Le Coq, returned to our television screens at regular intervals. We no longer count the weddings, divorces, births, deaths, bloodshed and love at first sight that have punctuated our evenings for over 26 years.
4- Saga of Helen and the boys
25 years – 1300 episodes (currently) The sitcom Hélène et les Garçons (4 seasons and 280 episodes) had 3 sequels after its end in 1994: The Miracle of Love (1 season, 159 episodes), Les Vacances de l’amour (5 seasons, 160 episodes) and Secrets of Love, of which 30 This season is currently airing on TMC, bringing its episode count to 770 so far. That’s over 1,300 episodes over 25 years!
5- Josephine, the guardian angel
25 years – 101 episodes (so far) Since 1997, Mimi Matt and his Josephine, the guardian angel, remain one of the unmistakable assets of TF1. Although only a few episodes are broadcast each year, the series is still part of the longest running fiction on French television.
6- Commissioner Maigre’s investigations
23 years old – 88 episodes Released in 1967, this detective series, adapted from the works of Georges Simenon, marked the heyday of ORTF and later Antenna 2. By Jean Richard, Commissioner Maigret’s investigation followed the investigations of the famous Pipe Commissioner.
7- Jules Lesko
22 years old – 104 episodes Between 1992 and 2014, Jules Lescaut, this cheeky police commissioner struggled to juggle her stressful work and family life. A formula that has proven to be a winner since the series, led by Véronique Genest, was TF1’s 22-year heyday.
8 ex aequo – a more beautiful life
18 – 4665 episodes and 29 premieres Therefore, France 3’s daily series is only in 8th place with Navarro and Boulevard du Palais. The series certainly wins the battle for the number of episodes produced during its 18 years of existence.
8 draw – Navarro
18 years old – 108 episodes For more than 18 years, Roger Hannin portrayed the famous commissioner Navarro, an exemplary figure of justice, incorruptible and enduring. On the strength of its success, it even had the rights to a spin-off, Brigadier Navarro, which was unfortunately canceled after two seasons.
8 draw – Boulevard du Palais
18 years old – 57 episodes Careful – we never talk about it – Palace Boulevard And its heroine, played by Anne Richard, has accompanied France 2 viewers for more than 18 years with impressive regularity and consistency. It ended in 2017.
Camila Luna is a writer at Gossipify, where she covers the latest movies and television series. With a passion for all things entertainment, Camila brings her unique perspective to her writing and offers readers an inside look at the industry. Camila is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in English and is also a avid movie watcher.
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