French journalist and broadcaster Philippe Bouvard has died at the age of 96 at his home in Cannes in southern France.
His wife confirmed the news on Monday to the French radio station RTL, where Bouvard built one of the longest and most notable careers in the country's broadcasting history.
Bouvard worked across the media as a journalist, author, playwright, screenwriter and presenter. He achieved his greatest national fame as the creator and host of the hit radio show Les Grosses Tetes, which debuted on RTL in 1977.
The title of the broadcast translates roughly as The Big Heads. Bouvard led the programme for 37 years, becoming an emblematic figure of French radio and transforming the show into an audience phenomenon that crossed generations of listeners.
Alongside his radio work, Bouvard had an extensive career on television and in print media. On television, he hosted Le Theatre de Bouvard on Antenne 2, a programme that helped launch a generation of French comedians.
Early life and print journalism
Born on December 6, 1929, in Coulommiers, France, Bouvard developed a passion for print journalism at an early age. His interest was reportedly sparked by an uncle who worked as a printer and introduced him to the world of paper and publishing.
While still in high school, Bouvard ran his own newspaper. In 1948, he entered the Centre de formation des journalistes in Paris, but left the institution after just six months.
His professional career began at the daily newspaper Le Figaro, where he initially worked as a messenger in the photography department. He later earned a place in the newsroom and went on to write for several major French publications, including L'Express, Paris Match and Le Point.
Leadership roles at France-Soir
Bouvard built his most extensive print career at France-Soir, where he held different positions between 1973 and 1998. He rose through the editorial ranks to serve as editor-in-chief, later became director, and subsequently worked as an editorialist for the daily newspaper.
During that era, France-Soir was one of the country's most widely read publications, and Bouvard's quarter of a century at the title cemented his status as a major figure in French journalism.
