This is his first interview since the announcement of his surprise departure for TF1. A little more than a month after the start of the school year, when the transfer season seemed to be closed, Bruce Toussaint revealed last week that he was leaving BFMTV to take control of the morning news that TF1 plans to broadcast in early 2024. In a interview published yesterday in La Tribune du Dimanche, the 49-year-old journalist revealed behind the scenes of this surprise departure, whose “timing is as unexpected as it is spectacular”, he admits.
It all started on September 23, when Bruce Toussaint commented for BFMTV on Pope Francis’ mass from the Vélodrome stadium in Marseille. “I then received a phone call from Thierry Thuillier (the deputy general director of TF1 in charge of information), who wanted to meet me. We saw each other two days later. Everything happened very quickly, in less than ten days, he reveals. After several sleepless nights and long discussions with my wife, who has always accompanied me in my “crazes”, I made my decision this week on the night of Wednesday to Thursday. And I immediately announced it on Thursday noon to Marc-Olivier Fogiel (general director of BFMTV), just after my show.”
“I couldn’t refuse the offer from TF1”
The journalist speaks of a “difficult choice”. “I know very well that leaving during the year is a decision that hits BFMTV harder than if it were at the end of the season,” he admits. But I couldn’t refuse TF1’s offer. Three hours of air time every day on Europe’s leading channel is dizzying… It’s an extraordinary opportunity that I couldn’t pass up.”
According to Bruce Toussaint, this sudden departure did not taint his friendship with Marc-Olivier Fogiel, whom he has known for twenty-five years. “Since his arrival at BFMTV in 2019, he has entrusted me with all the channel’s most important interviews: from Emmanuel Macron to Jean-Luc Mélenchon via Nicolas Hulot (after the rape accusations against him). With him, I experienced a number of scoops, incredible special editions and sets relocated almost everywhere, he recalls. The only reason for my departure is the fantastic offer from TF1. This is what I explained to Marc-Olivier. Today, the only thing I want to say to him is ‘thank you’” u
A welcome program with information
The journalist also revealed the main points of this morning news: a three-hour live broadcast, Monday to Friday, with a group of columnists. “They have not yet been chosen, but we really want to rely on “in-house” talents because there are a lot of them,” he says. Bruce Toussaint adds that it will be a “welcome show with information”. “Be careful, not flashes but real newspapers designed by the TF1 editorial staff,” he specifies. Informing is the primary vocation of this new section. When they wake up, viewers want to know what happened. But we will also talk about other things: cooking, decor… All of this is currently being developed.” He adds that this morning show will “emphasize proximity, as in TF1’s 13 Heures, thanks to the channel’s large network of correspondents in the regions”.
Bruce Toussaint has been on BFMTV since 2018. He first presented “Grand Angle”, between 10 p.m. and midnight, as well as “And at the same time” (6 p.m. to 8 p.m.); then “Tonigh Bruce Infos” (10 p.m. to midnight). He has hosted “Live Toussaint” between 9 a.m. and noon since 2020.