Julien Lepers (; whose real name is Ronan Gerval Lepers) is a French television and radio presenter, and a singer-songwriter, born on in Paris.
Biography
Early life
Son of the conductor Raymond Lepers and the singer Maria Rémusat, and grandson of the painter Claude Rémusat, Lepers was born in Paris but spent his childhood in
Antibes
Antibes (, also , ; oc, label=Provençal dialect, Provençal, Antíbol) is a coastal city in the Alpes-Maritimes Departments of France, department of southeastern France, on the French Riviera, Côte d'Azur between Cannes and Nice.
The town of ...
, then in
Saint-Dié-des-Vosges
Saint-Dié-des-Vosges (; german: Sankt Didel), commonly referred to as just Saint-Dié, is a commune in the Vosges department in Grand Est in northeastern France.
It is a sub-prefecture of the department.
Geography
Saint-Dié is located in the ...
. He studied law at the
University of Nice Sophia Antipolis
The University of Nice Sophia Antipolis (french: Université Nice Sophia Antipolis) was a university located in Nice, France and neighboring areas. It was founded in 1965 and was organized in eight faculties, two autonomous institutes and an eng ...
, and became licenciate.
Career as a host
Lepers won a presenter contest organised by
Jean-Pierre Foucault
Jean-Pierre Foucault (; born 23 November 1947 in Marseille) is a French television and radio host.
He was born in Marseille, his mother was Jewish.
He was the host of '' Qui Veut Gagner des Millions ?'', the French version of ''Who Wants to Be a ...
at the radio station
RMC where he became a radio host, from 1973 to 1978. There, he was ''Mister
Hit parade
A hit parade is a ranked list of the most popular recordings at a given point in time, usually determined either by sales or airplay. The term originated in the 1930s; ''Billboard'' magazine published its first music hit parade on January 4, 1936 ...
'' before moving to
RTL.
In the eighties, Lepers was the host for a year of ''À tout cœur'', an entertainment programme broadcast by the Swiss TV channel
TSR, which featured famous singers.
He debuted as a television host in France in 1986, at the age of 36, on
FR3 in ''La Nouvelle Affiche'', and then in the
breakfast television
Breakfast television (Europe, Canada, and Australia) or morning show (United States) is a type of news or infotainment television programme that broadcasts live in the morning (typically scheduled between 5:00 and 10:00a.m., or if it is a ...
show ''
Télématin
''Télématin'' is a French breakfast television news show, broadcast on France 2 since January 7, 1985. It is broadcast in Metropolitan France weekdays from 6:30 to 9:00 am CET. TV5 broadcast the show in Canada in its 150-minute entirety ...
'' on
Antenne 2
France 2 () is a French public national television channel. It is part of the state-owned France Télévisions group, along with France 3, France 4 and France 5. France Télévisions also participates in Arte and Euronews.
Since 3:20 CET on 7 Ap ...
.
From November 1988 until February 2016, Lepers hosted ''Questions pour un champion'', the French version of the game show ''
Going for Gold
''Going for Gold'' is a British television game show that originally aired on BBC1 between 12 October 1987 and 9 July 1996. It was revived for Channel 5 from 13 October 2008 to 20 March 2009.
Background 1987–96
''Going for Gold'' was origi ...
''. The show is on air to this day and is still a success.
In August 1998, Lepers also hosted ''C'est l'été'' on
France 3
France 3 () is a French free-to-air public television channel and part of the France Télévisions group, which also includes France 2, France 4, France 5 and France Info.
It is made up of a network of regional television services providing ...
.
Musical career
In 1978 and 1979, Lepers recorded four songs: ''De retour de vacances'', ''Je t'aime trop'', ''Pleure sous la pluie'' and ''Oh! Sylvie''.
As a self-taught pianist, keen on music, he is the composer of three hits by French singer,
Herbert Léonard: ''
Pour le plaisir'' in 1981, ''
Amoureux fous'' (duet with
Julie Pietri
Julie Pietri (born 1 May 1955) is a French pop singer, best known for her single " Ève lève-toi", which was number-one on the French SNEP Singles Chart (Top 50) in November 1986 (also released in English, under the title "Listen to Your Heart" ...
) in 1983, and ''Flagrant délit'' (which became a number-one hit in
Quebec
Quebec ( ; )According to the Canadian government, ''Québec'' (with the acute accent) is the official name in Canadian French and ''Quebec'' (without the accent) is the province's official name in Canadian English is one of the thirtee ...
) in 1985. He has also written many songs for
Sylvie Vartan
Sylvie Vartan (; born Sylvie Georges Vartanian; hy, Սիլվի Ժորժ Վարդանյան. on 15 August 1944) is an Armenian-Bulgarian-French singer and actress. She is known as one of the most productive and tough-sounding yé-yé artists. ...
,
Michel Delpech
Jean-Michel Delpech (French pronunciation: ɑ̃ miʃɛl dɛlpɛʃ 26 January 19462 January 2016), known as Michel Delpech, was a French singer-songwriter and actor.
Family
Jean-Michel Bertrand Delpech was born the 26th january of 1946 in ...
and
Sheila
Sheila (alternatively spelled Shelagh and Sheelagh) is a common feminine given name, derived from the Irish name ''Síle'', which is believed to be a Gaelic form of the Latin name Caelia, the feminine form of the Roman clan name Caelius, meanin ...
.
In June 1996, he recorded an album with the
Bratislava
Bratislava (, also ; ; german: Preßburg/Pressburg ; hu, Pozsony) is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Slovakia. Officially, the population of the city is about 475,000; however, it is estimated to be more than 660,000 — approxim ...
Symphonic Orchestra. In parallel with his television career, he continues his career as a musician.
Court cases
On 4 January 1994, Lepers, suspected of
tax avoidance
Tax avoidance is the legal usage of the tax regime in a single territory to one's own advantage to reduce the amount of tax that is payable by means that are within the law. A tax shelter is one type of tax avoidance, and tax havens are jurisdict ...
, was given a one-year suspended prison sentence as well as a fine of 150,000
French franc
The franc (, ; sign: F or Fr), also commonly distinguished as the (FF), was a currency of France. Between 1360 and 1641, it was the name of coins worth 1 livre tournois and it remained in common parlance as a term for this amount of money. It w ...
s. As a consequence, French presenter
Vincent Perrot
Vincent Perrot (born 3 August 1965, in Confolens) is a French journalist, radio and television presenter and drag racing driver.
Biography
Perrot's father was the Mayor of the town and died when Vincent was 11. His mother Marina decided to ...
replaced him as host of ''Questions pour un champion'' for a few days.
On 15 April 2010, in
Cyril Hanouna
Cyril Valéry Isaac Hanouna (; ar, سيريل فاليري إسحاق حنونة, link=no; born 23 September 1974) is a French radio and television presenter, writer, author, columnist, producer, singer and occasional actor and comedian of Tunis ...
's show ''
Touche pas à mon poste!
Touché, Touche, Latouche, La Touche, or de la Touche may refer to:
Sports
* Touché (fencing), French for "touched", a term used to acknowledge a hit
Arts and entertainment
* ''Touché'' (Hush album), by Australian band Hush, 1977
* ''Touch ...
'' aired on
France 4
France 4 () is a French free-to-air television channel owned by France Télévisions, focused on children's programming. The colour of France 4 is purple.
Originally launched as Festival in 1996, the channel took its current name in 2005 when it ...
, he said that the tax officials made a mistake, were aware of it, and refunded him soon after the sentence.
Diversification
In 2009, Lepers appeared in a radio advertisement for Saint-Yorre, a brand of
bottled mineral water
Mineral water is water from a mineral spring that contains various minerals, such as salts and sulfur compounds. Mineral water may usually be still or sparkling (carbonated/effervescent) according to the presence or absence of added gases.
Tra ...
.
In September 2010, in an interview with French newspaper
Le Figaro
''Le Figaro'' () is a French daily morning newspaper founded in 1826. It is headquartered on Boulevard Haussmann in the 9th arrondissement of Paris. The oldest national newspaper in France, ''Le Figaro'' is one of three French newspapers of reco ...
, Lepers says he would enjoy being a
news anchor
A news presenter – also known as a newsreader, newscaster (short for "news broadcaster"), anchorman or anchorwoman, news anchor or simply an anchor – is a person who presents news during a news program on TV, radio or the Internet. ...
for
France 3
France 3 () is a French free-to-air public television channel and part of the France Télévisions group, which also includes France 2, France 4, France 5 and France Info.
It is made up of a network of regional television services providing ...
.
In August 2011, Lepers was a jury member for the "''Prix Iznogoud''" award of the "''Humour et Eau Salée''" French comedy festival held in
Saint-Georges-de-Didonne
Saint-Georges-de-Didonne () is a commune in the Charente-Maritime department and Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in southwestern France. .
In November 2011, irritated by the misuse of the French language, Lepers published a book with the title ''Les fautes de Français ? Plus jamais !'' (''French mistakes? Never again!'') in which he says: .
Look-alike
Lepers is
Michael Keaton
Michael John Douglas (born September 5, 1951), known professionally as Michael Keaton, is an American actor. He is known for his various comedic and dramatic film roles, including Jack Butler in ''Mr. Mom'' (1983), Betelgeuse in ''Beetlejuice'' ( ...
's look-alike. This resemblance to the American actor prompted a few
sketches.
Career
Radio
*
RMC
** ''Hit Parade''
*
RTL
** ''Challenger'',
** ''Studio 22'',
** ''Les Ambassadeurs''
** ''Départ Immédiat''
** ''Casinos Parade''
** ''Une journée pas comme les autres'',
** ''Et pour vous qu'est-ce qu'on peut faire ?''
** ''La vente aux enchères''
** ''Stop ou encore'' until September 1998
TV
*
France 2
France 2 () is a French public national television channel. It is part of the state-owned France Télévisions group, along with France 3, France 4 and France 5. France Télévisions also participates in Arte and Euronews.
Since 3:20 CET on 7 ...
:
** ''
Télématin
''Télématin'' is a French breakfast television news show, broadcast on France 2 since January 7, 1985. It is broadcast in Metropolitan France weekdays from 6:30 to 9:00 am CET. TV5 broadcast the show in Canada in its 150-minute entirety ...
'' from 1986 to 1987 then from 1989 to 1990 when William Leymergie couldn't host the programme.
*
France 3
France 3 () is a French free-to-air public television channel and part of the France Télévisions group, which also includes France 2, France 4, France 5 and France Info.
It is made up of a network of regional television services providing ...
** ''La Nouvelle Affiche'' in 1986, followed by
Philippe Risoli
Philippe Risoli (born 9 September 1953 in Paris) is a French television host with Italian origins. He is also an unsuccessful singer.
Biography
Canal + and France 3
He presented the trivia game ''Quiz Star'', from 10 February 1986 to 6 Septe ...
** ''
Questions pour un champion'' from 7 November 1988 until 20 February 2016 (also broadcast on
TV5Monde
TV5Monde (), formerly known as TV5, is a French public television network, broadcasting several channels of French-language programming. It is an approved participant member of the European Broadcasting Union.
The network is available across ...
)
** ''Au pied du mur !'' in 1992
** Election of
Miss France
Miss (pronounced ) is an English language honorific typically used for a girl, for an unmarried woman (when not using another title such as "Doctor" or "Dame"), or for a married woman retaining her maiden name. Originating in the 17th century, it ...
from 1992 to 1995
** ''C'est l'été'' in 1998
** ''
Intervilles
''Intervilles'' is a French comedy game show first broadcast in 1962. The show was based on a previous Italian programme. It featured teams representing towns in France competing in a series of games, some of which involved live cows and bulls ( ...
'' from 2006 to 2008 with Jean-Christophe Le Texier, Nathalie Simon, Philippe Corti
** ''Questions pour un super champion'' since 10 September 2006
** ''
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest (), sometimes abbreviated to ESC and often known simply as Eurovision, is an international songwriting competition organised annually by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), featuring participants representing pr ...
'' in 1999 and 2000 (alone), then with Guy Carlier in 2005, with Jean-Christophe Le Texier in 2007 and with
Jean Paul Gaultier
Jean Paul Gaultier (; born 24 April 1952) is a French haute couture and prêt-à-porter fashion designer. He is described as an "enfant terrible" of the fashion industry and is known for his unconventional designs with motifs including corsets, ...
in 2008
** ''Le Tournoi d'Orthographe'' (''The Orthograph Tournament'') on 22 April 2009
** ''
Globes de Cristal Award
The Awards (English: Crystal Globe Awards) is a set of awards bestowed by members of the France, French Press Association recognizing excellence in home art and culture. The annual formal ceremony and dinner at which the awards are presented happ ...
'' on 6 February 2012
*
TSR
** ''À tout coeur''
* Lepers also hosted some of the following beauty pageants:
Miss Lebanon
Miss Lebanon ( ar, ملكة جمال لبنان, Malikat Jamāl Lubnān, Queen of Beauty of Lebanon) is the national beauty pageant in Lebanon. The current Miss Lebanon is Yasmina Zaytoun who was crowned on 24 July 2022.
History
Miss Lebanon ha ...
,
Miss Mauritius,
Miss Europe
Miss Europe is a beauty pageant for European women from all over Europe. It was established in February 1927 by Fanamet, the European distributor of Paramount, as a one-off event where the winner was to star in a film directed by Friedrich ...
, Miss Réunion and Miss Suisse Romande.
Filmography
Lepers has made several appearances in movies and series where he plays himself.
* 1995 : ''
Fantôme avec chauffeur'' (''Ghost with Driver'') (directed by
Gérard Oury): himself
* 2001 : ''
Un gars, une fille
''Un gars, une fille'' (, ''A Guy, A Girl'') is a Canadian comedy television series created by and starring Guy A. Lepage and broadcast on Radio-Canada, as well as the title of its French adaptation on France 2. It was one of the most successfu ...
'' – episode ''Jean repasse le permis'': the driving instructor
* 2002 : ''
Vu à la télé'' (directed by
Daniel Losset): himself
* 2005 : ''
Edy'' (directed by
Stéphan Guérin-Tillié): himself
* 2008 : ''
Vilaine
The Vilaine (; br, Gwilen) is a river in Brittany, in the west of France. The river's source is in the Mayenne ''département'' (53), and it flows out into the Atlantic Ocean at Pénestin in the Morbihan ''département'' (56). It is 218 km ...
'' (''Ugly Melanie'') (directed by
Jean-Patrick Benes and
Allan Mauduit): himself
* 2009 : ''
8th Wonderland
''8th Wonderland'' is a 2008 French drama film directed by and .
Plot
It tells the story of the first virtual state that a globally composed collective of hundreds of people founded on the Internet. They want to counteract the mere words of pol ...
'' (directed by
Nicolas Alberny and
Jean Mach): himself
* 2012 : ''
Fais pas ci, fais pas ça
''Fais pas ci, fais pas ça'' (English translation: ''Don't do this, don't do that'') is a French television series created by Anne Giafferi and Thierry Bizot. The series debuted on September 8, 2007, on France 2.
Cast Main characters
Su ...
'' – Fifth season : himself
* 2013 : ''
Y'a pas d'âge'': himself
Discography
* ''Je t'aime trop'' (1978)
* ''Pleure sous la pluie'' (1978)
* ''De retour de vacances''
(1979)
* ''Oh! Sylvie'' (1979)
Bibliography
* ''Les fautes de Français ? Plus jamais !'', Éditions Michel Lafon, 2011
See also
* ''
Questions pour un champion''
*
France 3
France 3 () is a French free-to-air public television channel and part of the France Télévisions group, which also includes France 2, France 4, France 5 and France Info.
It is made up of a network of regional television services providing ...
Notes and references
External links
Official website of ''Questions pour un champion''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lepers, Julien
1949 births
Living people
French radio presenters
French television presenters
Mass media people from Paris
French songwriters
Male songwriters
French male singers
Beauty pageant hosts