2023-06-24 00:24:57
RTS host Laurence Bisang is retiring and, with her, it is an emblematic voice of French-speaking Switzerland that is definitely returning to the air. In 23 years of presenting the Dicodeurs, she has accompanied countless people from French-speaking Switzerland at mealtimes.
It’s a page that turned this week for the legendary program of La Première, with the broadcast of Laurence Bisang’s last show, recorded on Monday June 12 between the usual laughter and a few tears.
After the best-of of the summer, the show will be hosted from the start of the school year by Marie Riley, and the one who hosted it more than 5,000 times will retire in September.
>> Read: Laurence Bisang replaced by Marie Riley at the head of the Dicodeurs from the end of August
To salute this longevity record at the controls of a program, columnists, columnists and other mythical figures of French-speaking radio met at the La Sallaz studio, in Lausanne, for this last recording during which “Lolotte” was n was no longer the host but guest of honor (find the full show below in the box).
Were present, in particular, three historic presenters of the show: Thierry Romanens – also a regular columnist – and Jean-Charles Simon, who held the reins of the first editions in 1995, as well as Jean-Marc Richard, who presented it from 1995 to 2000. Everyone came to pay tribute to the immense career of the host.
“I lived an extremely dense moment during this recording,” she confides. “I am completely bewildered by what is happening to me, everything that is offered to me is unheard of in this house!”
Arrived on the radio “by chance”
Daughter of a diplomat, born in Geneva, Laurence Bisang spent her childhood between Japan and Lebanon before returning to Switzerland at the age of 12. It was during her studies in Neuchâtel that she took her first steps in a radio studio, on the then regional channel, RTN 2001.
“I came into this world by chance, at that time I had no idea of the impact it would have,” she recalls.
She then landed on Couleur 3 in 1986. She stayed there for ten years, honed her skills “on the job” and nurtured her curiosity, her openness to people and her rock culture.
Then following launching the show On en parle (1996-2000), she took over the reins of the Dicodeurs – refusing in passing to “count the points”, a role that the producer of the show Patrick Nordmann had initially offered her, who would resign. in stride – to release them only in 2023.
Hundreds of posts
“We received several hundred messages from the public to wish her good luck, but also to thank her”, explains Gérard Mermet, producer of the show who arrived at the same time as the presenter. Including many women, broadcast schedule requires: “When we started in the early 2000s, they were still confined to the kitchen a lot at that time.”
“A lot of women have been accompanied and have identified with her naturalness and her authenticity. When Laurence was wrong, she assumed it while laughing, we never cut anything”, continues Gérard Mermet.
More recently, his voice will also have been present in French-speaking households during the Covid crisis: despite the constraints, the show has never been interrupted.
Evolve in continuity
During her career at the wand of the midday show, Laurence Bisang will have welcomed more than 1000 guests with varied profiles. Artists, sportswomen, politicians, artisans… people from all walks of life come to share moments of humor and some of their anecdotes on the airwaves of La Première.
“From the moment we are interested in someone, where we prepare something, we will discover interesting things to pass on to those who listen to us”, she underlines in front of the camera at 7:30 p.m.
Thus, in 23 years of presentation, weariness or the desire to stop have never been felt. Over the years, the show has evolved, has been renewed in continuity. More dynamic, less writing, more spontaneous exchanges… And neither the audience nor the success left her.
“What is striking during the recording of the programs is the public who stays for more than five hours to laugh and applaud. It’s incredible!”, Still notes Gérard Mermet, who says he is totally confident for the future: “Marie Riley has all the qualities necessary to take up the torch, although obviously there will be comparisons, it is inevitable.”
>> Listen to the joint interview with Marie Riley and Laurence Bisang on Thursday morning on the Médialogues programme: Laurence Bisang passes the baton to Marie Riley at Les Dicodeurs on RTS-La 1ère / Médialogues / 21 min. / Thursday at 08:36
Laurence Bisang, meanwhile, will continue her commitment to others in another way, more discreet but just as important: “I will join the ranks of volunteers. It is a necessary activity. Society holds together thanks to that. “
Reportage TV: Katia Hess
Web text: Pierrik Jordan
1687569122
#years #Dicodeurs #host #Laurence #Bisang #recorded #show #rts.ch
