A Chapter Closes: Legros’s Departure from TF1

After a remarkable 26 years as the fill-in anchor, affectionately known as the “joker,” for TF1’s 1 PM news, Jacques Legros presented his final broadcast on Friday, May 9th [[2]]. Legros had previously announced his departure in March, signaling a desire for greater autonomy in his career [[3]].

It’s been a while as it was running in my head. I wanted to have this freedom of choice.I did not want to do the newspaper too much or that it was suggested that it was time to leave or that I have less fun or that I feel less pleasant or that I find it harder to get up in the morning.

Final Broadcast Draws Significant Viewership

Legros’s last appearance on the 1 PM news garnered significant attention.The broadcast, which aired from 12:58 PM to 1:41 PM, captivated an audience of 4.70 million viewers, achieving a 45.4% market share among individuals aged 4 and older. Furthermore, it secured 36.8% of the FRDA-50 demographic (housewives under 50) and 36.5% of the 25-49 age group. These figures underscore legros’s enduring appeal and the program’s consistent popularity.

A Touching Farewell On-Air

The broadcast concluded with a heartfelt moment as Isabelle Ithurburu, Legros’s successor as the new “Joker,” joined him on set. A retrospective segment, crafted by Michel Izard, chronicled Legros’s 26-year journey as the substitute anchor for the 1 PM news on TF1, culminating in an emotional send-off.

Legros expressed his gratitude to the dedicated teams he collaborated with throughout his career, emphasizing the collaborative nature of television news production.

I was talking about a symphonic orchestra and we must thank the musicians. Here at TF1, we are lucky to have only soloists.

comparative Viewership: TF1 Leads the Way

In comparison,Julien Buguier‘s 1 PM news program on a competing network attracted 1.92 million viewers, representing an 18.5% market share among individuals aged 4 and older, 11.9% of the FRDA-50 demographic, and 11.9% of the 25-49 age group. These figures highlight TF1’s dominance in the midday news landscape.

As the beginning of the academic year, TF1’s 1 PM news has averaged 4.49 million viewers (42.3% market share), peaking at 5.75 million viewers on April 21, 2025, and achieving a 46.5% market share on august 28, 2024. These statistics demonstrate the program’s consistent performance and widespread appeal.

Strong Ratings Preceding Departure

Legros’s final week as the “joker” was marked by consistently high viewership:

• Monday, May 5: 4.63 million viewers (44.3% market share)
• Tuesday, May 6: 4.24 million viewers (43.8% market share)
• Wednesday, May 7: 4.35 million viewers (42.0% market share)
• Thursday, May 8: 4.73 million viewers (41.1% market share)

What’s Next for Jacques Legros?

The question remains: what does the future hold for Jacques Legros? While he has kept his plans under wraps, he hinted at future endeavors in an interview, suggesting that he is far from ready to retire.

Lots of things that I will say later. I’m not going to stop. The concept of retirement does not exist for me.