- M6 celebrates this Sunday at 9:10 p.m. the 30th anniversary of “Zone Interdit”, a magazine created on the channel in March 1993.
- “We were the first to speak on television about obesity, anorexia or violence against women,” explains its creator, Patrick de Carolis.
- “All the hosts have been true to the show’s DNA. You have to have the humility to forget yourself a bit,” he adds.
For thirty years now, M6 has offered viewers investigative reports on Sunday evenings with ” Restricted zone “. An anniversary celebrated this Sunday at 9:10 p.m. with a special issue that will retrace the history of the status of women, couples and families in France using archive images and testimonies.
20 Minutes spoke with Patrick de Carolis who created the magazine and hosted it for its first four seasons. The current mayor of Arles evokes his memories and the secrets of the success of this emblematic program of M6.
How did the idea of creating “Zone Interdite” come about?
M6 had asked me for a new magazine of reports in the first part of the evening which could support the counter-programming. It was thus programmed on Sunday evening, traditionally a movie night. The communication campaign also said “With ‘Forbidden Zone’, reality is stronger than fiction”. Finally, we wanted it to be live to bring the program to life with guests. I proposed the title in homage to the film Stalker by Andrei Tarkovski who illustrated well the work of journalists in their quest for truth and light in an area where we want to prevent them from going.
Have you always had total freedom in the choice of subjects and reports presented?
Absolutely. I had the chance that Nicolas de Tavernost and Thomas Valentine [à l’époque respectivement directeur général et directeur des programmes de M6] trust me completely. I had the freedom to deal with the subjects that I wanted to present to the viewers. I thank them again because the success of a magazine also depends on the freedom that management gives you. For my part, I have never forbidden myself the slightest subject. The DNA of the magazine is to unearth societal trends. Thirty years ago, we were the first to speak on television about obesity, anorexia or violence against women.
Do you remember a particularly memorable show, or of which you are most proud?
It’s hard to choose memories after a 43-year career in television. But I remember very well when I left to follow Sister Emmanuelle for a week in Egypt. She took care of the rag pickers in Cairo and had decided to retire. It was a report on the commitment of a person who told me that, all her life, she had filled oceans with drops of water. We opened a window on the world of solidarity, we were far from the controversial subject.
How do you explain the steady success of the show, even after thirty years on the air and seven different hosts?
When we create a magazine, we try to keep it in step with the times, to be relevant and to meet a need. All the animators have been extremely faithful to this DNA. When you are a presenter and you are in the spotlight, you also have to have the humility to forget yourself a little to be able to better support the collective work that is done by the magazine. I think everyone had that intelligence. Not to mention that the subjects have evolved along with society to always reflect it.
You were president of France Télévisions for five years. How do you judge the current evolution of the public service?
You know, it’s been thirteen years since I left the controllers so I don’t have all the ins and outs. It would be a little easy for me to pass judgment. I can simply tell you that we need a major public service which gives the keys to understanding our world, which is increasingly close to the world of education and which is not a copy of another channel . Afterwards, should this or that program be deleted? This is not of my resort.
Do you miss the world of television? Do you plan to go back there in the near future?
This domain has filled me with happiness. I got involved at the age of 20 and I have known all the levels. I’m very happy that people thought of me to celebrate the anniversaries of “Zone Interdite” or “Roots and Wings” but I don’t look back on this past with nostalgia. I always watch the evolution of society but as mayor. I don’t have time to have regrets because I am 100% committed to the action alongside the people of Arles.