Georges Pernoud, the emblematic presenter of “Thalassa” from 1975 to 2017, passed away at the age of 73 following a long illness in a hospital in the Paris region.
From Fanny Agostini to Laurent Bignolas, those who worked alongside him remember.
"He was irreplaceable"
Fanny Agostini, former presenter of “Thalassa” from 2017 to 2019
"
Thalassa
is a show that shaped my convictions, made me travel and made me want to do this job.
Erik Berg, the editor at the time, wanted to organize a meeting.
And completely unexpectedly, I ran into Georges Pernoud in the corridors of France Télévisions.
It was the encounter with a myth for me who watched it religiously on Friday evening.
And Georges first gave me recommendations!
He was afraid that the show would be distorted, that it would lose its substance and its DNA.
He needed reassurance and I promised him that I was part of it, that it was visceral with me.
I was incredibly lucky and it was a huge honor to take over.
When I premiered, we watched the show together, not without emotion.
For the following ones, I called him several times to find out if he had appreciated it and if it was in line with what he expected.
And when we went to shoot, everyone spoke to me about Georges, proof that he was irreplaceable!
"
"A real nice guy who protected his troops"
Patricia Loison, former presenter of "Should not dream" from 2009 to 2011
“He was my mentor, a great man who changed my professional life.
He was the one who chose me for
Shouldn't Dream
when I wasn't part of the initial cast.
He fought to the end for me.
I see his thumbs up again to tell me that I had been selected.
We had a friendly crush.
Georges was elegant, warm.
A real nice guy who protected his troops.
When he left the
Thalassa
boat
for the headquarters of France Télévisions, he said he was going to the castle to defend us.
In recent months, we had planned to go see him.
We didn't have the time.
"
VIDEO. Georges Pernoud, the historical presenter of "Thalassa" dies at 73 years old
"A father figure"
Tania Young, former presenter of "Should not dream" from 2011 to 2014
“His disappearance is a great sadness.
Georges was a father figure, who was as interested in the people on his team as in their work.
He was very present all the time on the Thalassa boat.
He was a good person, very kind, calm and gentle.
Not a tyrannical leader.
I remember our first meeting, before I presented
Shouldn't Dream
.
Some would have preferred a trendy restaurant, he chose a very simple brasserie.
As his look.
He was immediately interested in me, in my journey as an adventurer.
It was as if we already knew each other.
He also really liked the contact with viewers, it touched him.
I remember his departure drink from Thalassa
(Editor's note: in June 2017)
, the difficulty he had in leaving his post.
He gave a very moving speech.
You could feel the love and passion he had for this show and his team, which he considered his family.
"
"He was a bit gruff and tender at the same time"
Laurent Bignolas, former co-presenter of “Thalassa” (2011) and “Faut pas rêve” (1999 to 2009)
“A captain who held the helm of his ship well.
That was Georges Pernoud.
The image is real, with harshness and a paternalistic side.
When we got on his boat, which was a state within a state, we were part of his family.
We were his spoiled children.
All the trips, all the encounters I have had thanks to Georges… I have gained in depth, in my head, in my heart.
And even if we didn't always agree, we could chat with him.
He was a bit gruff and tender at the same time, with his sparkling gaze.
He enjoyed humor and easily giggled about life situations.
I would have liked to take one last oyster with him, who adored seafood so much. He was a bon vivant.
He was nicknamed Balou, after the bear from
the Jungle Book
because he scratched his back and was crazy about honey.
He also collected hippo figurines.
What hurt him the most was stopping
Thalassa
.
He was afraid to stop working, to stray from his life.
"
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"He made the whole of France dream"
Laurence Bobillier, former editor-in-chief of "Thalassa"
“Georges was a great television man.
Someone of great curiosity and exceptional humanity who could be ecstatic over a shot, an image always with the gaze of a former cameraman.
He made the whole of France dream.
He loved to tell us about his years at boarding school and especially the trips, paid for by his journalist father, which forged his youth.
It was also our rock, our lighthouse.
He made me love the sea. The first time I met him I was impressed despite my years of experience.
He still had desires, ideas.
"
"We promised to return to Doudinka in Russia"
Erik Berg, his last editor in chief at "Thalassa"
“Ah Georges… He was very surrounded by his friends until Covid-19 and by his family, until the last moment.
I had prepared for it.
He had been in a coma for five days and his oxygen had been turned off.
He had had Alzheimer's for over two years.
The last time I saw him was in his retirement home.
He couldn't remember me or his shows.
But he still had the sea in mind.
I see him staring at a country landscape painting on the wall and talking to me about boats.
When he was still in charge of
Thalassa
, he was always there first and stood on deck to watch his team arrive while smoking a cigarette or two.
The sea occupied his mind all the time, and he thought we hadn't shown everything yet.
He was not a man of concept but, like Henri Sannier
(Editor's note: journalist and presenter of Tout le sport, in particular)
, he had this predisposition to know what would appeal to the public, how to reach viewers through stories of sailors.
When he was shooting outside, people would come to him to thank him.
But he was never bothered and didn't have the groupie side.
Georges Pernoud was Mr. Everyone.
The uncle of the family, benevolent who shared his passion for the sea. His departure from
Thalassa
was a difficult moment, he was afraid of stopping, even if he was aware that he was already beginning to lose his memory.
One day, he told himself that his condition no longer allowed him, that he needed a teleprompter more and more, and the next day, he wanted to postpone the deadline by three months.
It was a roller coaster.
That year, he was very proud to receive the Medal of Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur awarded by Ségolène Royal, then Minister of the Environment.
It was important to him that the institutions of the Republic recognize the work done for the sea and the oceans.
At the end of
Thalassa
, I asked him where he dreamed of returning.
Seychelles, Mauritius, Panama?
He replied Doudinka.
The port of Dudinka, in the north of Russia, with its icy winds, its otherworldly landscapes and its sailors.
We had promised to go there together.
The disease took it from us too quickly.
"