Secrets d'Histoire
French historical television program
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Secrets d'Histoire is a historical television program presented by Stéphane Bern.
Baptiste Mathon (current Editor-in-Chief)
| Secrets d'Histoire | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Historical documentary |
| Created by | Vanessa Pontet (Editor-in-Chief from 2010 to 2017) Baptiste Mathon (current Editor-in-Chief) |
| Showrunners | Stéphane Bern, Isabelle Benhadj (voice-over) |
| Country of origin | France |
| No. of seasons | 19 |
| No. of episodes | 190 |
| Production | |
| Producer | Jean-Louis Remilleux |
| Original release | |
| Network | France 2 |
| Release | 30 September 2007 – 2019 |
| Network | France 3 |
| Release | 2019 – present |
Each episode retraces the life of a major historical figure, and highlights highly emblematic sites in France and other major countries.
It was broadcast on France 2 from 2007 to 2019, and on France 3 from 2019.
Journalist and producer Jean-Louis Remilleux came up with the original idea for the program.
History
A tricky start (2007–2011)
Secrets d'Histoire was broadcast for the first time on France 2 on September 30, 2007.[1]
At the time of the show's launch, the channel indicated that its aim was to introduce viewers to famous historical figures, but also to decipher some of history's unexplained, and sometimes inexplicable, mysteries.[1]
The first issue is devoted to the death of Emperor Napoleon I, and the theories that have circulated concerning his possible poisoning.[1]
For the first two seasons, the program was broadcast on Sunday afternoons on France 2.[2] Each issue featured a variety of reports, interspersed with on-stage debates with various specialists, including historians, writers, and researchers.[1]
In July 2008, the channel's management decided to discontinue the show. Stéphane Bern stated at the time that he had denounced "France Télévisions' lack of editorial audacity when it came to culture and heritage". Thanks to good ratings and "the mobilization of viewers on the France 2 website", the show continued throughout the summer of 2008. During this period, four new hour-and-a-half episodes were broadcast in the first half of the evening.[3]
In September 2008, however, the program was dropped from the schedule to make way for L'Objet du scandale, presented by Guillaume Durand.[4] In 2009 and 2010, the show returned to the broadcast schedule, but only in August for a few hour-and-a-half episodes in the first half of the evening.
In the summer of 2011, France 2 broadcast seven new episodes in the first half of the evening. In the same year, the show's editorial line evolved: "This season, we've taken a new turn with the issue devoted to Claude Monet, which will be broadcast on August 30. I'm also thinking of devoting one to Victor Hugo. In short, Secrets d'Histoire will open up to artists whose dimension is not only cultural," explains Stéphane Bern.[5]
At the same time, the show's audience has grown from an average of three million viewers in 2008 to 3.6 million in summer 2011.[6]
Increasing success (2012–2018)
In the summer of 2012, France 2 broadcast ten new episodes in the first half of the evening, several of which met with notable success. The episode devoted to Louis XIV, entitled Louis XIV, les passions du Roi Soleil (Louis XIV, the passions of the Sun King), set a new audience record, with nearly five million viewers and a 21.2% audience share. This was the best audience in the show's history.[7]
From 2014 onwards, the show was broadcast more randomly and on varying days of the week (either Tuesdays or Thursdays). In an interview with Le Figaro, Stéphane Bern explains that he was unhappy at the time, regretting that the show acted as a "filler" on France 2.[8]
Despite random broadcasts, the show has met with growing success, including abroad. Interviewed on the occasion of the eleventh season in 2017, Stéphane Bern said: "The main thing that's changed is that people abroad are starting to get to know Secrets d'Histoire better. We've been approached by the Swedes, for example." According to him, this new notoriety had "opened doors" for the show.[9]
In the same year, the film extracts were removed and replaced by scenes of historical re-enactments with actors, filmed especially for the show. The actors were dressed in period costumes, but did not speak any of the text, with commentary provided by historians Stéphane Bern and Isabelle Benhadj.[10]
The decision to shoot re-enactment sequences was due to the refusal of some directors, such as Luc Besson with his film Jeanne d'Arc (The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc), to have their films cut in the editing process, but also because the production of Secrets d'Histoire sometimes needed scenes that didn't exist in the films.[11]
According to the show's producer, Jean-Louis Remilleux, the issue of broadcasting rights also led the production team to opt for re-enactments. In fact, even if reenactment scenes cost significantly more than scenes from films or TV movies (10,000 euros for a reenactment compared with 4,000 to 6,000 euros for a film), this avoids the production having to pay rights again if the episodes are rebroadcast.[11]
In June 2018, a party was organized at the Château de Versailles to celebrate the show's tenth anniversary. On this occasion, patrons of the château were invited, as well as viewers who had registered on the show's Facebook page. "Ten years ago, we were told that a history show was just for old ladies doing macramé in Southern Brittany. The network didn't believe in Stéphane either. And have you seen our ratings?" enthuses the show's producer Jean-Louis Remilleux.[12]
In August 2019, the show was mourned by the death of writer and columnist Michel de Decker, who had collaborated on numerous issues. On hearing of his death, Stéphane Bern paid tribute to him: "I owe him a lot, and the show owes him a lot. He made the show great for over ten years. He was very attached to the show."[13][14]
New life on France 3 (since 2019)
In October 2019, the show was switched to the France 3 channel.[15] This choice is explained by the France Télévisions group's desire to maintain editorial consistency between its two channels, France 2 and France 3. As France 3 focuses on promoting France's heritage and regions, through programs such as Le Village préféré des Français (French Favourite Village) and Des racines et des ailes (Roots and wings), France Télévisions management decided to broadcast the program Secrets d'Histoire on this channel.[16]
In an interview with Le Parisien, France Télévisions' second-in-command, Takis Candilis, said that the group wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to offer viewers "more prime-time episodes", without specifying whether these would be new or reruns.[17]
From October 2019, the show was broadcast regularly on Monday evenings on France 3, a choice that satisfied Stéphane Bern, for whom it was important for the program to have a fixed weekday slot.[18]
Since its broadcast on France 3, the show has recorded encouraging audience figures. The first three episodes broadcast from October 2019 averaged 2.4 million viewers (10.5% market share). Following these good results, the Secrets d'Histoire team has indicated that nine further issues have been commissioned for 2020, with a budget of 400,000 euros for each program.[19]
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic and health measures taken by various European countries disrupted the filming of certain programs. As a result, some shoots scheduled outside France were either cancelled or entrusted to local crews. This was the case for the program dedicated to Mary of Burgundy, part of which took place at the Château de Grandson in Switzerland. As museum curator Camille Verdier explains it was a local team that took charge of filming at the castle: "We were contacted and everything fell into place very quickly. Because of the confinement and border closures, a team from Geneva took care of the shooting, in the presence of the director".[20]
The filming of a program on Napoleon I, to mark the bicentenary of his death, was also disrupted. "We were supposed to do all the sets on St. Helena, but we would have had to endure a quarantine on location. So we shot at Fontainebleau and Les Invalides," explains Stéphane Bern.[21]
The same year saw the launch of a spin-off of the show, based on the same principle and devoted to famous places: Si les murs pouvaient parler (If the walls could talk), on France 2.[22]
On January 25, 2021, the show announced the launch on March 8 of secretsdhistoire.tv, a pay-per-view video platform on the Internet, allowing viewers to watch all issues of Secrets d'Histoire,[23] as well as other types of programs related to history and heritage. In an interview with La Nouvelle République newspaper, platform manager Baptiste Mathon explains:
All 150 episodes of Secrets d'Histoire will be featured, as well as previously unpublished documents and new multidisciplinary programs. History will be told through the prism of sports, cooking, make-up, fashion, decoration, gardening... [...] All interviews with historians will be available to subscribers worldwide. It's the same way Netflix works.[23]
From January 2023 onwards, the show was moved from Monday to Wednesday evenings, where it is regularly broadcast.[24]
Program description
Choice of topics
In an interview with Télérama in October 2019, Stéphane Bern explained how the subjects for the various programs were chosen: "We have lists with my producer Jean-Louis Remilleux, and after that, we go and see France Télévisions' cultural programs department. [...]" he explains.[25]
One important criterion is the possibility of taking viewers on a tour of French heritage sites. He explains:
We make lists of subjects, always bearing in mind that it has to have an impact on: What heritage site can we show the French? [...] For me, this is a requirement, because I believe that there is a geography of History. History can only be told properly in the places where it took place. With young people, that's what moves them the most. [...] It really makes history more accessible.[25][26]
Another criterion is the commemoration of important anniversaries, such as the centenary of the birth or death of a historical figure. In 2015, to mark the tricentenary of the death of Louis XIV, the program aired two consecutive issues on the reign of the "Sun King". The first, Louis XIV, l'homme et le roi (Louis XIV, the man and the king), retraced the monarch's childhood, his seizure of power and his conception of absolute monarchy. The second, Louis XIV, le roi est mort, vive le roi! (Louis XIV, the king is dead, long live the king!) focuses on the end of the monarch's life, and the various deaths that created problems for the succession to the French throne.[27] In 2020, to mark the 250th anniversary of Ludwig van Beethoven's birth, the show devoted a special edition to him, entitled Beethoven, tout pour la musique (Beethoven, all for the music).[28]
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The existence of temporary exhibitions in certain museums is also an opportunity for the show to highlight certain characters. For example, during an exhibition on the Tudors at the Musée du Luxembourg in 2015,[29] the show aired an issue devoted to Queen Elizabeth I of England.[30] In 2019, on the occasion of the exhibition Tutankhamun, the Pharaoh's Treasure held at the Grande halle de la Villette in Paris,[31] an issue on Tutankhamun and Ramesses II was broadcast.[32]
During a shoot at Souvigny in 2018, Stéphane Bern confirmed the existence of these criteria:
The selection is made on the basis of interest and historical interest. Depending on the year, there are anniversaries. Right now, there's an exhibition on Louis-Philippe. We thought it only natural to do a show about Louis-Philippe. We also celebrated Saint-Louis' birthday and Josephine's bicentenary.[33]
History of topics covered
The majority of programs feature a portrait of a historical figure. Some programs are devoted to well-known figures such as Louis XIV, François I, or Napoleon I, while others are devoted to lesser-known figures such as Thérèse de Lisieux or certain female figures of the French Revolution like Olympe de Gouges and Anne-Josèphe Théroigne de Méricourt.[34]
The choice of focusing on the lives of characters rather than on the history of ideas or social movements is assented to by presenter Stéphane Bern: "I'm among those who think it's important to know the reigns, to know those who wrote history, and not just the evolution of ideas, this global vision that prevents students from having landmarks and a certain anchoring".[34]
The characters chosen are often from the nobility (kings, queens, emperors, empresses, etc.). Of the eighty-five subjects broadcast between January 2007 and July 2014, fifty dealt with a crowned head.[35]
According to Stéphane Bern, this editorial choice was made in response to audience demand:
Every time I do a show about revolutionaries, painters, or people like Clemenceau, it doesn't work as well as when I do a show about Marie Antoinette. [...] Besides, I've already covered a lot of revolutionaries. In 2016, I did an issue on Les femmes de la Révolution (Women of the Revolution) and it flopped in the ratings.[36]
Some issues are dedicated to artistic figures: writers (Victor Hugo, George Sand, Agatha Christie), painters (Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso), musicians (Mozart, Beethoven), actors (Sarah Bernhardt), playwrights (Molière) or opera singers (Maria Callas).[37] Others are political figures (Richelieu, Mazarin, Fouquet, Talleyrand, Danton, Clemenceau, Churchill, De Gaulle), military figures (Joan of Arc) or navigators (Christopher Columbus). Some historical figures have been the subject of several broadcasts. Louis XIV and Napoleon I, for example, were the subject of three programs. Two programs were devoted to Cleopatra, Joan of Arc, Molière, Madame de Pompadour, Casanova, Mozart, Elisabeth of Austria (Sissi), Ludwig II of Bavaria and Jesus.[38]
Although Antiquity is not one of the most represented periods on the show, issues are regularly devoted to characters from this period (Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, Agrippina, Nero, Jesus, Judas, Nefertiti, Tutankhamun).[32]
More rarely, some issues are devoted to illustrious places (L'Élysée, Monaco, the royal residences or the Vatican), historical enigmas (the Templar treasure, the Iron Mask, the Beast of Gévaudan) or landmark events (the storming of the Bastille).[39]
Broadcast format
Previous formula
Between 2007 and 2008, the program alternated reports with on-set debates hosted by Stéphane Bern. The reports consisted of interviews with historians, interspersed with presentations of archive documents, paintings and film extracts recreating these historic events, all commented on by a voice-over.[40]
The on-set debates were filmed in the Royal Library of Versailles.[1] Hosted by Stéphane Bern, the program was accompanied by Isabelle Heullant-Donat (historian of the Middle Ages at the University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne), Clémentine Portier-Kaltenbach (history columnist at Le Nouvel Obs) and Philippe Charlier (paleopathologist and forensic pathologist).[40] In this format, programs lasted around an hour.
New formula
As of 2017, the film extracts had been removed to make way for scenes of historical re-enactments with actors. The actors were dressed in period costumes, but didn't speak a word, with commentary provided by historians Stéphane Bern and Isabelle Benhadj.[10] In the new format, programs lasts between an hour and a half and two hours.
Speakers
Depending on the subject, various specialists are interviewed during the program to shed light on the characters or the historical context. They may be historians, writers who have written a biography of the character in question, professors, archaeologists or museum curators.[1]
List of broadcasts
Season 1 (2007)
The first season was broadcast on Sunday afternoons from September 3 to December 2, 2007, on France 2.
It consists of eight episodes devoted to historical mysteries such as the assassination of Empress Sissi, or debated historical events such as the death of Napoleon I.[41]
| Rank | First broadcast | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 30, 2007 | Did Napoleon die of poisoning?[41] | The death of Napoleon I. |
| 2 | October 7, 2007 | Was Joan of Arc betrayed by the King?[41] | Joan of Arc at the end of her life. |
| 3 | October 7, 2007 | Why did Cleopatra commit suicide?[41] | A look back at the suicide of Egypt's last queen, Cleopatra. |
| 4 | October 21, 2007 | Why was Sissi the Empress murdered?[41] | The death of Elisabeth of Wittelsbach, Empress of Austria. |
| 5 | October 28, 2007 | Did Molière write his plays?[41] | Molière's authorship of works attributed to him. |
| 6 | November 4, 2007 | Mary Stuart: martyred queen or manipulator?[41] | The story of Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots and Queen of France. |
| 7 | November 25, 2007 | Did La Pompadour lead Louis XV to his downfall?[41] | Madame de Pompadour's role with Louis XV. |
| 8 | December 2, 2007 | Did Louis XVII, the child king, die in prison?[41] | The death of Louis XVII in the Temple prison. |
Season 2 (2008)
The second season ran from January 27 to August 31, 2008, on France 2.
Twenty-one issues were devoted to historical mysteries, such as the mystery of the Man in the Iron Mask, or famous historical events that have been the subject of debate, such as the assassination of the Romanovs in 1918. To mark the reopening of the Petit Trianon estate, closed for three years for restoration, a special issue is devoted to Queen Marie-Antoinette.[42]
The programs were broadcast on Sunday afternoons, with the exception of those from August 4 to 21, which were broadcast in prime time.[3]
| Rank | First broadcast | Title | Description | Number of viewers | Audience share | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | January 27, 2008 | Nostradamus: prophet or impostor?[42] | The predictions of Nostradamus. | |||
| 10 | February 17, 2008 | Did Judas betray Jesus?[42] | Judas's betrayal of Jesus. | |||
| 11 | February 24, 2008 | Mata Hari: spy or femme fatale?[42] | The portrait of Mata Hari. | |||
| 12 | March 2, 2008 | Who was behind the man in the iron mask?[42] | The enigma of the Man in the Iron Mask. | |||
| 13 | March 16, 2008 | Who was the real Casanova?[42] | The personality of Casanova. | |||
| 14 | March 23, 2008 | Why did Charlotte Corday murder Marat?[42] | Charlotte Corday's assassination of Marat. | |||
| 15 | March 30, 2008 | Did Robin Hood really exist?[42] | A look back at the possible existence of the medieval hero Robin Hood. | |||
| 16 | April 20, 2008 | What is the mystery of the Beast of Gévaudan?[42] | The enigma surrounding the Beast of Gévaudan. | |||
| 17 | April 27, 2008 | Where is the Templar treasure hidden?[42] | The mystery surrounding the Templar treasure. | |||
| 18 | May 4, 2008 | Did Christopher Columbus discover America?[42] | Christopher Columbus' discovery of America. | |||
| 19 | May 18, 2008 | Why did Mozart die prematurely?[42] | The death of Mozart. | |||
| 20 | June 15, 2008 | What mystery surrounds the death of the Romanovs?[42] | The execution of the Romanovs. | |||
| 21 | June 22, 2008 | Who was behind the Chevalier d'Éon?[42] | The sexual identity of the Chevalier d'Éon. | |||
| 22 | June 29, 2008 | Gilles de Rais: the true story of Bluebeard[42] | Portrait of Gilles de Rais. | |||
| 23 | July 31, 2008 | Catherine de Médicis and the intrigues of the Loire castles[42] | Portrait of Catherine de Médici, wife of Henry II and mother of Francis II, Charles IX and Henry III. | |||
| 24 | August 3, 2008 | Was Sissi's son Rudolf murdered?[42] | The death of Rudolf of Austria, son of Elisabeth of Wittelsbach. | |||
| 25 | August 7, 2008 | Marie-Antoinette intimate[42] | Visit the Petit Trianon, a gift from Louis XVI to Queen Marie-Antoinette. | |||
| 26 | August 14, 2008 | Napoleon and women[42] | Napoleon's relationship with his mother, wives and mistresses. | |||
| 27 | August 21, 2008 | They ruled Versailles | The passions of the great monarchs at the court of Versailles. | 3 100 000 | 15,6% | [43] |
| 28 | August 24, 2008 | Did Rasputin hasten the end of the tsars?[42] | Rasputin's ascendancy over the Russian imperial family. | |||
| 29 | August 31, 2008 | Was Ludwig II of Bavaria murdered?[42] | The death of Ludwig II of Bavaria. |
Season 3 (2009)
The third season ran from August 3 to August 27, 2009, on France 2.
| Rank | First broadcast | Title | Description | Number of viewers | Audience share | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | August 13, 2009 | Henry VIII: a tyrant's love | Portrait of Henry VIII of England, a king of extravagance. | 2 481 000 | 14,3% | [44] |
| 31 | August 20, 2009 | Henri IV: the king at heart | Portrait of Henri IV, romantic seducer. | 3 336 000 | 18,2% | [45] |
| 32 | August 27, 2009 | Catherine II: sleepless nights in St Petersburg | Portrait of Catherine II of Russia, Tsarina of Russia. | 3 034 000 | 15,5% | [46] |
Season 4 (2010)
The fourth season ran from August 4 to August 25, 2010, on France 2.
It featured a series of four programs devoted to influential women: Eugénie de Montijo, the last empress of France; Anne of Austria, mother of Louis XIV; Diane de Poitiers, favorite of King Henry II; and Madame Palatine.[47]
| Rank | First broadcast | Title | Description | Number of viewers | Audience share | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33 | August 4, 2010 | Eugenie, the last empress | Portrait of Eugénie de Montijo, who became Empress of the French when she married Napoleon III. | 3 000 000 | 15% | [48] |
| 34 | August 11, 2010 | Diane de Poitiers, queen of favorites | Portrait of Diane de Poitiers, royal governess and mistress of King Henry II. | 2 600 000 | 13% | [49] |
| 35 | August 18, 2010 | La Palatine, a gossip at the court of Louis XIV | Portrait of Elisabeth-Charlotte of Bavaria, sister-in-law of Louis XIV. | 2 900 000 | 14% | [50] |
| 36 | August 25, 2010 | Anne of Austria, mysterious mother of the Sun King | Portrait of Anne of Austria, mother of Louis XIV. | 3 200 000 | 15,5% | [51] |
Season 5 (2011)
The fifth season ran from July 12 to September 18, 2011, on France 2.
To coincide with the Claude Monet retrospective at the Grand Palais in Paris in January 2011, a program was devoted to the French painter.[52] A special program was also devoted to a visit to the Élysée Palace.
All programs were broadcast in prime time, with the exception of the program on the Élysée Palace, which was broadcast at 10:30 pm.[53]
| Rank | First broadcast | Title | Description | Number of viewers | Audience share | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37 | July 12, 2011 | Tutankhamun: a pharaoh's treasure | Portrait of Tutankhamun, eleventh pharaoh of the 18th dynasty. | 3 410 000 | 14,5% | [54] |
| 38 | August 9, 2011 | Francis I: king of kings | Portrait of Francis I, King of France. | 3 904 000 | 18,6% | [55] |
| 39 | August 16, 2011 | Queen Victoria or the empire of the senses | Portrait of Victoria during the longest reign in British history. | 3 572 000 | 17,8% | [56] |
| 40 | August 23, 2011 | Nicolas Fouquet: the offended Sun | Portrait of Nicolas Fouquet, Superintendent of Finances under Louis XIV. | 3 690 000 | 16,4% | [57] |
| 41 | August 30, 2011 | Claude Monet: secret gardens at Giverny | Portrait of Claude Monet, French Impressionist painter. | 2 989 000 | 12,5% | [58] |
| 42 | September 6, 2011 | Sissi Empress: love, glory and tragedy | Portrait of Elisabeth of Bavaria, known as "Sissi", Empress of Austria. | 3 511 000 | 13,6% | [59] |
| 43 | September 18, 2011 | If the walls of the Élysée Palace could speak | Visit to the Élysée Palace. | 1 600 000 | 12% | [60] |
Season 6 (2012)
The sixth season ran from May 29 to November 6, 2012, on France 2.
The season featured twelve episodes devoted to famous historical figures such as Victor Hugo and Suleiman the Magnificent, as well as lesser-known ones like Queen Christine of Sweden. To mark the 60th anniversary of her reign, a program was also dedicated to Queen Elizabeth II of England.
| Rank | First broadcast | Title | Description | Number of viewers | Audience share | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44 | May 29, 2012 | Elizabeth II, in the intimacy of the reign | Portrait of Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom and Head of the Commonwealth from 1952 to 2022. | 4 500 000 | 17% | [61] |
| 45 | July 3, 2012 | Louis XIV, the passions of the Sun King | A look back at the passions of King Louis XIV. | 4 905 000 | 21% | [62] |
| 46 | July 10, 2012 | Victor Hugo, the hidden face of the great man | Portrait of Victor Hugo. | 4 237 000 | 17,7% | [63] |
| 47 | July 17, 2012 | Isabelle the Catholic | The reign of Isabella I of Castile. | 4 033 000 | 18,4% | [64] |
| 48 | July 24, 2012 | Louis XV and Marie Leczinska, deception at Versailles | Cross-portraits of Louis XV and his wife, Queen Marie Leszczynska. | 3 828 000 | 19% | [65] |
| 49 | August 7, 2012 | Christine of Sweden: queen of scandals | The life of the little-known Christine of Sweden. | 3 353 000 | 15,7% | [66] |
| 50 | August 21, 2012 | Soliman the Magnificent | Portrait of the best-known sultan, Suleiman the Magnificent. | 3 433 000 | 17,1% | [67] |
| 51 | August 28, 2012 | Marie-Caroline, the indomitable Queen of Naples and Sicily | Portrait of Maria Carolina of Austria, Queen of Naples and Sicily. | 3 020 000 | 12,9% | [68] |
| 52 | September 4, 2012 | The Duc d'Aumale, the magician of Chantilly | Portrait of Prince Henri d'Orléans, and history of the collections at his Château de Chantilly, now France's second-largest museum. | 3 509 000 | 13,9% | [69] |
| 53 | September 11, 2012 | Monaco and the Grimaldi princes | Prince Albert II opens the doors of the palace to reveal the history of his family, the Grimaldis, who have ruled the rock of Monaco for over seven hundred years. | 4 719 000 | 18,7% | [70] |
| 54 | October 16, 2012 | Talleyrand, the lame devil | Portrait of Prince Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord. | 3 980 000 | 14,5% | [71] |
| 55 | November 6, 2012 | La Fayette, once upon a time in America | Portrait of Marquis Gilbert du Motier de La Fayette. | 3 480 000 | 13% | [72] |
Season 7 (2013)
The seventh season ran from January 15 to December 26, 2013, on France 2.
The season consisted of fifteen issues devoted to famous historical figures such as Mozart and Armand Jean du Plessis de Richelieu, plus a special issue devoted to the storming of the Bastille. To mark the 40th anniversary of Pablo Picasso's death, an issue was dedicated to the Spanish painter.
In terms of audience ratings, the issue devoted to Jesus of Nazareth gave the show its best score of the season (4.85 million viewers).[73]
| Rank | First broadcast | Title | Description | Number of viewers | Audience share | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 56 | January 15, 2013 | Molière takes off his mask! | Portrait of Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known as Molière, on the occasion of the 391st anniversary of his birth. | 3 374 000 | 11,9% | [74] |
| 57 | February 19, 2013 | Juan Carlos, King of the Spaniards | Portrait of the King of Spain, Juan Carlos I. | 3 676 000 | 14,1% | [75] |
| 58 | March 26, 2013 | If Vatican walls could talk | Portrait of Vatican. | 4 539 000 | 16,1% | [76] |
| 59 | April 9, 2013 | The Picasso mystery | Portrait of Picasso, on the 40th anniversary of his death | 2 499 000 | 9,5% | [77] |
| 60 | May 7, 2013 | A man named Jesus | Portrait of Jesus of Nazareth. | 4 856 000 | 19,8% | [73] |
| 61 | July 14, 2013 | July 14, 1789, the morning of the great evening | A look back at the day the Bastille was taken. | 3 676 000 | 19,1% | [78] |
| 62 | August 6, 2013 | Sarah Bernhardt, her life, her follies | Portrait of Sarah Bernhardt. | 2 529 000 | 12,5% | [79] |
| 63 | August 13, 2013 | Cardinal de Richelieu: heaven can wait | Portrait of Richelieu the cardinal builder. | 3 550 000 | 18,1% | [80] |
| 64 | August 20, 2013 | Mozart: freedom or death! | Portrait of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. | 3 385 000 | 16,5% | [81] |
| 65 | August 27, 2013 | Queen Amélie, a Frenchwoman in Portugal! | Portrait of Amélie, Queen of Portugal. | 3 470 000 | 14,8% | [82] |
| 66 | September 3, 2013 | I, Charles V, master of the world | Portrait of Charles Quint. | 3 510 000 | 14% | [83] |
| 67 | October 1, 2013 | Gatsby and the Magnificents | Portraits of American billionaires since the Civil War: John Davison Rockefeller, John Jacob Astor IV, John Pierpont Morgan, William Henry Vanderbilt and Andrew Carnegie. | 2 809 000 | 10,9% | [84] |
| 68 | November 5, 2013 | Frédéric II: the King of Prussia is a bit baroque | Portrait of Frédéric II of Prussia. | 2 743 000 | 9,8% | [85] |
| 69 | December 3, 2013 | Georges Clemenceau: a Tiger with a big heart | Portrait of Georges Clemenceau. | 3 600 000 | 14% | [86] |
| 70 | December 26, 2013 | Gayatri Devi: a princess in the land of the Maharajas | Portrait of Gayatri Devi. | 3 134 000 | 12,6% | [87] |
Season 8 (2014)
The eighth season ran from February 25 to November 25, 2014, on France 2.
The season was marked by the commemoration of several anniversaries, such as the centenary of the start of the First World War and the four hundredth anniversary of the Romanov dynasty. To mark the occasion, programs were dedicated respectively to Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and the last Tsar of Russia, Nicholas II. On the occasion of the opening to the public of the Fort de Brégançon, residence of the President of the French Republic, an issue was also devoted to a visit to the various holiday resorts of political and royal personalities. The vast majority of programs were broadcast in the first half of the evening, with the exception of the program on Franz Ferdinand of Austria, which was broadcast at 4:30 p.m. to mark the centenary of the First World War.[88]
In terms of audience ratings, the issue devoted to the residences of power gave the show its best score of the season (3.63 million viewers).[89] Conversely, the issue devoted to Franz Ferdinand of Austria achieved mixed results, attracting just 900,000 viewers (the lowest audience of the season).[88]
| Rank | First broadcast | Title | Description | Number of viewers | Audience share | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 71 | February 25, 2014 | Nicholas II: Russia's last tsar | Portrait of Nicholas II, on the occasion of the four-hundred-year history of the Romanov dynasty. | 3 625 000 | 14,3% | [90] |
| 72 | June 28, 2014 | Franz Ferdinand or the end of the world | Portrait of Franz Ferdinand of Austria, to mark the centenary of his assassination, which sparked off the First World War. | 900 000 | 9% | [88] |
| 73 | July 14, 2014 | Danton: To arms, citizens! | Portrait of Georges Jacques Danton. | 2 863 000 | 13,9% | [91] |
| 74 | July 15, 2014 | Royal vacations... | Portrait of the residences of power: Fort de Brégançon, Castel Gandolfo and Château de Balmoral. | 3 628 000 | 16,8% | [89] |
| 75 | July 22, 2014 | La Pompadour or the king in love | Portrait of the Madame de Pompadour, mistress of Louis XV. | 3 428 000 | 16,1% | [92] |
| 76 | July 29, 2014 | Agnès Sorel, first of the favorites | Portrait of Agnès Sorel, mistress Charles VII. | 3 428 000 | 15,6% | [93] |
| 77 | August 5, 2014 | Glory and sorrow of Maria Callas | Portrait of Maria Callas. | 2 375 000 | 11,7% | [94] |
| 78 | August 12, 2014 | The irresistible rise of Madame de Maintenon | Portrait of Madame de Maintenon, mistress and later morganatic wife of Louis XIV. | 3 149 000 | 16% | [95] |
| 79 | August 19, 2014 | The Queens of Paris | Portraits of La Castiglione, La Païva, Caroline Otero, Liane de Pougy. | 2 907 000 | 14,2% | [96] |
| 80 | August 26, 2014 | De Gaulle, the last of the giants | Portrait of Charles de Gaulle, to mark the 70th anniversary of the Liberation of Paris. | 3 450 000 | 14,8% | [97] |
| 81 | September 2, 2014 | Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg | Portrait of Charlotte of Luxembourg. | 2 800 000 | 11,6% | [98] |
| 82 | September 9, 2014 | Saint Louis, on earth as it is in heaven | Portrait of Louis IX, known as Saint Louis, on the occasion of the 800th anniversary of his birth. | 3 281 000 | 13,7% | [99] |
| 83 | October 14, 2014 | Anne of Brittany, twice queen | Portrait of Anne of Brittany to mark the 500th anniversary of her death. | 3 419 000 | 13,7% | [100] |
| 84 | October 21, 2014 | Mazarin, dangerous liaisons | Portrait of Cardinal Mazarin. | 3 177 000 | 12,1% | [101] |
| 85 | November 18, 2014 | Queen Hortense for better and for Empire... | Portrait of Hortense de Beauharnais. | 3 080 000 | 11,9% | [102] |
| 86 | November 25, 2014 | Julius Caesar or the glory of Rome | Portrait of Julius Caesar. | 3 179 000 | 11,7% | [103] |
Season 9 (2015)
The ninth season ran from April 7 to October 20, 2015, on France 2.
The season was marked by the commemoration of several anniversaries, including the bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo and the tercentenary of the death of King Louis XIV. To highlight the occasion, one program was dedicated to Emperor Napoleon I and two to Louis XIV. To coincide with an exhibition on the Tudors at the Musée du Luxembourg in Paris, an issue was devoted to Queen Elizabeth I.[104]
In terms of audience ratings, the issue devoted to King Louis XVI gave the show its best score of the season (3.81 million viewers).[105]
| Rank | First broadcast | Title | Description | Number of viewers | Audience share | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 87 | April 7, 2015 | Elizabeth I, the virgin queen | Portrait of Elisabeth I of England. | 3 170 000 | 12,6% | [106] |
| 88 | May 19, 2015 | Louis XVI, the unknown of Versailles | Portrait of Louis XVI. | 3 810 000 | 15,4% | [105] |
| 89 | June 2, 2015 | How do you become Napoleon? | Portrait of Napoleon Bonaparte on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo. Reissued on August 15, 2019, to mark the 250th anniversary of Napoleon's birth. | 2 900 000 | 12,5% | [107] |
| 90 | August 11, 2015 | Eleanor of Aquitaine, a rebel in the Middle Ages | Portrait of Eleanor of Aquitaine. | 3 080 000 | 16,6% | [108] |
| 91 | August 18, 2015 | The Marquise de Sévigné, the spirit of the great century | Portrait of Marquise de Sévigné. | 3 300 000 | 16,2% | [109] |
| 92 | August 25, 2015 | Désirée Clary, Marseillaise... and Queen of Sweden | Portrait of Désirée Clary. | 2 610 000 | 11,6% | [110] |
| 93 | September 1, 2015 | Louis XIV, the man and the king | Portrait of Louis XIV. | 3 780 000 | 16,3% | [111] |
| 94 | September 1, 2015 | Louis XIV, the king is dead, long live the king! | An evocation of the death of Louis XIV, to mark the 300th anniversary of his death. | 2 120 000 | 20% | [111] |
| 95 | September 8, 2015 | Holy Charlemagne! | Portrait of Charlemagne. | 3 171 000 | 14% | [112] |
| 96 | September 22, 2015 | Joan of Arc, in the name of God | Portrait of Joan of Arc. | 2 982 000 | 13,3% | [113] |
| 97 | October 20, 2015 | Casanova, love in Venice | Portrait of Giacomo Casanova. | 2 792 000 | 11% | [114] |
Season 10 (2016)
The tenth season ran from January 19 to November 15, 2016, on France 2.
The season consists of eleven issues devoted to famous historical figures such as Cleopatra, or lesser-known ones like Wallis Simpson. A special issue was also dedicated to women who played a notable role during the French Revolution (Théroigne de Méricourt, Olympe de Gouges, Charlotte Corday and Thérésa Tallien). In terms of audience ratings, the issue devoted to King Ludwig II of Bavaria gave the show its best score of the season (2.91 million viewers).[115]
| Rank | First broadcast | Title | Description | Number of viewers | Audience share | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 98 | January 19, 2016 | What if Henri III wasn't cute? | Portrait of Henri III. | 2 883 000 | 11,7% | [116] |
| 99 | March 29, 2016 | Ludwig II of Bavaria, the perched king | Portrait of Ludwig II of Bavaria. | 2 921 000 | 11,9% | [115] |
| 100 | May 3, 2016 | In Florence, Lorenzo the Magnificent | Portrait of Lorenzo de' Medici. | 2 467 000 | 10,5% | [117] |
| 101 | July 12, 2016 | Women of the Revolution | Portrait of Madame Tallien, Charlotte Corday, Olympe de Gouges, Théroigne de Méricourt, Madame Roland, Madame de Staël. | 2 455 000 | 11,1% | [118] |
| 102 | July 19, 2016 | La Grande Mademoiselle: a rebel under Louis XIV | Portrait of Anne-Marie-Louise d'Orléans known as Grande Mademoiselle. | 2 237 000 | 11% | [119] |
| 103 | July 26, 2016 | Cleopatra or the fatal beauty | Portrait of Cleopatra. | 2 816 000 | 14% | [120] |
| 104 | August 2, 2016 | George Sand, free and passionate | Portrait of George Sand. | 2 906 000 | 14,5% | [121] |
| 105 | August 23, 2016 | Churchill, the lion with a tender heart | Portrait of Winston Churchill. | 2 259 000 | 11,8% | [122] |
| 106 | August 30, 2016 | Alexander the Great, dreams and conquests | Portrait of Alexander the Great. | 2 515 000 | 11% | [123] |
| 107 | September 6, 2016 | Wallis: the sultry Duchess of Windsor | Portrait of Wallis Simpson. | 2 258 000 | 9,6% | [124] |
| 108 | November 15, 2016 | La du Barry: love at first sight in Versailles | Portrait of Madame du Barry. | 2 701 000 | 10,6% | [125] |
Season 11 (2017)
The eleventh season ran from January 19 to November 15, 2016, on France 2.
The season consisted of eleven issues devoted to famous historical figures such as the painter Michelangelo and the writer Agatha Christie, or lesser-known ones such as Philippe d'Orléans, cousin of King Louis XV. In terms of audience ratings, the issue devoted to Queen Margot gave the show its best score of the season (3.1 million viewers).[126]
| Rank | First broadcast | Title | Description | Number of viewers | Audience share | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 109 | June 29, 2017 | The black legend of Queen Margot | Portrait of Marguerite of Valois, known as Queen Margot. | 3 107 000 | 14% | [126] |
| 110 | July 6, 2017 | Maria Theresa, the invasive Empress of Austria | Portrait of Maria Theresa. | 2 725 000 | 13,1% | [127] |
| 111 | July 13, 2017 | Michelangelo's demons | Portrait of Michelangelo. | 2 232 000 | 12,8% | [128] |
| 112 | July 20, 2017 | Moulay Ismaïl: the sun king of a thousand and one nights | Portrait of Moulay Ismaïl. | 2 266 000 | 11,7% | [129] |
| 113 | July 27, 2017 | Caroline, born Bonaparte, married Murat | Portrait of Caroline Bonaparte. | 2 216 000 | 11,2% | [130] |
| 114 | August 10, 2017 | The Regent, a libertine on the throne of France | Portrait of Philippe II. | 2 369 000 | 12,9% | [131] |
| 115 | November 2, 2017 | Agatha Christie: The Strange Queen of Crime | Portrait of Agatha Christie. | 2 904 000 | 12,1% | [132] |
Season 12 (2018)
The 12th season ran from April 24 to October 30, 2018, on France 2.
The season featured ten issues devoted to famous historical figures, such as Marie de Médici, Lucrezia Borgia and Nefertiti.
To coincide with an exhibition on King Louis-Philippe I at the Palace of Versailles, an issue was also devoted to the last King of France and his wife Maria Amalia.
After a first issue in 2013, a second issue on Jesus of Nazareth was also broadcast in 2018, with additions based on new discoveries. Indeed, the show's team had confirmed that this one included new elements compared to the first: "This is the sequel to our first documentary devoted to Jesus. Recent archaeological discoveries made us want to enrich our first investigation".[38]
In terms of audience ratings, the issue devoted to Prince Charles of Wales gave the show its best score of the season (2.85 million viewers).[133] Conversely, the issue devoted to French King Louis-Philippe I and his wife Maria Amalia drew just 1.77 million viewers (the lowest audience of the season).[134]
| Rank | First broadcast | Title | Description | Number of viewers | Audience share | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 116 | April 24, 2018 | Josephine, Napoleon's irresistible asset | Portrait of Joséphine de Beauharnais. | 1 964 000 | 8,5% | [135] |
| 117 | May 5, 2018 | A man named Jesus | Portrait of Jesus of Nazareth (rerun with more details and new discoveries). | 2 142 000 | 11,2% | [136] |
| 118 | May 15, 2018 | Prince Charles on the steps to the throne | Portrait of Charles of Wales. | 2 858 000 | 12,5% | [133] |
| 119 | June 28, 2018 | Lucrezia Borgia, a woman in the Vatican | Portrait of Lucrezia Borgia. | 2 438 000 | 11,6% | [137] |
| 120 | July 5, 2018 | Blanche of Castille, the queen mother, has a strong character... | Portrait of Blanche of Castille. | 2 815 000 | 13,2% | [138] |
| 121 | July 12, 2018 | Madame Royale, orphan of the Revolution | Portrait of Marie-Thérèse of France, known as Madame Royale. | 2 855 000 | 15% | [139] |
| 122 | July 19, 2018 | Marie de Médici or the obsession with power | Portrait of Marie de Médici. | 2 780 000 | 15,1% | [140] |
| 123 | August 23, 2018 | Nefertiti, mysterious queen of Egypt | Portrait of Nefertiti. | 2 122 000 | 11,5% | [141] |
| 124 | August 30, 2018 | Mary Stuart, Queen of France and Scotland | Portrait of Mary Stuart. | 2 100 000 | 10,6% | [142] |
| 125 | October 30, 2018 | Louis Philippe and Maria Amalia, our last royal couple | Portrait of Louis Philippe I and Maria Amalia. | 1 775 000 | 7,7% | [134] |
Season 13 (2019)
The thirteenth season ran from March 23 to December 9, 2019, first on France 2 until August 22, then on France 3.
It comprised ten issues devoted to famous historical figures such as Voltaire and Jean de La Fontaine, as well as lesser-known figures such as Emperor Pedro II of Brazil. The season was marked by the commemoration of the five-hundredth anniversary of the death of Leonardo da Vinci. To mark the occasion, a special issue was devoted to the Italian painter and engineer.[143]
On the occasion of the exhibition Tutankhamun, the Pharaoh's Treasure at the Grande Halle de la Villette in Paris, an issue was devoted to two famous pharaohs of ancient Egypt: Ramesses II and Tutankhamun.[31]
Since its broadcast on France 3, the program has enjoyed encouraging audience figures. The issue devoted to Leonardo da Vinci earned the channel its second-highest audience rating ever for a non-fiction program (2,627,000 prime-time viewers, plus 320,000 replay viewers).[19]
| Rank | First broadcast | Title | Description | Number of viewers | Audience share | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 126 | March 23, 2019 | Ramesses II, Tutankhamun, the Egypt of the pharaohs... | Portrait of Ramesses II and Tutankhamun. | 2 275 000 | 12,4% | [144] |
| 127 | July 11, 2019 | Voltaire or the freedom to think | Portrait of Voltaire. | 2 231 000 | 12,5% | [145] |
| 128 | July 18, 2019 | Ramesses II or the recipes of eternity | Portrait of Ramesses II (condensed from the previous portrait). | 1 762 000 | 9,6% | [146] |
| 129 | August 8, 2019 | Pedro II, Brazil's last emperor | Portrait of Pedro II of Brazil. | 1 602 000 | 9,9% | [147] |
| 130 | August 22, 2019 | Jean de La Fontaine, the man of fables | Portrait of Jean de La Fontaine. | 2 619 000 | 15,2% | [148] |
| 131 | October 21, 2019 | Leonardo da Vinci, genius without limits | Portrait of Leonardo da Vinci. | 2 627 000 | 12% | [149] |
| 132 | October 28, 2019 | Mary the Bloody on the throne of England | Portrait of Mary I of England. | 1 921 000 | 8,8% | [150] |
| 133 | November 4, 2019 | Chevalière d'Éon, without forgery I'm a spy | Portrait of Chevalière d'Éon. | 2 437 000 | 10,7% | [151] |
| 134 | December 2, 2019 | Anne of France or the honor of the Bourbons | Portrait of Anne of France. | 2 222 000 | 9,2% | [152] |
| 135 | December 9, 2019 | Charlotte and Maximilien, the dark heroes of Mexico City | Portrait of Charlotte of Belgium and Maximilian I of Mexico. | 1 593 000 | 6,7% | [153] |
Season 14 (2020)
The fourteenth season ran from January 13 to December 14, 2020, on France 3.
It featured eleven issues devoted to famous historical figures such as Vauban and William the Conqueror, as well as lesser-known ones like Thérèse of Lisieux.
To mark the 250th anniversary of Ludwig van Beethoven's birth, a special issue was devoted to the famous German composer and pianist.[154]
In terms of ratings, the February 10 issue devoted to Prince Philip Mountbatten enabled the show to surpass the three-million viewer mark, the program's record since June 2017.[155]
| Rank | First broadcast | Title | Description | Number of viewers | Audience share | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 136 | January 13, 2020 | Marie Antoinette's favorites | Portrait of Marie Antoinette. | 1 962 000 | 9% | [156] |
| 137 | January 20, 2020 | The splendor and fall of Lady Hamilton | Portrait of Lady Hamilton. | 1 851 000 | 8,5% | [157] |
| 138 | January 27, 2020 | Agrippina: you'll be a monster, my son... | Portrait of Agrippina the Younger. | 2 101 000 | 9,4% | [158] |
| 139 | February 10, 2020 | Prince Philip at Her Majesty's service | Portrait of Prince Philip. | 3 002 000 | 13,9% | [155] |
| 140 | February 17, 2020 | The Imperial Prince or the fury of life | Portrait of Louis-Napoléon. | 1 856 000 | 8,6% | [159] |
| 141 | March 9, 2020 | Madame de Montespan: the Sun King's great love | Portrait of Madame de Montespan. | 1 730 000 | 7,6% | [160] |
| 142 | May 4, 2020 | Thérèse, the little saint of Lisieux | Portrait of Thérèse of Lisieux. | 2 452 000 | 10% | [161] |
| 143 | September 14, 2020 | Vauban, the king and fortresses | Portrait of Sébastien Le Prestre. | 2 390 000 | 10,9% | [162] |
| 144 | September 21, 2020 | William the Conqueror: England is ours for the taking! | Portrait of William the Conqueror. | 2 340 000 | 10,8% | [163] |
| 145 | September 28, 2020 | The Duchesse of Berry, a Bourbon rebel! | Portrait of Marie-Caroline of Bourbon-Two Sicilies. | 1 980 000 | 8,8% | [164] |
| 146 | December 14, 2020 | Beethoven, all for the music | Portrait of Ludwig van Beethoven for the two hundred and fiftyth anniversary of his birth. | 1 850 000 | 8,8% | [165] |
Season 15 (2021)
The year 2021 was marked by the broadcast of programs dedicated to the celebration of several anniversaries, such as the bicentenary of Napoleon I's death.[166]
An issue dedicated to the Franco-Haitian politician Toussaint Louverture was also broadcast on May 10, to mark the National Day of Remembrance of the Slave Trade, Slavery and their Abolition.[167]
In an interview with L'Observateur de Monaco, Stéphane Bern also indicated that twelve new episodes were planned for the year.[168]
The table below lists the unpublished episodes (excluding reruns):
| Rank | First broadcast | Title | Description | Number of viewers | Audience share | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 147 | January 4, 2021 | Nero, tyrant of Rome | Portrait of Emperor Nero and a look back at the great fire of Rome. | 1 902 000 | 8,2% | [169] |
| 148 | January 11, 2021 | Elisabeth, the funny Queen of Belgium | Portrait of Elisabeth of Bavaria. | 2 128 000 | 9,3% | [170] |
| 149 | January 18, 2021 | Raphael, the Renaissance prodigy | Portrait of the painter Raphael. | 1 945 000 | 8,7% | [171] |
| 150 | March 8, 2021 | Josephine Baker, the flower in the gun | Portrait of Josephine Baker. | 1 779 000 | 7,8% | [172] |
| 151 | March 15, 2021 | Victor Emmanuel II, the first King of Italy | Portrait of Victor Emmanuel II. | 1 680 000 | 7,4% | [173] |
| 152 | April 19, 2021 | Napoleon, exiled from St. Helena | Portrait on the exile of Napoleon I to Saint Helena. | 1 745 000 | 7,6% | [174] |
| 153 | April 26, 2021 | Mary of Burgundy: alone against all | Portrait of Mary of Burgundy. | 1 638 000 | 6,8% | [175] |
| 154 | May 10, 2021 | Toussaint Louverture, freedom at any price | Portrait of Toussaint Louverture. | 1 441 000 | 6,4% | [176] |
| 155 | September 20, 2021 | Philip the Fair and the strange affair of the Knights Templar | Portrait of Philippe IV of France. | 1 836 000 | 8,3% | [177] |
| 156 | September 27, 2021 | Louis XV and the Beast of Gévaudan | A look back at the mystery of the Beast of Gévaudan. | 1 878 000 | 9,1% | [178] |
| 157 | November 15, 2021 | Émile Zola, the truth whatever the cost! | Portrait of Émile Zola. | 1 476 000 | 7,9% | [179] |
| 158 | December 6, 2021 | Gustave Flaubert, the fury of writing! | Portrait of Gustave Flaubert. | 1 374 000 | 6,4% | [180] |
Season 16 (2022)
The year 2022 was marked by the broadcast of a program on Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known as Molière, to mark the 400th anniversary of the French actor and playwright's birth,[181] as well as a special program to mark the centenary of the death of Prince Albert I of Monaco.[168]
On the occasion of the death of Queen Elizabeth II on September 8, 2022, the Secrets d'Histoire devoted to her was rebroadcast, exceptionally on France 2, with new testimonials and never-before-seen archive footage.[182]
| Rank | First broadcast | Title | Description | Number of viewers | Audience share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 159 | January 10, 2022 | Molière and his mysteries... | Portrait of Molière. | 1 789 000 | 8,8%[183] |
| 160 | January 17, 2022 | The incredible epic of Richard the Lionheart | Portrait of Richard the Lionheart. | 2 172 000 | 10,6%[184] |
| 161 | January 24, 2022 | Marie of Romania, the astonishing Queen of the Carpathians | Portrait of Marie of Romania. | 1 922 000 | 9,1%[185] |
| 162 | February 28, 2022 | The Great Condé: Louis XIV's rival | Portrait of Louis, Grand Condé. | 1 889 000 | 9,4%[186] |
| 163 | April 18, 2022 | Mata Hari, the spy laid bare | Portrait of Mata Hari. | 1 225 000 | 6%[187] |
| 164 | April 25, 2022 | Jeanne de Belleville, pirate for love | Portrait of Jeanne de Belleville. | 1 545 000 | 7,4%[188] |
| 165 | May 16, 2022 | Marguerite of Angoulême: the pearl of François I | Portrait of Marguerite de Navarre. | 1 698 000 | 8,4%[189] |
| 166 | June 13, 2022 | Albert I of Monaco, Prince of the Oceans | Portrait of Albert I of Monaco. | 1 433 000 | 6,8%[190] |
| 167 | August 29, 2022 | Diana, the illustrious unknown | Portrait of Diana Spencer. | 1 545 000 | 7,4%[191] |
| 168 | September 8, 2022 | Elizabeth II, our Queen... | Portrait of Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom and Head of the Commonwealth, 2012 episode rebroadcast and reworked on the occasion of her death. | 3 385 000 | 16,8%[192] |
| 169 | October 24, 2022 | Rosa Bonheur, the animals' fairy | Portrait of Rosa Bonheur. | 1 474 000 | 7%[193] |
| 170 | October 31, 2022 | Ragnar, the Viking who terrorized Paris | Portrait of Ragnar Lodbrok. | 1 649 000 | 8,7%[194] |
Season 17 (2023)
| Rank | First broadcast | Title | Description | Number of viewers | Audience share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 171 | January 18, 2023 | The Man in the Iron Mask | Portrait of the Man in the Iron Mask. | 2 118 000 | 10,8%[195] |
| 172 | February 15, 2023 | The mad love of Auguste Rodin and Camille Claudel | Portrait of the love affair between Rodin and Camille Claudel. | 1 119 000 | 6,3%[196] |
| 173 | March 15, 2023 | Escape to Varennes: Louis XVI's mad escapade | A look back at King Louis XVI's Flight to Varennes during the French Revolution. | 1 453 000 | 7,4%[197] |
| 174 | April 12, 2023 | D'Artagnan, the Sun King's musketeer! | Portrait of Charles de Batz de Castelmore, known as d'Artagnan. | 2 307 000 | 11,6%[198] |
| 175 | May 17, 2023 | Nostradamus, or how to predict your future | Portrait of Nostradamus. | 1 760 000 | 8,7%[199] |
| 176 | September 27, 2023 | John Paul II, God's athlete | Portrait of Pope John Paul II. | 1 320 000 | 7,1%[200] |
| 177 | October 18, 2023 | Vercingétorix, the first of the Gauls | Portrait of Vercingetorix. | 1 603 000 | 8,5%[201] |
| 178 | November 22, 2023 | Napoleon III: The last French emperor | Portrait of Napoleon III. | 1 866 000 | 9,8%[202] |
| 179 | December 13, 2023 | Vatel, Carème, Escoffier: At the table of kings | Portrait of royal chefs François Vatel, Marie-Antoine Carême and Auguste Escoffier. | 1 516 000 | 7,7%[203] |
Season 18 (2024)
| Rank | First broadcast | Title | Description | Number of viewers | Audience share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 180 | January 17, 2024 | Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table | A look back at the legend of King Arthur. | 1 696 000 | 9,1%[204] |
| 181 | February 14, 2024 | In Denmark: The king, the queen and the handsome doctor | A look back at the love affair between Caroline Matilda, wife of Christian VII King of Denmark and Norway, and the royal physician Johann Friedrich Struensee. | 1 327 000 | 7,4%[205] |
| 182 | March 6, 2024 | Philip V, the demons of the Spanish king | Portrait of King Philip V of Spain. | 1 411 000 | 7,7%[206] |
| 183 | March 20, 2024 | Mary Magdalene: So close to Jesus | Portrait of Mary Magdalene. | 1 796 000 | 10,3%[207] |
| 184 | April 10, 2024 | Henry II: The Last Knight King | Portrait of King Henri II. | 1 607 000 | 8,1%[208] |
| 185 | November 20, 2024 | Spartacus and the gladiators' revolt | Portrait of Spartacus. | 1 617 000 | 8,7%[209] |
| 186 | November 27, 2024 | Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves | Portrait of Robin Woods. | 1 473 000 | 8,2%[210] |
| 187 | December 4, 2024 | Marie-Antoinette: a necklace to lose your mind! | A look back on the Affair of the Diamond Necklace. | 1 480 000 | 8,3%[211] |
Season 19 (2025)
| Rank | First broadcast | Title | Description | Number of viewers | Audience share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 188 | January 15, 2025 | Pauline Borghese, the diva of the Empire | Portrait of Pauline Bonaparte, sister of Napoleon Bonaparte. | 1 414 000 | 8,1%[212] |
| 189 | January 29, 2025 | Louis XI, a reign of terror | Portrait of Louis XI. | 1 934 000 | 10%[213] |
| 190 | February 19, 2025 | The tragic lovers of Mayerling | A look back on the Mayerling incident. | 1 688 000 | 9,7%[214] |
Program sheet
- Credits: the program's first credits (2007–2012) were an extract from the soundtrack of X-Men: The Last Stand, entitled Whirlpool of Love, and composed by John Powell. Since 2013, the second theme has been a work composed by Léonard Le Cloarec, assisted by Bertrand Allagnat and Julien Bonnard, and performed by the Orchestre national de Radio France and the choirs of the Maîtrise de la cathédrale de Reims, images of which can be seen in the end credits.[215]
Impact on tourism
In an interview with TV5Monde in 2018, Stéphane Bern claimed that visits to heritage sites featured in the programs increased by 30% following their broadcast.[216]
In August 2016, for example, the House of George Sand in Nohant-Vic saw a 38% increase in visitor numbers compared with previous years, a success that the château's manager attributed at the time to the Secrets d'Histoire program devoted to George Sand, broadcast at the beginning of August.[217]
The Royal Chapel of Dreux, which was the subject of a Secrets d'Histoire issue in October 2018, also saw a 7% increase in attendance in 2019.[218]
Critics
Press releases
In its August 2008 review, Le Soir notes that Secrets d'Histoire contains intimate details about the private lives of the characters featured. In this sense, the daily suggests that the program is more entertainment than documentary. It also notes that the program has the advantage of taking viewers "behind the scenes of places of power" such as the châteaux de Malmaison, Compiègne and Fontainebleau.[219]
In November 2013, Le Figaro noted: "Whether he's talking about Marie-Antoinette, Frederick II or Catherine of Russia, Stéphane Bern's passion is infectious. A passion for history and for human beings. The crowned-heads specialist has a gift for taking us back in time, pushing open the door to hidden cabinets and secret passages like a little mouse. Curious and cultured, the journalist lends a lightness to the most serious events. A storyteller's gift to be cultivated."[220]
Controversies
Criticism of the historical aspect of the programs
In 2014, the media criticism association Acrimed published an article entitled "Secrets d'Histoire, le magazine royaliste de France 2? (Secrets d'Histoire, France 2's royalist magazine?)", in which it considered the program to be more entertainment than historical documentary, tackling "historically anecdotal" subjects and giving pride of place to the private lives of "great men". For the association, the program is "halfway between a celebrity report and a monarchist manifesto".[221]
It notes that Secrets d'Histoire "is not intended to attract specialists, or even enlightened amateurs. Nor does it aim to offer as many people as possible an accessible, balanced view of a variety of historical subjects, reflecting the points of consensus in the historical community, while leaving sufficient room for doubt and debate. At most, it's a form of audiovisual entertainment that takes a few historical precautions. The genre is not a priori contemptible, but under the guise of offering instructive entertainment, Secrets d'Histoire puts across a very singular version of French history".[221]
In response to these criticisms, Stéphane Bern declares: "It's a public service program, we're not here to popularize, but to interest as many people as possible and make culture accessible". He adds: "We want to encourage debate and contradiction. There is no established truth. That's why historians, who feature prominently on the program, bring different arguments to the table."[222]
This choice to keep history accessible is also embraced by some regular contributors, such as Virginie Girod: "It's a pleasure to share history with a wide audience, to start from the intimate to move towards historical data with this aim: to be accessible to all. [...] As for the contemptuous look of certain academics, that's not a problem. Those who criticize these programs are the ones who are never invited."[223]
Criticism for lack of subject diversity
The Left Party, via a statement signed on May 26, 2015, by Jean-Luc Mélenchon and Alexis Corbière, and addressed to the president of France Télévisions, made a similar criticism, lamenting that the program presents a "truncated History, nostalgic for kings and queens, presenting the people as a secondary and brutal historical actor when they mobilize".[224]
The press release also pointed out that of the eighty-eight episodes broadcast since 2008, "only five programs, or 6% of the total, have been devoted to personalities or places linked to the Republic".[224]
Stéphane Bern has responded indirectly to these accusations, reaffirming his commitment to the Republic. In an interview with the French newspaper Libération, he also pointed out that program ratings are one of the criteria used to select the best subjects. Finally, he points out that the aim of these programs is to arouse interest in history in all its diversity:
You can't catch flies with vinegar. If you want to reach five million people, you can't do historical dialectics. I'm convinced that what makes history accessible is that you find human passions, love, sex, power and money. People need to identify with it. It's just a gateway, but I'm aware that it's fragmentary.[225]