Philippe Bouvard’s funeral was held this Monday, August 31, 2026 in Cannes. Family, elected officials, ordinary citizens and personalities from “Grosses Têtes” gathered to pay tribute to the journalist.
A final ceremony in Cannes. Philippe Bouvard’s funeral began this Monday, August 31 at 3 p.m., in the Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Voyage church, located just a few meters from the Festival Palace.
Deceased on August 24 at the age of 96, the journalist and radio host had chosen Cannes as his place of residence. A family ceremony, organized by his wife Colette and his daughters Dominique and Nathalie, brought together close friends, media personalities and residents who came to pay their last respects to the creator of “Grosses Têtes”.
Barriers had been installed around the church. The public could attend the ceremony within the limits of available seating. Classical music accompanied the tribute, while the family had requested flowers in light tones.
“Grosses Têtes” and the media world gathered in Cannes
Among the personalities present were several former members of “Grosses Têtes”. Marianne James, Chantal Ladesou and Jacques Mailhot had made the journey. Julien Lepers, Cyril Viguier and also Gérard Louvin were also present.
Gilles Lanoue, the last surviving director of “Grosses Têtes” who worked with Philippe Bouvard for sixteen years, was also among the loved ones who attended the ceremony.
Representatives of RTL, where Philippe Bouvard began in 1965, also responded to the invitation. Régis Ravanas, former president of the station, Jonathan Curiel, current leader, and Jérôme Godefroy, former editor-in-chief, notably attended the funeral.
The mayor of Nice Éric Ciotti was present in Cannes. A tribute was also paid by Nicolas Sarkozy, who had sent a wreath of flowers for the funeral.
In a message, Éric Ciotti praised a figure of the French press, radio and television: “Philippe Bouvard was a voice, a pen, a spirit that the French recognized instantly. For more than sixty years, he marked French press, radio and television, notably with the mythical Grosses Têtes. Very attached to our Côte d’Azur, where he had chosen to live, he also shared his perspective and talent with readers of Nice-Matin for fourteen years. In Cannes today, I wanted to pay him a final tribute and express my most sincere thoughts to his wife Colette, his daughters and all his loved ones.”
David Lisnard also spoke during the ceremony. The mayor of Cannes notably recalled a phrase spoken by Philippe Bouvard: “At 8 years old, I wanted to live in Cannes and not die anywhere else, he said. It’s done.”
A reference to the journalist’s love of Cannes and his humor then accompanied the mayor’s address. David Lisnard mentioned the coffin placed near the municipal casino. “It was the French spirit, a jack-of-all-trades, and also let us not forget a supremely gifted writer”, he added.
Chantal Ladesou: “Oh no, no, no, Philippe is not dead!”
Julien Lepers for his part paid tribute to the man who had accompanied his professional beginnings. “He’s a giant of broadcasting for me, my profession… I started, I was 22 years old and he was always my master, a kind of professor, an example. In his insolence, in his impertinence rather, in his culture, in his gigantic work ethic. He worked all the time. Almost day and night. We rubbed shoulders for 18 years, where I was at RTL every day. He invited me to Cannes several times, he was incredible, I loved his company.”
Marianne James, present alongside former members of “Grosses Têtes”, also recalled memories of the journalist: “I called him my Rascal. Rascal, my Rascal. He liked us to be mischievous and erudite. What should we remember about him? The art of living”.
Chantal Ladesou also chose humor to speak of Philippe Bouvard. As she left the church, the actress declared: “Oh no, no, no, Philippe is not dead!” Before adding: “He is not dead, there is nothing, that’s it. He is here all the time with his spirit.”
After the religious ceremony, Philippe Bouvard’s burial was scheduled at the Grand Jas cemetery, in the heights of Cannes.
Philippe Bouvard marked several decades of radio and television. Created in 1977 on RTL, “Grosses Têtes” was hosted by the journalist for 37 years. On television, “Bouvard’s Little Theater” also helped introduce several comedians in the 1980s.
After a career notably at Le Figaro and France-Soir, Philippe Bouvard continued his journalistic and radio activities until 2025. On January 1, 2025, after 60 years of radio and 60 years on RTL, the journalist ended his career.
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