This Sunday, TF1 broadcasts at 16:05 the documentary Sans Collier series and takes us to the heart of the largest animal shelter in France, in Montpellier.

The first of four episodes of Sans Collier , whose host Jean-Luc Reichmann is the voice-over, is scheduled this afternoon on TF1. Producer Lyes Boudechiche, from BBC Studios France, tells us more about this unique documentary rich in emotions.

What is the concept of Without collar ?

It is a documentary series immersed in a large refuge. It provokes an anthology of emotions, because, behind an abandonment or an adoption, there is often a shocking human history. A refuge is open 365 days a year! We had a real crush on the staff and its volunteers. Their passion is undeniable, it is not a profession, but a priesthood. A relationship of mutual trust quickly established between them and our film crew.

In Sans collar , we often go from smiling to tears: was it psychologically difficult to turn?

This is the first time the team has been crying so much on a shoot. As on a montage, by the way. It was very intense emotionally, in the positive as in the negative. It is hoped that people will be triggered: that they will learn that, rather than buying in a pet store, they can find great animals to adopt in a shelter. Giving meaning to our films is a duty at the BBC, it's a public service. We have this desire to produce concepts that are both entertaining and intelligent.

This novelty follows The Secret Life of Cats , a documentary series that makes beautiful audiences, up to 1.9 million viewers, and you are also the producer at BBC Studios France ...

In terms of wildlife documentary, the BBC still offers real expertise. It's in our DNA. We, BBC Studios France, have added to this know-how added value by making, in writing, animals even closer to us. This gave The Secret Life of Cats and Without Collar . These are not just animal documentaries. The relationship between masters and pets is at the heart of these two series.

What is the difference with Animals to adopt: new family for a new life , on C8, a documentary series in immersion at the shelter of the Yvelines SPA?

It is true that both programs tell the daily life of a shelter. The fundamental difference lies in the treatment: namely the tone and the format - our episodes are a little shorter. It is not consumed in the same way. Without any value judgment, far from it, towards C8, one does not tell the same way. We have very few voiceovers, just a few small transitions and the pregeneric, which is four minutes on almost an hour. Finally, the more we defend the animal cause, the better. For the past two years, dropouts have been increasing. This is a real subject.

Without collar , at 4:05 pm on TF1