The break is consummated between the host and Catherine Barma who produced for 14 years "We are not lying" (ONPC), the former talk show of Laurent Ruquier, created in 2006 and broadcast until 2020 on France 2, and several other shows with the host ("We tried everything", "We only ask to laugh", etc.).

The two professional partners, who formed a powerful tandem on the small screen for 20 years, had broken up with a bang: the presenter had decided to stop ONPC and called on another producer, Philippe Thuillier (who was already producing the TV version des "Big heads") to create a program launched in September on France 2, "We are live".

Laurent Ruquier was finally ordered to pay 780,340 euros to Ms. Barma to compensate for the loss of margin suffered by his production company "due to the insufficient notice of termination" and 219,375 euros "in compensation for economic redundancies caused by the brutality of the rupture", according to the judgment pronounced on Monday, which AFP was able to consult.

The host intends to appeal this decision, confirmed to AFP Me Céline Astolfe, Laurent Ruquier's lawyer.

After recording their professional disputes through the media, the host and his ex-producer ended up taking legal action in the spring of 2021.

Laurent Ruquier was the first to seize the Paris Commercial Court, claiming from Catherine Barma more than 300,000 euros, a sum he considered to be due to him as a former co-producer of ONPC.

For her part, Catherine Barma, who had unsuccessfully demanded that Laurent Ruquier share the costs generated by the shutdown of the talk show (an event which forced her production company to lay off around thirty people), replied before the same court for "sudden termination" of their business relationship.

Laurent Ruquier, historic host of France 2, also announced in early June that he would stop presenting the talk show "We are live", broadcast in the second part of the evening on Saturdays on France 2, which he co-hosted with the journalist Lea Salame.

"I confirm that tomorrow night will be my last Saturday night show after 17 seasons spent together from + We are not in bed + to + We are live +", he wrote in early June on Twitter, remaining evasive on his future at France 2.

"It's my decision to leave this time slot, not being comfortable co-hosting for a talk show," he added.

"I tried, but despite my natural understanding with Léa Salamé, I find the exercise too frustrating," he concluded.

© 2022 AFP