William Leymergie
Encyclopedia
William LeymergieWilliam Leymergie (born 4 February 1947 in Libourne
, Gironde
, France
) is a journalist
television producer
and host, best known for the French breakfast television
news show Télématin
, broadcast on public broadcaster
France 2
.
, Leymergie began his career at the External Affairs and Cooperation department (now Radio France Internationale
) of the Office de Radiodiffusion Télévision Française
(ORTF) in 1970. In 1972, he joined the children's programming department as well as the France Inter
radio station. In 1974, he became a journalist at the TF1
television network.
After a period at the National Audiovisual Institute
(INA), Leymergie worked as a journalist in the children's programming department of Antenne 2
from 1978 to 1984, where he produced programmes such as Disney Dimanche in 1979 and Récré A2 in 1980.
Starting in 1985, he has hosted France 2's morning show, Télématin, which he has also produced since 1990. His only other television activity during this period was a stint co-hosting the 13:00 Antenne 2 news with Patricia Charnelet from 1987 to 1990. During this period, the broadcast beat the 13:00 TF1 news, read by Yves Mourousi
, in the ratings, which has not happened again since.
Leymergie sang the French-language version of the theme song of the television series based on the Pac-Man
arcade game
, and has appeared in small roles in various movies.
Libourne
Libourne is a commune in the Gironde department in Aquitaine in southwestern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.It is the wine-making capital of northern Gironde and lies near Saint-Émilion and Pomerol.-Geography:...
, Gironde
Gironde
For the Revolutionary party, see Girondists.Gironde is a common name for the Gironde estuary, where the mouths of the Garonne and Dordogne rivers merge, and for a department in the Aquitaine region situated in southwest France.-History:...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
) is a journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
television producer
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
and host, best known for the French breakfast television
Breakfast television
Breakfast television or morning show , is a type of infotainment television program, broadcast live in the morning...
news show Télématin
Télématin
Télématin is a French breakfast television news show, broadcast on France 2 since January 7, 1985. It is broadcast in Metropolitan France weekdays from 6:30–9:00 am CET. TV5 broadcast the show in Canada in its entirety until September 2011: it now shows a 90 minute version between...
, broadcast on public broadcaster
Public broadcasting
Public broadcasting includes radio, television and other electronic media outlets whose primary mission is public service. Public broadcasters receive funding from diverse sources including license fees, individual contributions, public financing and commercial financing.Public broadcasting may be...
France 2
France 2
France 2 is a French public national television channel. It is part of the state-owned France Télévisions group, along with France 3, France 4, France 5 and France Ô...
.
Biography
After completing an arts degree at University of Paris X: NanterreUniversity of Paris X: Nanterre
Paris West University Nanterre La Défense formerly called Paris X Nanterre is a French university in the Academy of Versailles. It is one of the 13 successor universities of the University of Paris. It is located in the western suburb of Nanterre, near La Défense, the business district of Paris...
, Leymergie began his career at the External Affairs and Cooperation department (now Radio France Internationale
Radio France Internationale
Radio France Internationale was created in 1975 as part of Radio France by the Government of France, and replaced the Poste Colonial , Paris Mondial , Radio Paris , RTF Radio Paris and ORTF Radio Paris...
) of the Office de Radiodiffusion Télévision Française
Office de Radiodiffusion Télévision Française
The Office de Radiodiffusion-Télévision Française was the national agency charged, between 1964 and 1974, with providing public radio and television in France.-Post World War II:...
(ORTF) in 1970. In 1972, he joined the children's programming department as well as the France Inter
France Inter
France Inter is a major French public radio channel and part of Radio France. It is a "generalist" station, aiming to provide a wide national audience with a full service of news and intelligent spoken-word programming, both serious and entertaining, liberally punctuated with an eclectic mix of...
radio station. In 1974, he became a journalist at the TF1
TF1
TF1 is a national French TV channel, controlled by TF1 Group, whose major share-holder is Bouygues. TF1's average market share of 24% makes it the most popular domestic network...
television network.
After a period at the National Audiovisual Institute
Institut national de l'audiovisuel
The Institut national de l'audiovisuel , is a repository of all French radio and television audiovisual archives. Additionally it provides customers with a free and immediate access to archives of countries such as Afghanistan and Cambodia...
(INA), Leymergie worked as a journalist in the children's programming department of Antenne 2
France 2
France 2 is a French public national television channel. It is part of the state-owned France Télévisions group, along with France 3, France 4, France 5 and France Ô...
from 1978 to 1984, where he produced programmes such as Disney Dimanche in 1979 and Récré A2 in 1980.
Starting in 1985, he has hosted France 2's morning show, Télématin, which he has also produced since 1990. His only other television activity during this period was a stint co-hosting the 13:00 Antenne 2 news with Patricia Charnelet from 1987 to 1990. During this period, the broadcast beat the 13:00 TF1 news, read by Yves Mourousi
Yves Mourousi
Yves Mourousi was a French television and radio news presenter and journalist. He was the TF1 mid-day news anchor during 14 years between 1975 to 1988 and one of the most popular TV presenter at this time.His name, Mourousi come from his mother, a Russian princess of Phanariote nobility....
, in the ratings, which has not happened again since.
Leymergie sang the French-language version of the theme song of the television series based on the Pac-Man
Pac-Man
is an arcade game developed by Namco and licensed for distribution in the United States by Midway, first released in Japan on May 22, 1980. Immensely popular from its original release to the present day, Pac-Man is considered one of the classics of the medium, virtually synonymous with video games,...
arcade game
Arcade game
An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
, and has appeared in small roles in various movies.
As producer
- C'est au programme (since 1998)
- Télématin (since 1990)
- Récré A2 (1980)
- Quelle histoire !
As actor
- Les MisérablesLes Misérables (1995 film)Les Misérables is a 1995 film written and directed by Claude Lelouch. Set in France during World War II, it concerns a poor and illiterate man Henri Fortin who is introduced to Victor Hugo's classic novel Les Misérables and begins to see parallels between it and his own life.-Plot:The film starts...
(1995) - Hommes, femmes, mode d'emploiHommes, femmes, mode d'emploiHommes, femmes, mode d'emploi is a 1996 French film directed by Claude Lelouch.-Cast:* Fabrice Luchini - Fabio Lini* Bernard Tapie - Benoit Blanc* Alessandra Martines - Docteur Nitez* Pierre Arditi - Lerner* Ticky Holgado - Toc Toc, Loulou's father...
(1996) - Le courage d'aimer (2005)
Awards and recognition
- Prix Média — Fondation pour l'enfance (1992) for Fréquence Mômes on France InterFrance InterFrance Inter is a major French public radio channel and part of Radio France. It is a "generalist" station, aiming to provide a wide national audience with a full service of news and intelligent spoken-word programming, both serious and entertaining, liberally punctuated with an eclectic mix of...
- Prix de l'Association Défense de la langue française (1993) for Télématin
- Knight — Ordre National du MériteOrdre National du MériteThe Ordre national du Mérite is an Order of State awarded by the President of the French Republic. It was founded on 3 December 1963 by President Charles de Gaulle...
- Knight — Légion d'honneurLégion d'honneurThe Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...