Nouvelle Star

Nouvelle Star
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Created by	Simon Fuller
Starring	Benjamin Castaldi (2003-06, 2015-) Virginie Efira (2006-08) Virginie Guilhaume (2008-10) Cyril Hanouna (2012-14)
Country of origin	France
Production
Producer(s)	FremantleMedia
Release
Original network	M6 (2003–2010) D8 (2012- present)
Original release	27 March 2003 – present
External links
Website

Finalists (with dates of elimination)
Series 1	(2003)
Jonatan Cerrada	Winner
Thierry Amiel	10 July
Jean-Sébastien Lavoie	3 July
Alexis Juliard	26 June
Laetizia Alberti	19 June
Yoann Kelyann	12 June
Jonathan Hassen-Ali	5 June
Cindie Bruzzi	29 May
Priscilla	22 May
Gabrielle Ducomble	15 May
Series 2	(2004)
Steeve Estatof	Winner
Julien Laurence	13 May
Amel Bent	6 May
Laura Tabourin	29 April
Charles Cattaert	22 April
Babeth Lando	15 April
Pascal Crisinel	8 April
John Zéra	1 April
Geoffrey Lupart	25 March
SimonGad Barbey	17 March
Series 3	(2005)
Myriam Abel	Winner
Pierrick Lilliu	12 May
Roland Karl	5 May
Mervyn Kennedy-Macfoy	28 April
Francine Massiani	21 April
Dan Pérez	14 April
Sarah Riani	7 April
Philippe Léger	31 March
Benjamin Delcroix	24 March
Malik Hemaidi	16 March
Series 4	(2006)
Christophe Willem	Winner
Dominique Michalon	8 June
Gaël Faure	31 May
Cindy Santos	24 May
Valérie Castan	17 May
Florian Lesca	12 May
Bruno Rua	4 May
Stéphanie Lipstadt	26 April
Beverly	19 April
Joana Boumendil	12 April
Series 5	(2007)
Julien Doré	Winner
Tigane Drammeh	13 June
Gaëtane Abrial	7 June
Julie Mazi	31 May
Pierre Darmon	24 May
Raphaëlle Dess	17 May
Soma Dufour	9 May
Alex Fondja	2 May
Canelle Zahy	25 April
Ilyes Yangui	18 April
Series 6	(2008)
Amandine Bourgeois	Winner
Benjamin Siksou	11 June
Cédric Oheix	4 June
Ycare Cavens	28 May
Jules Pélissier	21 May
Lucile Malghem	15 May
Thomas Marfisi	7 May
Kristov Leroy	9 April/30 April
Siân Pottok	23 April
Julien Pierson	16 April
Series 7	(2009)
Soan	Winner
Leïla Aissaoui	9 June
Camélia Jordana	2 June
Thomas Bonneau	26 May
Dalé Grenoble	19 May
Damien Vanni	12 May
Lary Lambert	5 May
Mahdi Jaggae	28 April
Mélissa Reffas	21 April
Yoann Pigny	14 April
Series 8	(2010)
Luce	Winner
François Raoult	16 June
Ramon Mirabet	9 June
Lussi Lebrun	2 June
Benjamin Boehm	26 May
Dave Mgy	19 May
Annabelle	13 May
Stéphanie Vondenhoff	5 May
Sacha Page	28 April
Marine Villeret	21 April
Series 9	(2012–13)
Sophie-Tith	Winner
Florian Bertonnier	26 February
Philippe Krier	19 February
Florian "Flo" Devos	12 February
Julie Obré	5 February
Paul Kay	29 January
Timothée Rossignol	22 January
Charlotte Morgane Berry	15 January
Adélaïde Pratoussy	15 January (jury)
Léa Layne	15 January (jury)
Series 10	(2013–14)
Mathieu Saikaly	Winner
Yseult Onguenet	20 February
Pauline de Tarragon	13 February
Alvaro Echánove	6 February
Dana Ali-Ahmad	30 January
Sirine Betton	23 January
Mehdi Dahmane	16 January
Claudia Chu	9 January
Léopoldine Hummel	2 January
Hugo Chalan-Marchio	19 December
Kimberly Kitson	19 December
Julie Dessoude	12 December
Chehinaze	12 December
Ezra Van Vliet	12 December
Laura Migné	12 December
Marc Touati	12 December
Series 11	(2014–15)
Emji	Winner
Mathieu Kolanek	12 March
Martial Betirac	5 March
Pauline Laffitte	26 February
Mickaël Aubertin	19 February
Maëva Bellocq	12 February
Nelson Vard	12 February
Kevin Cohen	5 February
Noémie Lemarchand	29 January
Ursula Ravelo	22 January
22 January

Nouvelle Star (a.k.a. À la Recherche de la Nouvelle Star for the first series) is a French television series based on the popular Pop Idol programme produced by FremantleMedia. It was broadcast by M6 in seasons 1–8 and is currently broadcast on D8.

It was hosted by Benjamin Castaldi for the first three series (2003–2005). He also hosted 13 episodes of Series 4 (2006). Virginie Efira presented the remainder of Series 4, as well as presenting Series 5 and 6 (2007 and 2008). Seasons 7 (2009) and 8 (2010) are presented by Virginie Guilhaume. Since season 9, Cyril Hanouna is the Nouvelle Star's TV host.

On 4 July 2012, Bibiane Godfroid, program director of Nouvelle Star announced that the show will not return on M6 but will instead be on D8, after its acquisition by Canal +.

Format of the series

The four members of the jury have to judge about 25,000 contestants in various towns around France and Belgium. Until the final rounds begin, the show presents both the successful and the poorest performers, known as the "inoubliables" (unforgettable ones). Some of the worst performers have also performed as guests during the final stages.

Of the 25,000 contestants, only 150 (140 in series 6) are selected for the next round of auditions, which takes place at the Theatre Trianon in central Paris. There are two auditions over the space of three days, the highlights of which are shown over the course of two shows. Specific exercises are given to the contestants in order to evaluate their artistic talents: pitch, rhythmic accuracy, ability to remember lyrics and to learn songs, sing in a trio, and deal with tiredness and stress, etc. During the first day of the Theatre stage of auditions, contestants perform on stage in lines of eight, each contestant performing the song of their choice a capella. On day 2, 70 contestants who made it through the previous day are given a choice of three songs (two specifically for boys or for girls, and one for both, as of Series 6) and have to form trios with other contestants of their choice but of the same sex, they will be accompanied by a guitar and a piano. The 50 remaining contestants will interpret a song, in French, accompanied by an orchestra band. For the first time at this ultimate step before the live primes, this year, the contestants have performed in front of more than 400 persons including the jury at the theatre.

The jury will have to decide between 20 remaining contestants (27 in series 6) on a television screen, reviewing the all auditions of those contestants, of which they will select 15 for the first live television prime where they will be submitted to viewers' vote. In series 6, the viewers rejected 6 contestants of which the jury saved one.

There is no wildcard round in the French format, and viewers only vote by text or by phone. Only viewers' votes decide of the result during the prime, but the judges comment by giving first an illustrated verdict by colored traffic lights in front of them Blue for Good, and Red for bad performance (coloured lights introduced in series 5, and taken the form of traffic lights in series 6). The voting is different from American Idol as viewers vote during the programme and results are given at the end of it, by Virginie (The Host) and Maitre Najar(bailiff), where Virginie selects at random the saved contestants leaving only the ones dropped by the viewers. The previous series' jury (Mainly Marianne James) was used to contesting a lot the results.

Auditions

The first series featured auditions in France, Belgium, and Quebec, Canada. Later series dropped Quebec from the audition tour, as Canadian Idol had started, and therefore, Francophones could audition in their home country.

For Nouvelle Star's seasons 2, 3 and 4, auditions were held in Toulouse, Rennes, Marseilles, Lyon, and Paris and in one location in Belgium, at Liège. No auditions were held in Canada.

Judges

Past :

• Varda Kakon - Musician & composer. (Series 1)
• Lionel Florence - Musician & composer. (Series 1)
• Dove Attia - Music producer. (Series 1 - 5)
• Marianne James - Musician & vocalist.(Series 2 - 5)
• Manu Katché - Musician & record producer. (Series 2 - 5)
• Philippe Manoeuvre - Journalist. (Series 6 - 8)
• Lio - Pop Artist.(Series 6 - 8) (The Voice Belgique 's coach, 2011–2012)
• Marco Prince - Musician (Series 8)
• Maurane - Singer. (Series 9 - 10)
• Olivier Bas - Musician & composer. (Series 9 - 10)

Current :

• André Manoukian - Musician & composer. (Series 1 - present) (Danse avec les stars season 1's contestant in 2011)
• Sinclair - Musician & composer. (Series 6 - 7 & 9 - présent)
• Élodie Frégé - Singer & Actress. (Series 11 - present) (Star Academy 3's winner in 2003)
• Yarol Poupaud - Musician. (Series 11 - present)

Spin-offs

Nouvelle Star, ça continue...

Nouvelle Star, ça continue... is a program broadcast directly after the prime Nouvelle Star shows. It was broadcast on Fun TV (2003-2005), W9 (2006-2009), M6 (2010) and now on D8. The show includes interviews with judges, saved or eliminated contestants des jurés, invited musical guests. Hosts were Adrien Lemaître on Fun TV, Alexandre Devoise, Jérôme Anthony and Sidonie Bonnec all on W9, Estelle Denis and Jérôme Anthony on M6 with Camille Combal giving a diary, Enora Malagré on D8.

Saga Nouvelle Star

Saga Nouvelle Star or La Saga Nouvelle Star was an old daily show hosted by Virginie Efira on M6, following various seasons of the Nouvelle Star show. It was broadcast only in 2007 and then stopped. In each show, she would present Top des Inoubliables internationaux (meaning best of international unforgettables), being winners from various countries where Idol series are broadcast. Broadcast at 19h00 in access prime time, it brought in an average 1.1 million of viewers.

Summary

Season	Premiere	Final	Winner	Runner-up	Third place	Judges	Host(s)
1*	27 March 2003	10 July 2003	Jonatan Cerrada	Thierry Amiel	Jean Sébastien Lavoie	Dove Attia Varda Kakon Lionel Florence André Manoukian	Benjamin Castaldi
2	11 February 2004	13 May 2004	Steeve Estatof	Julien Laurence	Amel Bent	Dove Attia Marianne James Manu Katché André Manoukian
3	11 February 2004	13 May 2004	Myriam Abel	Pierrick Lilliu	Roland Karl
4	22 February 2006	8 June 2006	Christophe Willem	Dominique Michalon	Gaël Faure
5	28 February 2007	13 June 2007	Julien Doré	Tigane Drammeh	Gaëtane Abrial
6	21 February 2008	13 June 2008	Amandine Bourgeois	Benjamin Siksou	Cédric Oheix	Lio Philippe Manœuvre Sinclair André Manoukian	Virginie Efira
7	24 February 2009	9 June 2009	Soan	Leïla Aissaoui	Camélia Jordana		Virginie Guilhaume
8	2 March 2010	16 June 2010	Luce Brunet	François Raoult	Ramon Mirabet	Lio Philippe Manœuvre André Manoukian Marco Prince
9	11 December 2012	26 February 2013	Sophie-Tith Charvet	Florian Bertonnier	Philippe Krier	Olivier Bas André Manoukian Maurane Sinclair	Cyril Hanouna
10	31 October 2013	20 February 2014	Mathieu Saikaly	Yseult Onguenet	Pauline de Tarragon
11	27 November 2014	12 March 2015	Emji	Mathieu Kolanek	Martial Betirac	Élodie Frégé André Manoukian Yarol Poupaud Sinclair	Benjamin Castaldi
12	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA	Élodie Frégé André Manoukian Joey Starr Sinclair	TBA

*Also known as À la Recherche de la Nouvelle Star

See also

• List of French Adaptations of Television Series from Other Countries

External links

• Official Site (French)
• Nouvelle Star at IMDb