Les Guignols (the puppets, Guignol is the main character of our version of Punch and Judy) is a daily satirical puppet (une marionnette) show on Canal +. It is very popular and runs daily on working days, with a catch up on weekends.
Les Guignols, as you can expect it, are irreverent (irrévérencieux), outrageous (scandaleux) and politically incorrect (politiquement incorrect), but a lot of viewers have become attached to them!
Here are a few well known characters based on real people:
- PPDA is a caricature of Patrick Poivre d’Arvor (aka PPDA), a famous now retired French news presenter.
- Commandant Sylvestre is a fictional character based on the American actor Sylvester Stallone
- Jacques Chirac French president between 1995 and 2007
If you are brave enough to try watching it here is a link to a recent show:
Les Guignols, l’intégrale du 16/11 – CANAL+ by lesguignols
Disclaimer : this episode might include a portrayal of the Queen and a terrible cover of a Destiny’s Child song by Hilary Clinton’s puppet.
To learn how to express your opinion about current affairs join our classes to learn French in Bristol and Bath.