The Little Story Of France: 5 Things To Know About W9's Short Program

The little story of France, a humorous fiction broadcast on W9, returns in December for an unprecedented fifth season. For the occasion, we invite you to discover 5 unusual facts about this short program.

This comedy series was conceived by Jamel Debbouze.

Many fans of the comedy series "La petite histoire de France" may not know that this show was conceived by Jamel Debbouze. The comedian is both a creator and a producer of the program.

It was in 2015 that the series was first broadcast on W9, situated somewhere between "Scènes de ménages" and "Kaamelott!" This historical and comedic fiction features couples from different periods in French history.

It tells the story of famous individuals through the less glorious daily lives of their cousins:
• Yorik the Gaul, husband to Maelle, is the cousin of Vercingetorix.
• François d'Arc, married to Ysabeau, dreams of rescuing his cousin Joan of Arc.
• Philippe de Roche-Saint-Pierre and his wife Marie-Louise are bored in their castle since Louis XIV, the count's cousin, banished them from Versailles.
• Renata Bonaparte, cousin of Napoleon, and her husband Jean Plancher run an inn in the suburbs of Paris.

She is filmed in the studios of the Cité du cinéma.

To portray these various eras of French history, the short program on W9 works with teams accustomed to filmmaking. All scenes from La petite histoire de France are filmed in the Parisian studios of the Cité du Cinéma.

In this vast complex, created by French director and producer Luc Besson and located in Saint-Denis north of Paris, one can encounter knights in chainmail and other actors in period costumes.

In studio 2 of the Cité du Cinéma, shooting is underway to capture the approximately 200 sketches that make up the brand new season 5 of the program. However, whether it's recreating a sheepfold in the Middle Ages, a 17th-century castle, or an inn from the Napoleonic era, the series conceived by Jamel Debbouze does not overlook the quality of historical reenactment.

3- The actors come from theater or improvisation.

The success of "La petite histoire de France" on W9 for over 8 years can also be explained by the quality of the cast.

The characters who live in the shadow of their famous cousins are portrayed by seasoned actors from the world of theater and improvisation. This includes Alban Ivanov as François d'Arc and Ophélia Kolb as his wife Ysabeau. David Salles, who plays Jean Plancher, the cousin by marriage of the Emperor, is also the artistic director of the series since its inception in 2015.

The supporting roles are equally impressive with Philippe Duquesne, made famous by "Les Deschiens," playing the role of Adelin, the brother-in-law and friend of François, while Fatsah Bouyahmed, awarded the Best Actor prize at the Alpe d'Huez festival for his role in the movie "La Vache," portrays Gaspard the shepherd.

All are veterans of the stage, which brings a spontaneity to their performance in these sketches that last only 2 to 3 minutes.

Each era is characterized by its own particular sense of humor.

Much like Monty Python or the series Kaamelott created in 2005, La petite histoire de France relies on a clever mix of history and entertainment. Not only does this series revisit the History of France with zany humor, but it also develops different comedic styles according to the era.

In the Middle Ages, knights move around in armor making clanging pot sounds, and the humor is less subtle than in the time of Louis XIV. Although banished from Versailles, the count and countess wield sharper wit and enjoy verbal sparring.

At the inn Chez Bonaparte, physical comedy is much more prevalent to portray the two miserly innkeepers, ready to do anything for the slightest coin. More than a history lesson, the short program on W9 delivers above all a lesson in humor!

5- This series regularly features prestigious guests.

Throughout the seasons, "La petite histoire de France" has welcomed guests, usually comedians and actors from film or television. In addition to Jamel Debbouze in the role of King Louis XIV, the series has notably invited Jonathan Lambert, Ary Abittan, Olivier Marchal, and Thomas VDB.

Season 5 is no exception to the rule, and fans of the show will be delighted to see Jean and Renata receive a distinguished guest in the person of Kad Merad! Olivier Baroux, Zabou Breitman, Arnaud Ducret, Édouard Montoute, Isabelle Nanty, and Bruno Salomone are also announced among the guests of this new season.