Les Douze Coups de midi (previously called Les 12 Coups de midi,
transl. "The twelve strokes of midday") is a French
game show hosted by
Jean-Luc Reichmann and broadcast everyday on
TF1 since June 2010.
History
Les Douze Coups de midi is an adaptation from the
argentine show El Legado on
Telefe (the first version was named Crésus, broadcast in 2005 and 2006 on
TF1 and hosted by
Vincent Lagaf').[1]. This show consists of an individual
quiz which can lead to winning numerous prizes and a jackpot.[2]
Since October 2010,
Jean-Luc Reichmann hosted the game with a virtual character, a
fairy called Eulalie (voice by Véronique Le Nir).[4] Later, this fairy becomes a simple voiceover, but keeps her name and her voice actor before her replacement by Zette which she dubbed by Isabelle Benhadj.
From May 12, 2020 to October 9, 2021, to respect safety mesures due to
COVID-19 pandemic in France, the show is broadcast without audience, and a new character, Docteur Maboul, makes his appearance. His role is to clean up the candidates' desks.[5]
Description
The winner of the show, now Maître de midi (
transl. "Master of Midday"), puts his title on the table to try and win more prizes until his elimination.[6]
At the end of the show, each correct answer reveals one tile on a rectangle of 13x10 tiles hiding hints for the discovery of a celebrity. Since January 27, 2023, only a "coup de maître" (
transl. "Master's stroke") with five correct answers lets the Master of Midday make a guess, to try to win the jackpot.
The show has known some evolutions since its creation. Since January 2018, the last round "L'étoile mystérieuse" (
transl. "The Mysterious Star") was made harder by replacing the celebrity's picture by a number of hints, leading to guess said celebrity. The last four tiles hide this celebrity.
Visual identity
From September 2016 to September 2019, for the 100th mysterious star, the show changed its logo and artistic diretion[citation needed].
On September 2019, the show changed its studio, its logo and its artistic direction.[7]
Depending of vacation or holiday period, the logo becomes red during Christmas and New Year (golden in winter 2023), golden and yellow (pink in 2022) during summer. During fall, the logo is green since 2023. During Halloween the logo is orange since 2023.
Audiences
On June 28, 2020, the launch of the game was welcomed by 2.9 millions peoplewith a peak at 4.6 millions at the end.[8]
After a decrease in September 2010, around 2.3 millions people were watching from home, the numbers go up again in October, and stabilize at more than 3 millions.[9]
Ever since then, the game regularly gains audience, with a peak at 4.5 millions on February 1, 2011, it is the leader at this time of the day.
On December 26, 2016, no less than 4.73 millions people watched the show, with a peak at 6.5 millions in the end.
In April 2019, following Quesada scandal, audience decreased before coming back to normal shortly later.[10]
Records
Émilien, still competing in the game, has the record for victories and gains in the history of televised games in France, follwed by Bruno with €1,026,107 and a Qui veut gagner des millions? (French adaptation of
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire) contestant named Marie who won €1,000,000 in the show on August 27, 2004[11]
Ranking
The next list ranked the twenty best contestants as number of successive appearances.