Cult French TV gameshow set for grand return this summer
In the show teams from eight French towns will compete in a series of physical and mental challenges.
Originally created in 1962 by Guy Lux, who was also behind international hit
Jeux Sans Frontières
(broadcast in the UK as
It's a Knockout),
Intervilles
has become a mainstay of popular entertainment in France since it was first broadcast in 1962. It returned in 1985 on FR3, moved to TF1 until 1991, with intermittent returns throughout the 2000s.
Beauvais and Gap, who won the Intervilles' title in 2009, have entered teams for the 2025 edition of the long-running competition, along with smaller towns such as Coulanges-lès-Nevers and Wallers-Arenberg.
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But well-known past entrants Dax and Mont-de-Marsan have declined to take part this year, reportedly in protest at the decision not to include live cattle in the challenges.
The animals had been an integral part of the show for many years, but they have been cut from this year's series for welfare reasons.
Instead, their place will be taken up by a mascot, known as 'Topa', designed by Swiss comic book artist Zep, the man behind
Titeuf
.
The new series starts on July 3rd and will be broadcast on France 2
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