Pierre Tchernia

Lore & Background

Pierre Tchernia was born in Paris as the youngest of four children. His father was a Ukrainian immigrant engineer and his mother a seamstress. He grew up in Courbevoie and at age 12, after seeing John Ford's Stagecoach, was inspired to work in cinema. He enrolled in a film and photography technical school and later joined the Institute for Advanced Cinematographic Studies. He was part of the creation of the first televised news in France in 1949 and became an early news presenter. In 1955 he became a producer of animation, heavily influenced by early Walt Disney. He hosted the television game show Monsieur Cinéma for many years and was the regular French commentator in the Eurovision Song Contest on 14 occasions from 1958 until 1974.

Reader's Guide

Pierre Tchernia's significance lies in his long and versatile career in French television and cinema. He was a pioneer of televised news in France and a beloved host of game shows and variety programs. His close friendship with René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo led to his involvement in the Asterix series, where he narrated many films, wrote screenplays for four, and was caricatured numerous times in the comic albums. His work as a screenwriter and narrator for Asterix and Lucky Luke films helped bring these iconic French characters to a wider audience. He received the Rose d'Or at the Montreux festival in 1966 and was made Commandeur of the Legion of Honor on 14 July 2011. His legacy is that of a multi-talented media figure who shaped French entertainment for decades.

Did You Know?

• He was known in France as 'Magic' Tchernia and Monsieur Cinema.
• He was caricatured in multiple Asterix albums, including as a Roman officer and a legionary.