On February 20, 2025, France 2's investigative magazine, Envoyé Spécial, will feature a notable absence—longtime host Elise Lucet. Citing scheduled vacation time, Lucet has passed the reins for the evening to Loïc de La Mornais, who has been coordinating international reports for over two years.
De La Mornais, who previously served as the permanent correspondent for France Télévisions across the United Kingdom and the United States, is expected to kick off the program with the episode’s first report entitled "Où sont les dermatos ?" This segment is directed by Alice Gauvin and her team, aiming to shed light on the increasing difficulties faced by patients seeking dermatological consultations. According to the editorial team, "as skin cancer rates have tripled over recent years, nearly half of patients choose not to make appointments due to long wait times. Dermatology services at hospitals are now witnessing patients arriving with skin cancers at much later, more dangerous stages," encapsulating the urgency and significance of the issue at hand.
Inside this week’s edition, viewers will also encounter how the police are actively working with minors. A report has emerged detailing the establishment of the "Mélanie Room" by the family protection brigade at the Besançon police station. This room is decorated to create a child-friendly environment where youngsters can comfortably disclose alarming experiences related to abuse. The initiative aims to safeguard the emotional wellbeing of children during such sensitive conversations, ensuring investigators capture any key information without raising additional distress.
Contributing to the broadcast is another feature on the small Argentinian town of Pigüé, which was founded by French immigrants from Aveyron and is now facing tension over the recent EU-Mercosur trade deal. The report, produced by Julien Fouchet and his team, aims to juxtapose the farming conditions of small-scale French farmers against those of Argentine counterparts with far larger properties. This segment explores how trade agreements impact local farmers and their livelihoods.
Lucet's absence is not without precedence; she had previously announced this decision on-air last week, indicating her temporary retreat was scheduled and confirmed by network officials three weeks prior. "It is exceptionally Loïc de La Mornais who will present Envoyé Spécial this Thursday," she stated during the previous week’s program as she prepared to hand over her responsibilities.
Elise Lucet took helm of Envoyé Spécial back in 2016 and has become synonymous with the broadcast, known for tackling pressing societal issues—often leading investigations around sensitive topics. This week marks her scheduled break, allowing the outspoken journalist to recharge for more significant reporting upon her return. Her track record with Envoyé Spécial is impressive, contributing to the show's legacy of delivering hard-hitting, sometimes scandalous investigations about powerful entities and societal discrepancies.
The show gathered solid viewership, with 1.77 million viewers tuned in from 9:08 PM to 10:25 PM last week, achieving 9.5% of the audience aged four and older. Following this, 1.27 million viewers continued to watch the second segment, demonstrating the program’s hold among viewers. Previous averages for episodes aired on January 30, which were also split for audience measurement, recorded 1.62 million and 1.20 million viewers across their respective segments.
According to prior coverage, both Lucet and Léa Salamé, another prominent journalist from France Inter who also recently announced her absence, are taking breaks during the school vacation season—signifying both journalists' return to the airways right after the holiday.
With Envoyé Spécial blending investigations, documentary-style storytelling, and sensitive narratives, De La Mornais's temporary leadership is likely to keep the spirit of Lucet's impactful journalism alive. Audiences anticipate how the program will address pressing issues such as health care access and the intimate challenges faced by vulnerable communities amid changing socio-economic landscapes.
Elise Lucet will be back at the helm of Envoyé Spécial the following week, ready to resume her significant role within the French journalistic narrative.