Julie Hammett is set to return to the small screen on February 3, 2025, with her new program "Parlons-en" on BFMTV. The journalist had been on maternity leave since late September 2024, announcing her departure during her last broadcast of "Julie jusqu'à minuit" on September 26, when she passed the baton to Perrine Storme. Hammett, previously with LCI, was part of significant programming changes announced by BFMTV's director, Fabien Namias.
The announcement revealed her new responsibilities as she will lead the daytime show from 10 AM to 12 PM, taking over from Roselyne Dubois, who had been anchoring the "Live BFMTV." Dubois had averaged 278,000 viewers with 8.2% audience share, significantly lower than Jean-Marc Morandini’s "Morandini Live," which captured 390,000 viewers and 10.8% market share during the same time frame.
"Parlons-en" will not only be significant for Hammett but also will feature esteemed contributors, including Amandine Atalaya, Roselyne Bachelot, Pablo Pillaud-Vivien, Nora Hamadi, Bertrand Périer, Aziliz Le Corre Durget, and Anna Cabana, all set to deepen the discussions surrounding current events. The program promises to deliver two daily segments: "BFMTV répond à vos questions," hosted by Roselyne Dubois, and "Vu dans vos matinales," presented by Benoît Gallerey.
Interestingly, Hammett's return and the title of her show have sparked controversy, particularly from France 24 journalist Pauline Paccard, who has been hosting her own show titled "Parlons-en" at the same time. Paccard voiced her frustrations on social media, calling out the resemblance. A journalist from Le Parisien highlighted her Instagram post, which directly addressed BFMTV, stating: "EN MANQUE D'INSPIRATION @BFMTV? MÊME NOM MÊME HORAIRE C'EST PRESQUE DRÔLE." This has raised eyebrows about the potential for confusion among viewers.
Despite the backlash from Paccard, BFMTV remains focused on its new schedule and welcomes Hammett's expertise to bolster its lineup. This programming shift aligns with Namias' vision for revitalizing the channel's presentation of news and current affairs.
Hammett's initial departure for maternity leave marked the culmination of another transitional phase for BFMTV, as it seeks to navigate competitive pressures from other news outlets. Her return, consistently backed by the channel's strategic restructuring, reflects the efforts to maintain relevance and engagement with viewers, especially during peak broadcast hours.
Overall, the new format of "Parlons-en" is expected to blend thoughtful analysis with interactive viewer engagement, catering to BFMTV's audience eager for comprehensive coverage of pressing issues.