Dancing with the Stars Tops French TV Ratings – Ratings Roundup

TF1’s “Danse avec les stars” (Dancing with the Stars) maintained its position as a ratings leader in France on Friday, March 20th, despite a generally subdued evening for television viewership. The program drew an average of 2.33 million viewers for its first part, representing a 14.9% share of the audience, according to Médiamétrie. The second portion of the show captivated 1.92 million viewers, achieving an 18.9% audience share. These figures mark an increase from the previous week’s performance of 2.13 and 1.69 million viewers, respectively, with audience shares of 12.8% and 15.4%.

The latest episode of “Danse avec les stars” was notable for the elimination of athlete Laure Manaudou, as reported by Le Parisien. Manaudou’s departure came after seven weeks of competition, and the show continues to be a strong performer for the network.

A Tribute and a Shift in Viewership for France 2

France 2 secured the second-highest viewership with a re-airing of “Fais pas ci, fais pas ça” (Don’t Do That, Don’t Do This). The network opted to replace its regularly scheduled “Tropiques criminels” (Criminal Tropics) with an episode of the family series, titled “Y’aura-t-il un Noël à Noël ?” (Will There Be a Christmas at Christmas?), as a tribute to Bruno Salomone, who passed away on March 15th at the age of 55. This special episode attracted 1.88 million viewers, achieving a 12.9% audience share. However, this figure represents a significant drop compared to the viewership of “Tropiques criminels” the previous Friday, which saw 3.79 million viewers for the first recent episode and 2.91 million for the re-airing, translating to audience shares of 22.2% and 20.4%, respectively. The original airing of the Christmas special on December 18, 2020, had drawn a much larger audience of 5.49 million viewers (23.3% share).

The decision to honor Salomone with a re-airing of “Fais pas ci, fais pas ça” underscores his impact on French television. Salomone was a beloved figure known for his comedic timing and portrayal of the character Alain Lefebvre in the series. The show, which ran from 2007 to 2017, remains popular with French audiences, and the tribute episode served as a reminder of his contribution to the show’s success. You can find more information about Bruno Salomone’s career and legacy here.

Mixed Results for Other Networks

M6 landed in third place with “Pékin Express : Au royaume des dragons” (Peking Express: In the Kingdom of the Dragons). The first part of the race garnered 1.25 million viewers (7.9% share), while the second, featuring the elimination of Bruno and Cécilia, attracted 887,000 viewers (7.9% share). The competition experienced a slight decline in viewership compared to the previous Friday (1.31 and 1.03 million viewers, with shares of 7.8% and 9%, respectively).

France 5 followed with the film “Victoria,” starring Virginie Efira. The Justine Triet-directed film drew 922,000 viewers (6% share). This figure is lower than the viewership of Michel Audiard’s comedy “Elle boit pas, elle fume pas, elle drague pas… mais elle cause !” (She Doesn’t Drink, She Doesn’t Smoke, She Doesn’t Flirt… But She Talks!) which aired on March 13th and attracted 1.43 million viewers (8.6% share).

France 3 secured the fifth position with the 33rd annual Victoires de la musique classique (Classical Music Victories Awards). The program reached 813,000 viewers (5.5% share), falling short of the previous year’s audience of 968,000 (6.2% share) on March 5, 2025.

The Broader Television Landscape

The overall television landscape on Friday, March 20th, appeared to be relatively quiet, with no single program dominating the ratings. “Danse avec les stars” stood out as the most successful offering, benefiting from its established popularity and the ongoing competition. The tribute to Bruno Salomone on France 2 drew a significant audience, demonstrating the enduring appeal of “Fais pas ci, fais pas ça” and the respect for the late actor. However, the lower viewership compared to regularly scheduled programming highlights the challenges networks face when altering their lineups.

The performance of “Pékin Express” and other programs suggests a fragmented audience, with viewers spread across various channels and platforms. The competition for viewership is fierce, and networks are constantly seeking ways to attract and retain audiences. The continued popularity of reality television, such as “Danse avec les stars” and “Pékin Express,” indicates a strong demand for unscripted entertainment. You can find more information about the latest entertainment news here.

Looking Ahead: The coming weeks will be crucial for TF1 as “Danse avec les stars” progresses through its competition. The network will aim to maintain its momentum and capitalize on the show’s popularity. France 2 will likely return to its regularly scheduled programming, but the impact of the Bruno Salomone tribute may linger. M6 will require to find ways to boost viewership for “Pékin Express” as it heads towards its conclusion. The television landscape remains dynamic, and networks will continue to adapt their strategies to meet the evolving demands of audiences.