While the Quebec version ended in 2014, the cult show Fort Boyard has always been broadcast in France for 35 years already. To highlight this important anniversary, here are 15 things that you may not knew about Father Fouras and his friends, such as listed by France Info.
1. Hundreds of events
Located near La Rochelle, the fort has 66 pieces. In 2020, France Télévisions counted that 650 events have been carried out since the creation of the program in the different version.
AFP
2. The puzzles of Father Fouras
In 35 years, the famous sage posed 755 puzzles to the various candidates who came to see him. A few years ago, a fan of the show had calculated that the success rate of the participants in the puzzles of Father Fouras was 45%.
3. Sweden in mind
When it was created in 1990, the French program was called The keys to Fort Boyard. Over the years, it has been adapted in 36 different countries. Du Lot, it was Sweden that broadcast the most seasons with 22, between 1990 and 2023. Denmark follows, with 11. Norway and Quebec arrive just after, with 10 seasons.
Marie-Soleil Tougas and Guy Mongrain co-host “Fort Boyard” in the 1990s. They are here with Sylvie Legault and Pierre Jobin, two competitors. Archives photo, courtesy
After being first broadcast from 1993 to 2000, “Fort Boyard” had been relaunched in Quebec in a new concept animated by Dave Morissette and Guillaume Lemay-Thivierge, in 2013 and 2014. Photo d’archives
4. Various alphabets
Since each version is adapted in the language of the country of broadcasting, we have often had to modify the giant alphabet that we find on the ground for the ultimate test of the Treasure Hall. France Info report that we had to adapt it to a cyrillic, Hebrew, Arab and Georgian alphabet.
5. Tigers retire
Present since the creation of the show, the Tigers retired from Fort Boyard in 2022. They had left the Treasure Hall “due to controversy over animal abuse”, says France Info. The media also specifies that these were tigresses and not tigers, “because males have the annoying tendency to urinate wherever they go”.
6. Father Fouras changes his name
The designers of the show baptized this famous character according to the coastal city of Fouras, who is very close to the fort. But in international versions, the sage often changes its name. He became the Vicomte Godefroid de Tribouriau in Belgium, Magi in Greece and The Professor in the United Kingdom. In Sweden, the character is camped by a woman.
7. Felindra in Hollywood
The tamer who personifies Felindra, Monique Angeon, has played in certain American films, of which Gladiatorwhich contained scenes with felines. She also participated in the shooting of the film The story of Pi.
8. Sportsmen to test the events
When the designers of the show invent new tests, they must have them tested before putting them in the waves. Télé-Loisirsreports that production generally selects amateur sportsmen to do the first tests in Paris. Crews are then invited to test the new features on the fort.
9. A prison that is not a
Competitors who are sent to prison during the program after missing a test are not really sent behind bars. Le Figaro revealed that production rather invites them to spend time at the Fort cafeteria or on a terrace.
10. Disqualified team
In 35 years of broadcasting, only two competitors found themselves locked in the Treasure Hall, during the ultimate event. When the grid closes, the competitors have a few seconds to recover as many boyars as possible. In 2006, a Russian competitor returned to the grid that was about to close completely. But instead of slipping below, he had thrown pieces for his teammates, which had earned the disqualification his team.
