As “Plus belle la vie” is about to bow out on November 18, after more than 18 years on the air, Allociné wondered if France 3’s daily soap opera was really the longest French series. .
On November 18, More beautiful life will bow out after more than 18 years on the air. Launched in August 2004, the daily soap very quickly succeeded in making a place for itself in the hearts of the French, but as the years passed, the audiences gradually lost momentum, which led France Télévisions to stop the series.
But with 18 seasons, 4665 episodes and 29 bonuses on the clock, is Plus belle la vie really the longest series in the history of French television? Yes and no… If in terms of number of episodes, Plus belle la vie flat out beats all its competitors, in terms of years of existence, it is far from being the longest series of the PAF. Discover the ranking!
1- Commissioner Moulin
32 years old – 70 episodes
With its 18 years of existence, the daily soap opera of France 3 is beaten soundly by Commissioner Mill. Launched in 1976, this detective series carried by Yves Renier ended in June 2008 after 32 years of existence.
2- The judge is a woman
29 years old – 138 episodes
First embodied by Florence Pernell in the role of Florence Larrieu for 7 seasons and 17 episodes from 1993 to 2002, The Judge is a woman continued with Alice Nevers (Marine Delterme). The series evolved over time, for more comedy and soap opera, and changed format (from 90 minutes to 52 minutes). The detective series finally bowed out in February 2022 after 29 years on the air.
3- A great family
26 years old – 56 episodes
Between 1992 and 2018, members of the Beaumont family, led by the duo Anny Duperey / Bernard LeCoq, returned to our television screens at regular intervals. We no longer count the weddings, divorces, births, deaths, bloodshed and love at first sight, which have punctuated our evenings for more than 26 years.
4- The Hélène and the boys saga
25 years – 1300 episodes (at present)
The sitcom Helen and the Boys (4 seasons and 280 episodes) has had 3 sequels since its shutdown in 1994: The Miracle of Love (1 season, 159 episodes), Holidays of love (5 seasons, 160 episodes) and The mysteries of lovewhose season 30 is currently broadcast on TMC, bringing, for the moment, its number of episodes to 770. That is more than 1300 episodes over 25 years!
5- Josephine, guardian angel
25 years – 101 episodes (at present)
Since 1997, Mimie Mathy and his Josephine, guardian angel remains one of TF1’s safe bets. If only a handful of episodes are broadcast each year, the series is still part of the longest fiction on French television.
7- Julie Lescaut
22 years old – 104 episodes
Between 1992 and 2014, Julie Lescaut, this fearless police commissioner tried to juggle her stressful job and her family life. A formula that proved to be a winner since the series led by Veronique Genest made the heyday of TF1 for 22 years.
8 ex aequo – More beautiful life
18 – 4665 episodes and 29 primes
The daily soap opera of France 3 is therefore only in 8th place tied with Navaro and Palace Boulevard. The series of course wins the battle for the number of episodes produced during its 18 years of existence.
8 tied – Navarro
18 years old – 108 episodes
For more than 18 years, Roger Hanin camped the famous commissioner Navaro, a model figure of justice, incorruptible and tenacious. Building on its success, it even got a spin-off, Navarro Brigadewhich unfortunately was terminated after two seasons.
8 tied – Boulevard du Palais
18 years old – 57 episodes
Discreet -we never talk about her- Palace Boulevard and its heroine embodied by Anne-Richard accompanied France 2 viewers for more than 18 years with impressive regularity and consistency. It ended in 2017.
