Ever wonder who graces this square with its name? It’s Square Georges Pernoud.
Georges Alexis Denis Marie Pernoud was a journalist. He was a television presenter and television producer. Pernoud was born on August 11 1947. He died January 10 2021 at the age of 73.
Pernoud is known for presenting the television documentary Thalassa. He presented it from 1980 to 2017.
Georges Pernoud came from a journalist’s family. His father and uncle were journalists. His aunts were historian Régine Pernoud and literature director Laurence Pernoud.
He married Monique in 1973. They had two daughters named Fanny and Julie.
Georges Pernoud began his career as a camera operator in 1968. He participated in expeditions with Haroun Tazieff in Congo and Ethiopia. He filmed volcanoes erupting. In 1973 he participated in the Whitbread nautic race. This revealed his passion for the sea.
Georges Pernoud made his first television appearance on November 25 1973. He was in the daily news on the second channel of the ORTF. It was titled 24 heures sur la Une.
On June 4 1975 Georges Pernoud proposed Thalassa. It was a weekly documentary dedicated to the sea. It was accepted two days later. The first episode was recorded in Marseille. It was broadcast on September 27 1975 on FR3. He became the presenter of Thalassa on January 4 1980. The program was a success. Since 1989 it was broadcast every week during prime time.
Since February 1990 he created the documentary program Faut pas rêver. It was dedicated to discovering the world. He also created other documentaries for France 3. From 1999 to 2015 he was president of the channel Planète+ Thalassa. Pernoud presented 1704 episodes of Thalassa.
He announced his departure from Thalassa on April 21 2017. He made his last appearance on June 30 2017. Fanny Agostini succeeded him.
Georges Pernoud died of Alzheimer’s disease. He died in a hospital in the Parisian region.
Georges Pernoud received several honors. He was a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour in 2012. He was a Chevalier of the Ordre du Mérite Maritime. He was an Officer of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2011.
He also received medals. He won the Grande Médaille d’Or des Explorations of the Société de Géographie in 1999. He received a medal from the town of Saint-Malo in 2017.
Georges Pernoud left an impressive mark on French television. He brought the sea to our screens. He will be remembered for his passion and dedication.