Bernard Lions leaves L’Equipe du Soir after 18 years

Bernard Lions is leaving L’Equipe du Soir after 18 years on the football programme, adding another long-serving figure to a major reshuffle at La chaîne L’Equipe. The 56-year-old journalist announced his departure on Monday after joining the show when it began in 2008.

The programme is being redesigned for the 2026 season, with a new studio and visual identity. It will continue in the second half of the evening, but its weekend and Monday editions have been removed. The channel is also reducing the size of its panel so that the regular personalities become more clearly identified by viewers.

Lions joins a long list of established contributors who have already confirmed their exits. They include Johan Micoud, Éric Blanc, Guillaume Dufy, Hervé Penot, Bernard Lions, Grégory Schneider, Philippe Sanfourche, Dominique Séverac, Sébastien Tarrago, Régis Testelin, Raymond Domenech, Régis Brouard and Jérôme Alonzo.

Presenter Olivier Ménard, who has hosted the programme since its launch, will remain in place. Dave Appadoo, Ludovic Obraniak, Vikash Dhorasoo, Hugo Guillemet and Vincent Duluc are also staying. Virginie Sainsily and Pia Clémens will continue as the channel seeks greater gender balance, with former athlete Héloïse Kane and ex-footballer Nicole Abar joining the team.