Is Plus belle la vie the longest French series?


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, Plus belle la vie 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 Moulin. Launched in 1976, this detective series carried by Yves Rénier ended in June 2008 after 32 years of existence.

2- The judge is a woman


29 years old – 138 episodes
First embodied by Florence Pernel 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 Le Coq, 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 Hélène et les Garçons (4 seasons and 280 episodes) has had 3 sequels since its end in 1994: Le Miracle de l’amour (1 season, 159 episodes), Les Vacances de l’amour (5 seasons, 160 episodes) and The Mysteries of Love, season 30 of which is currently being broadcast on TMC, bringing its number of episodes to 770 for the moment. That is more than 1,300 episodes over 25 years!

5- Josephine, guardian angel


25 years – 101 episodes (at present)
Since 1997, Mimie Mathy and her Joséphine, guardian angel remains one of the sure values ​​of TF1. If only a handful of episodes are broadcast each year, the series is still part of the longest fiction on French television.

6- Commissioner Maigret’s investigations


23 years old – 88 episodes
Launched in 1967, this detective series adapted from the work of Georges Simenon made the heyday of ORTF then of Antenne 2. Carried by Jean Richard, The investigations of Commissioner Maigret followed the investigations of the famous pipe commissioner.

7- Julie Lescaut


22 years old – 104 episodes
Between 1992 and 2014, Julie Lescaut, this intrepid 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 Véronique Genest was 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 Navarro and Boulevard du Palais. 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 portrayed the famous commissioner Navaro, a model figure of justice, incorruptible and tenacious. On the strength of its success, it even had the right to a spin-off, Brigade Navarro, which unfortunately was stopped 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.



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