Overview

• France Télévisions announced that Anne-Sophie Lapix will step down as weekday presenter of its 20 Heures news program in mid-July after eight years on the desk.
• The decision, made by president Delphine Ernotte, forms part of a prime-time revamp aimed at reversing France2’s lagging audiences against rival TF1.
• Lapix will remain under contract to develop new projects across France Télévisions once she vacates the anchor chair.
• Caroline Roux, host of C dans l’air, is widely regarded as the leading candidate to succeed Lapix, with Julien Arnaud, Maya Lauqué and Sonia Chironi also under consideration.
• Lapix’s direct, incisive interview style has been both praised and a source of rumors, with some suggesting political pressure may have influenced the timing of her departure.