Léon Zitrone

Léon Zitrone (November 25, 1914 – November 25, 1995) was a prominent Russian-born journalist and television personality who made significant contributions to French media. Born in Petrograd, Russia, he and his family fled to France at the age of six to escape communism. Zitrone pursued his education at the École Supérieure de Journalisme in Paris, initially focusing on scientific studies. However, his fluency in Russian, French, English, and German opened the doors to a career in broadcasting. In 1948, he joined the foreign broadcasting division of Radiodiffusion-Télévision Française (RTF).

Zitrone became a familiar face on French television when he transitioned to RTF’s television division in 1959. He served as a news presenter for nearly two decades, prominently on TF1 and later on Antenne 2. His work was characterized by his dynamic presence during major events, hosting the iconic game show Intervilles alongside Guy Lux and commenting on the Tour de France six times, where his remarkable recall of cyclists' names left a lasting impression. He also lent his voice to the Olympics eight times and presented the Eurovision Song Contest four times, including the 1978 edition in Paris, marking him as the oldest host at 63.

In addition to his television career, Zitrone appeared in the film American Dreamer in 1984. He passed away from a cerebral hemorrhage on his 81st birthday in Paris, leaving behind a legacy of unforgettable moments in French broadcasting.