Jean-Jacques Bourdin

Jean-Jacques Bourdin (born 15 June 1949) is a French journalist, radio and television presenter. Since 2001, he has hosted the morning radio programme Bourdin Direct on RMC. Since 2018, he has also presented the monthly talk show Rien n'est impossible on RMC Story.

Early life and education

Jean-Jacques Bourdin was born in Colombes in the department of Hauts-de-Seine, the eldest of five children. He grew up in Alès in the Gard department in a family environment he describes as well-off and of Protestant culture. His father owned a small company and his mother was a housewife. At the age of 16, he participated at the 1965 presidential election by posing posters for the far right candidate Jean-Louis Tixier-Vignancour with his father. Graduated with a high school certificate in literature in 1967, Jean-Jacques Bourdin briefly went to university, and then did various jobs.

Career

Having failed to join the daily sport newspaper L'Équipe, Jean-Jacques Bourdin joined in July 1976 the sport service of the radio station RTL with the help of the director Raymond Castans. He stayed on RTL for 25 years, where he entered as a sport journalist, and progressively became a reporter and a presenter of programmes. In 1991, he became editor-in-chief and presenter of the midday programme of the station at rue Bayard in Paris. In 1996, he replaced Alain Krauss at the presentation of the interactive programme Les auditeurs ont la parole. In September 2000, not having a friendly relationship anymore with the direction of RTL, he left the radio and was replaced by Christophe Hondelatte, being unemployed.