Nagui's version of Intervilles: hampered by the absence of heifers and plummeting ratings, the game show is cancelled for this summer

Q: No Intervilles in 2026

Revealed this Wednesday, the cancellation of Intervilles for the summer of 2026 marks a brutal end for the version relaunched by Nagui. Officially, France Télévisions cites financial constraints and is now postponing the program to 2027. But this postponement is also, and above all, the consequence of a first season marked by a sharp drop in ratings and by numerous criticisms of a version without cows, deemed by some viewers and long-time participants as too far removed from the original spirit of the game.

Q: Without the heifers, Nagui's version crystallized the rejection of a portion of the audience.

Another crucial point: from the moment the show's return was announced, the disappearance of the heifers became the focus of most of the criticism. Dax and Mont-de-Marsan refused to participate, arguing that "Intervilles without heifers isn't Intervilles." After the broadcast, scathing criticism emerged on social media, centered on the absence of the heifers, sets deemed too modest, a lack of pacing, and an overall impression of a distorted program.

Q: The postponement to 2027 therefore resembles both a financial decision and an admission of failure.

Ultimately, Nagui's version of Intervilles has indeed been cancelled for summer 2026 and postponed, at best, until 2027. Officially, France Télévisions acknowledges that the decision was driven by budget cuts. But the timing of this postponement, following a first season with declining ratings and repeated criticism of its format without cows, also suggests that, beyond budgetary concerns, the network failed to find the popular appeal it had hoped for in this new version. The relaunch was touted as an immediate success; a year later, it has come to an abrupt halt.

Officially, France 2 cites budgetary reasons. In reality, declining ratings and criticism of the new format have played a significant role.

NoIntercity in 2026

Revealed this Wednesday, the non-renewal ofIntercity The summer 2026 launch marks a sudden halt for the version relaunched by Nagui. Officially, France Télévisions cites financial constraints and has now postponed the program to 2027. But this postponement is also, and above all, the consequence of a first season marked by a sharp drop in ratings and by numerous criticisms of a version without heifers, deemed by some viewers and long-time participants as too far removed from the original spirit of the game.

This postponement contrasts sharply with the very optimistic communication of last summer. On July 25, 2025, the day after the final, France Télévisions celebrated a "A successful return" and wrote that the program would return in 2026 for a new season. The group then claimed an average of 2,7 million viewers, a 17,9% audience share over the entire season, and very good scores among young and family audiences.

The problem was that the actual audience figures didn't quite match the official marketing. The first episode, broadcast on July 3, 2025, had a very strong start with 3,35 to 3,4 million viewers and a 22% market share. A week later, the second episode dropped to 2,41 million viewers and a 17,1% share. The third episode fell further to 2 million viewers and a 14% share. The finale on July 24 rebounded to 2,4 million viewers and a 17,7% share, but still hadn't reached the launch's level.

Without the heifers, Nagui's version crystallized the rejection of a portion of the audience.

Another crucial point: from the moment the game's return was announced, the disappearance of the heifers became the focus of most of the criticism. Dax and Mont-de-Marsan refused to participate, believing that"Intervilles without heifers isn't Intervilles."After the broadcast, criticisms "bitter" Criticisms emerged on social media, focusing on the absence of the heifers, sets deemed too modest, a lack of rhythm, and a general impression of a distorted program.

Nagui unsuccessfully defended a modernized, animal-free version.

For his part, Nagui's position has never wavered. As early as November 2024, the presenter and producer explained that if there were no longer any animals in television programs, it was because of their sensitivity to noise, crowds, and discomfort, even going so far as to remind viewers that"There are no more tigers in Fort Boyard"A few weeks later, he also recounted being deeply affected by the death of a heifer during rehearsals in 2005 or 2006, stating that he did not believe the arena was "their natural element"In other words, the absence of the heifers was not a cosmetic detail for him, but a matter of principle.

Problem: this choice profoundly altered the identity of the program

This is precisely what weakened the recovery. By removing one of the most identifiable indicators of'IntervillesThe production team attempted to modernize the brand, but it also deprived the game of an element that many viewers associated with its DNA. Co-creator Claude Savarit was one of the harshest critics, judging the new version "So disappointing"denouncing the absence of the heifers as a choice "grotesque and unacceptable" and believing that, without them, the program would lose what had made it successful. Even if this interpretation is fundamentally debatable, it clearly resonated with a segment of the public and reflected in the ratings trajectory.

The postponement to 2027 therefore resembles both a financial decision and an admission of failure.

Ultimately, the Nagui version ofIntercity The show is indeed cancelled for summer 2026 and postponed, at best, to 2027. Officially, France Télévisions acknowledges a decision dictated by budget cuts. But the timing of this postponement, following a first season with declining ratings and repeated criticism for its format without cows, also suggests that, beyond budgetary concerns, the channel hasn't found the popular appeal it hoped for in this new version. The relaunch was touted as an immediate success; a year later, it has been abruptly halted.