France 3 is bringing back its feel-good, memory-driven show La boîte à secrets on Friday, January 9 at 9:10 p.m. For U.S. viewers who enjoy intimate celebrity profiles like Finding Your Roots or long-form interview specials, this French primetime format offers a slower, more emotional take on entertainment TV.
What Is La boîte à secrets and Why Does It Matter?
Launched in 2019, La boîte à secrets has carved out a space in French television as a hybrid between a talk show and a documentary-style confessional. Instead of focusing on games, viral moments or competition, the show builds an entire evening around memories: childhood stories, career turning points and deeply personal milestones.
Each episode revolves around a symbolic “secret box.” Guests open it to discover surprises orchestrated in total secrecy by family, friends, or longtime collaborators. These moments are designed to trigger specific memories, spark emotional reactions and reveal lesser-known aspects of the guests’ lives and careers.
Host Faustine Bollaert: The Heart of the Show
At the center of La boîte à secrets is host Faustine Bollaert, a familiar face on French TV. Her style is radically different from the fast-paced, joke-heavy approach favored by many American late-night hosts. She favors active listening, open-ended questions, and long stretches of uninterrupted storytelling.
Rather than dominate the conversation, Bollaert acts as a guide and emotional anchor. She lets guests take their time, sit with their memories, and react naturally to the surprises prepared for them. That slower rhythm is part of the show’s DNA and a key reason it stands out in the current TV landscape.
Who Are the Guests on the January 9 Episode?
The January 9 primetime edition brings together three well-known French personalities from very different generations and artistic backgrounds. The mix is deliberate: the show often combines guests whose paths might not normally cross but who share a willingness to open up on camera.
François-Xavier Demaison: From Finance to the Stage
First up is François-Xavier Demaison, known in France as both a stand-up comedian and a film and theater actor. Before becoming a household name, he worked in the corporate world, then made a radical life change to pursue comedy—an arc that often resonates with viewers who have considered reinventing themselves mid-career.
On La boîte à secrets, surprises designed by people close to him aim to revisit pivotal choices in his life: the moment he left a stable job, the first time he walked on stage alone, and how those decisions reshaped his personal and professional future.
Catherine Lara: A Violin, a Voice, and Decades of French Music
Catherine Lara brings a different kind of legacy. A violinist, composer and singer, she has been part of the French music scene for decades, crossing genres and generations. For viewers unfamiliar with French pop-rock and chanson, she is roughly in the category of an iconic, long-term performer who has continuously reinvented herself.
The show uses the “secret box” format to revisit her artistic evolution: collaborations that defined her sound, songs that left a mark on the public, and personal moments that influenced her creative path. Her segment is likely to resonate with music lovers who enjoy hearing the stories behind career-defining tracks and performances.
Jean-Pierre Castaldi: A Television and Theater Mainstay
Completing the trio is Jean-Pierre Castaldi, an actor and TV host whose career has spanned several eras of French entertainment. With experience in theater, film, and popular television, he embodies a certain continuity in French pop culture, much like a veteran American character actor who has done everything from stage work to network shows.
The surprises awaiting him aim to highlight how his professional choices intersected with his personal life, and how different phases of his career—on stage, in front of TV cameras, and beyond—have shaped the person he is today.
- François-Xavier Demaison – comedian and actor who moved from one-man shows into cinema and theater
- Catherine Lara – violinist, composer and long-standing figure on the French music scene
- Jean-Pierre Castaldi – actor and TV personality with a multi-decade career
How the Format Works: Slow TV in Primetime
While many current entertainment programs chase fast edits and constant spectacle, La boîte à secrets doubles down on long-form conversation. The episode airs in France 3’s primetime slot at 9:10 p.m., but its pace is closer to an in-depth documentary than a typical variety show.
The structure alternates between on-set conversations and pre-recorded segments prepared specifically for each guest. A surprise may start with a video message, a reenactment, a musical performance, or an appearance by someone meaningful from the guest’s past. From there, the show circles back to the studio, where Faustine Bollaert encourages the guest to react, unpack emotions and share previously untold stories.
There is no competition, no scoring, and no challenge between guests. The narrative is the core of the experience: how lives unfold, how careers pivot, and how memory reshapes events with time.
Why This Episode Is Worth Watching Now
As of early January 2026, audiences on both sides of the Atlantic continue to respond strongly to content that feels human, reflective and authentic. With social feeds saturated by short clips and ultra-fast content, shows like La boîte à secrets offer a counterbalance: an opportunity to slow down and connect with longer, more meaningful stories.
This new installment stays true to the show’s identity, but the combination of a comedian, a music icon and a veteran actor creates a blend of tones—humor, nostalgia, and behind-the-scenes revelations—that can appeal even if you’re discovering these personalities for the first time.
How to Watch La boîte à secrets
The episode featuring François-Xavier Demaison, Catherine Lara and Jean-Pierre Castaldi is scheduled to air on Friday, January 9 at 9:10 p.m. on the French network France 3. Availability outside France can vary depending on distribution deals, but French public television content is sometimes accessible abroad via international feeds, catch-up platforms or partner streaming services.
If you’re exploring European TV formats or simply enjoy in-depth, emotionally driven celebrity portraits, this episode is a solid entry point into the world of La boîte à secrets.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Show: La boîte à secrets
- Host: Faustine Bollaert
- Channel: France 3 (France)
- Air date and time: Friday, January 9 at 9:10 p.m.
- Guests: François-Xavier Demaison, Catherine Lara, Jean-Pierre Castaldi
FAQ
What is the premise of La boîte à secrets?
The show invites three public figures to relive key moments from their lives and careers through surprise segments prepared in secret by their loved ones. Each surprise is designed to spark a specific memory, leading to an in-depth, emotional conversation on set.
Who hosts the January 9 episode of La boîte à secrets?
French TV presenter Faustine Bollaert hosts the episode. She is known for her empathetic, listening-focused style, which allows guests to open up and share personal stories at their own pace.
Which guests appear on the January 9 broadcast?
The episode features comedian and actor François-Xavier Demaison, musician and composer Catherine Lara, and actor and TV host Jean-Pierre Castaldi. Each brings a distinct artistic background and life experience to the conversation.
When and where does the episode air?
The new installment is scheduled for Friday, January 9 at 9:10 p.m. on France 3, a French public television channel. International access may depend on your location and streaming or broadcast partners that carry French programming.
