"CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU": WE KNOW WHO WILL REPLACE THOMAS SOTTO AT THE HELM OF THE RTL MORNING SHOW
"Congratulations to you": We know who will replace Thomas Sotto as host of the morning show on RTL, the presenter speaks out
RTL management has finally made its decision! After the announcement of Thomas Sotto's forced departure, the station with the red microphones has chosen a well-known in-house talent to take over the reins of its morning show this fall. A good sport, the outgoing presenter immediately reacted to this appointment. Le Parisien announced that Céline Landreau will replace Thomas Sotto as host of the morning show on RTL. At only 37 years old, this journalist is a very familiar voice to the station's listeners. Having worked in the newsroom for thirteen years, she, considered internally as a true "RTL baby," has built up solid experience. After working as a reporter, she notably co-hosted the midday slot with Pascal Praud, as well as the show "On défait le monde" with Cyprien Cini on Fridays. This season, she presented the 6:30 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. news broadcasts and had already filled in for Thomas Sotto as host of the morning show last April.
Starting August 24, the date of her first official solo broadcast, Céline Landreau will take over the 7:40 a.m. interview. In this new structure, journalist Olivier Boy will present the 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. news broadcasts, while also becoming her regular substitute.
This internal promotion marks the end of the Thomas Sotto era. Having arrived in August 2024 to succeed Yves Calvi after two years on Télématin, the 52-year-old journalist was forced out by management in May. The reason: declining ratings in a highly competitive radio environment. Between January and March 2026, RTL's morning slot attracted 1.11 million listeners, a loss of 89,000 over the year.
Continued Following the announcement in Le Parisien, Thomas Sotto took to his Instagram account to send a few words to his successor via a story. "Congratulations to you, my dear Céline. I wish you much happiness and every success with this fantastic morning show team," wrote the presenter, who had fallen off his bike a few months prior. Céline Landreau then retweeted the post, comparing his message to "Federer's class."
"13 years after the first late-night broadcast behind that red microphone...Immense joy!" "Thank you RTL!" she had declared just before.
Marc-Olivier Fogiel: his opinion on Thomas Sotto's departure from RTL
As a reminder, Marc-Olivier Fogiel, who has been the star interviewer on the 8:15 a.m. morning show since the start of the 2025 season, has already spoken several times about Thomas Sotto's departure from RTL.
As early as May 18, the former CEO of BFM TV took to social media to thank his co-host and silence rumors of tension: "It has been a real pleasure to share this year with you every day. The naysayers predicted a confrontation; It was quite the opposite: complicity and pleasure." More recently, in an interview with Le Parisien on June 3, Marc-Olivier Fogiel offered a more analytical perspective on this strategic decision by management. While highlighting the quality of Thomas Sotto's work, he acknowledged that the ratings were not meeting expectations as the 2027 deadlines approached: "This high-quality morning show hasn't taken off as much as it should have." “We have extremely privileged jobs, we’re pampered, but we know the rules of the game.” Next season, Marc-Olivier Fogiel has confirmed that he will dedicate himself exclusively to the M6 group’s radio station, declining offers from other television outlets. His interview program, Face à Fogiel, will focus more on political figures in the lead-up to the presidential election. In addition, he will host upcoming election night coverage and launch a brand-new podcast on RTL, Les Aspirants, dedicated to the journeys of candidates for the Élysée Palace.