Benoît Roberge makes his mea culpa. After years of touring Europe and France, the curious and greedy host travels to Belgium for the first time, in a new series that expires Tuesday on Evasion.
• Also read: Evasion: Four new shows from here, including three this fall
In Benoît chez les Belges, Benoît Roberge and his team have traveled all over Belgium, making the country almost a character in its own right. Its postcard landscapes, its well-kept secrets, its history and its culinary identity are highlighted, as well as the places that are a little “unloved” or lesser known.
Brussels, Liège, Namur, Bruges, Antwerp, La Panne and even Tournai, the birthplace of the humorist Bruno Coppens, with whom Benoît had a good time, the time of an episode, are presented there during the season. .
PHOTO COUR TESY Quebecor Content
Similarities with Quebec
Benoît Roberge, who was often asked by French people if his accent was Belgian without really knowing why, found many similarities between Quebecers and Belgians during his trip overall, such as humor, culture, language problems and a fondness for partying, spoke in an interview with the agency QMI.
“I’ve never seen people celebrate like that. We would have to face them against the residents of Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean if we had a competition,” added the host with a smile on his face. “You have to say that it was the end of the hygiene measures, maybe there was something in it, but I still have the impression that in normal times it’s a serious party. [en Belgique]. With ‘normal’ life resuming, it’s like everything is an excuse to celebrate, even children and teenagers took part,” he said.
Thailand, “A Tour of Thai”
The travel-loving host will also star in another fall release from Évasion, Tour de Thaï.
With his longtime friend Jean-Michel Dufaux he went to Thailand, where he was completely guided by him. “Jean-Michel was often in Asia and wanted to take his friends, but that’s not on the doorstep and it never worked. But this time it’s fitting that the first time I go there with him we do this series,” he explained, pointing out that this trip came exactly 20 years after one of their first projects; Europe Express.
“I let Jean-Michel guide me completely. He lets me discover what he likes about this country. I really have the beautiful role. I wasn’t told what the activities were in advance. I loved it and it was my biggest change of scenery,” said Benoît Roberge, who really fell in love with the country but also took a lot of joy living it with his boyfriend.
“People are so happy and so polite,” he continued.
Both in seven episodes, “Benoît chez les Belges” begins this Tuesday at 9pm while “Tour de Thaï” arrives on Évasion from October 4th.