Jean-Philippe Wauthier Bonsoir Bonsoir: New Host Officially Named

When Jean-Philippe Wauthier didn’t return to the Bonsoir bonsoir! stage on July 7, 2025, regular viewers understood something fundamental had shifted — the host had stepped away two months earlier to recover from professional burnout, and what began as a temporary absence turned into a permanent handoff. This article traces exactly what happened, who stepped in, and what it means for one of Radio-Canada’s signature summer programs.

Show: Bonsoir bonsoir! ·
Original host (2019–2025): Jean-Philippe Wauthier ·
New host (as of December 2025): Jean-Sébastien Girard ·
Reason for departure: Burnout leave ·
Network: Radio-Canada ·
Genre: Talk show / variety

The five key facts below capture the essentials of the host transition at a glance.

Who is Jean-Philippe Wauthier?

Early career and rise to prominence

• Jean-Philippe Wauthier built his reputation in Quebec media as a host and comedian on Radio-Canada programs such as La soirée est (encore) jeune and La journée (est encore jeune), where he worked alongside Jean-Sébastien Girard for more than a decade (Radio-Canada press room).
• His career trajectory positioned him as a familiar face for Quebec audiences long before he took the lead on Bonsoir bonsoir!.

Role as host of Bonsoir bonsoir

• Wauthier became the host of Bonsoir bonsoir! in 2019, taking over a show that originally launched in 2016 as a seasonal summer talk-variety program on ICI Radio-Canada Télé.
• Under his leadership, the show became a regular Monday-through-Thursday evening appointment for Quebec viewers, blending interviews, comedy sketches, and musical performances.

The implication: Wauthier wasn’t just a host — he was the gravitational center of the show’s identity for six seasons. Finding a replacement who could maintain that connection was never going to be straightforward.

Why did Jean-Philippe Wauthier leave Bonsoir bonsoir?

Burnout and absence from the show

• Wauthier took an indefinite leave of absence in May 2025 to recover from épuisement professionnel — professional burnout (Radio-Canada press room).
• His absence was initially presented as temporary, with no fixed return date (Radio-Canada press room).
• Marie-Claude Barrette stepped in at short notice to host the show at the start of the season, but could not continue through the summer due to prior commitments (Radio-Canada press room).

Official announcement in July 2025

• Wauthier was scheduled to return to the show on July 7, 2025, but did not. Radio-Canada confirmed he would not be returning and announced that Jean-Sébastien Girard would take over as his replacement (Radio-Canada press room).
• The network’s statement used definitive language: “Contrairement à ce qui était prévu, Jean-Philippe Wauthier ne sera finalement pas de retour à l’animation de Bonsoir bonsoir! le lundi 7 juillet.”

The pattern: what began as a medical leave of absence became a de facto succession because Wauthier’s recovery timeline remained open-ended. Radio-Canada had to choose between indefinite limbo and a clean handoff. It chose the latter.

Who is the new host of Bonsoir bonsoir?

Background of Jean-Sébastien Girard

• Jean-Sébastien Girard was officially named the new host on December 15, 2025. He had been guest-hosting the show since June 2, 2025, after Barrette’s interim stint ended (Radio-Canada press room).
• He is a long-time collaborator of Wauthier, having worked alongside him for over 10 years on La soirée est (encore) jeune and La journée (est encore jeune) (Radio-Canada press room).
• Radio-Canada framed Girard’s appointment as a natural relay, emphasizing his chemistry with the show’s existing team and his familiarity with the format.

How his hosting style differs from Wauthier

• Girard brings a slightly more energetic, comedic edge shaped by his background in sketch comedy and radio-style banter.
• Wauthier’s hosting leaned warm and conversational; Girard’s early episodes suggest a faster pace and more improvisational segments.

The trade-off: Girard’s deep history with Wauthier means the show retains institutional knowledge and behind-the-scenes trust. But audiences who bonded with Wauthier’s specific cadence may need time to adjust to a different rhythm.

What is the future of Bonsoir bonsoir?

Will Jean-Philippe Wauthier return?

• No official date has been set for Wauthier’s potential return to television (Radio-Canada press room).
• His leave was described as indefinite, and neither he nor Radio-Canada has issued a statement about future plans.
• Industry observers note that his departure from Bonsoir bonsoir! does not preclude a return to other Radio-Canada projects, but no commitments have been announced.

Show’s ratings and direction under Girard

• The show continues with its regular broadcast schedule on Radio-Canada (Radio-Canada press room).
• Early audience reception to Girard’s hosting has been mixed but stable, with social media discussion centering on how his comedic instincts differ from Wauthier’s warmth.
• Radio-Canada has not publicly disclosed ratings changes since the transition.

Why this matters: Bonsoir bonsoir! is a seasonal tentpole for Radio-Canada’s summer lineup. A stable transition protects the network’s investment; a rocky one risks ceding the time slot to competitors.

Where can I watch Bonsoir bonsoir?

Broadcast times and channels

• Bonsoir bonsoir! airs Monday through Thursday evenings on ICI Radio-Canada Télé (Radio-Canada press room).
• The program typically airs at 9:00 p.m. Eastern and runs for approximately 60 minutes.

Streaming options

• Episodes are available on the Radio-Canada website and the ICI TOU.TV app for on-demand streaming (Radio-Canada press room).
• Exclusive clips and backstage content are also posted to the show’s Facebook and YouTube channels.

The pattern: Radio-Canada has made Bonsoir bonsoir! available across both traditional broadcast and digital streaming, ensuring the host transition doesn’t limit accessibility for cord-cutting viewers.

Timeline of the host transition

• 2019 — Jean-Philippe Wauthier becomes host of Bonsoir bonsoir!
• May 2025 — Wauthier takes indefinite leave to recover from professional burnout (Radio-Canada press room)
• June 2, 2025 — Jean-Sébastien Girard begins temporary hosting duties (Radio-Canada press room)
• July 7, 2025 — Wauthier misses scheduled return; Radio-Canada announces he will not return (Radio-Canada press room)
• December 15, 2025 — Jean-Sébastien Girard officially named permanent host

The pattern shows a gradual handoff rather than an abrupt change.

What’s confirmed and what’s still unclear

What’s confirmed

• Jean-Philippe Wauthier hosted Bonsoir bonsoir! from 2019 to 2025 (Radio-Canada press room)
• He left due to professional burnout (Radio-Canada press room)
• Jean-Sébastien Girard became the official host on December 15, 2025
• The show continues to air on Radio-Canada (Radio-Canada press room)

What’s still unclear

• Whether Wauthier will return to television in the future
• The exact timeline of his recovery
• If the show’s format will change under Girard
• Whether Radio-Canada will make any programming adjustments if ratings shift

The confirmed facts provide clarity, while unanswered questions leave room for future developments.

Key statements from the network

“Contrairement à ce qui était prévu, Jean-Philippe Wauthier ne sera finalement pas de retour à l’animation de Bonsoir bonsoir! le lundi 7 juillet.”

— Radio-Canada, official announcement (Radio-Canada press room)

“Jean-Sébastien Girard devient officiellement le nouvel animateur de Bonsoir bonsoir! en remplacement de son ami Jean-Philippe Wauthier.”

— Journal de Montreal, December 2025

For Radio-Canada, the choice is clear: support Girard through a full season as the new face of the franchise, or risk losing the summer audience that made Bonsoir bonsoir! a staple. For Wauthier, the priority remains his health, with no public timeline for a return to the stage. For viewers, the show they knew has changed hosts, but the format and broadcast schedule remain intact — at least for now.

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The show’s transition comes after Jean-Philippe Wauthiers burnout prompted his departure from the popular Quebec program.

Frequently asked questions

These answers address the most common queries about the host transition.