Back on M6 this Monday, the show "Love is in the meadow" celebrates its 20th anniversary

In 2005, France discovered a strange show: single farmers, in search of happiness, signed up for a dating show in which they had to choose suitors after a filmed portrait in order to find love.

Light-hearted, a journey through the land, and strikingly human, the concept immediately captivated viewers and, over time, became one of M6's flagship programs. Twenty years later and fifteen seasons together with Karine Le Marchand, who took over as presenter of the concept in the fifth season, L'amour est dans le pré has become a must-see late-summer event.

This year again, fifteen farmers from all over France hope to find love with a capital L through the show. Last year, the show gathered more than 3.5 million fans on M6, a total anchor for one of the show's producers, Gabriella Mermet Mather: "It's a universal subject, treated in an authentic way, we tell love stories, without artifice, without gain, without game mechanics. And we noticed that it works better and better since Covid because people need to connect with the essential, the earthy side, the roots. There is an authentic terroir side to this show, and kindness."

Trusting and taming yourself

Unlike some reality TV shows based on the confinement of young, beautiful, scantily clad contestants whose daily lives oscillate between sorting swimsuits, counting their teeth with their tongue, and knowing who slept with whom during the night, L'amour est dans le pré didn't seem to succumb to the codes of 2.0 television. "Farmers aren't codified by the world of television. They come from rural backgrounds where appearances are less important, there's less of a close-knit community, it's less codified," the producer continues. "But, alongside that, there's a kind of apprehension of the world of television; you have to get used to each other."

If the show is such a success, it is also the magic of Karine Le Marchand, media figure of a program based above all on the human. Gabriella Mermet Mather: " It is true that Karine Le Marchand is the embodiment of the program, she sets the tone, she is the voice, she created this impertinent touch even if the real star of the program remains the farmer. The story that we tell is them, the format is stronger than Karine but she serves it wonderfully and embellishes it. Without her, the show would still exist but it would take a hell of a hit ."

The show's strength lies in its ability to reinvent itself each year while starting from scratch. "This obligation to adapt forces us to challenge ourselves. We have to find a tone, make sure Karine doesn't get bored. As long as she's having fun, we'll have fun with her because she's been doing this show for 15 years. There will always be something to talk about," continues Gabriella Mermet Mather.

95 "ADP" babies

Casting plays a central role in the show's production secrets. It's important to be on the ball, identifying those who are there for the media attention or fame. It's a real painstaking task.

"You have to be transparent on all sides because we're talking about love and it's not easy. Casting is the crux of the matter because we're betting on humans without knowing what's coming next or their potential suitors," analyzes the woman who has been producing the show for three seasons. "We don't do any wild casting, we let people come to us. We try to vary the ages, the profiles, we also hope that they come to us for sincere reasons and not out of opportunism. We're the last wheel on the carriage of their quest for love. We receive a lot of files, we have to investigate, make phone calls, meet people. You have to know how to spot those who are ready to be in love and to be publicized too."

Even though nothing is specifically planned for the 20 except for a special program What have they become , the production remains proud of two things: audiences, obviously, and births that have occurred thanks to the show . "95 babies born since the beginning of the show, it's a figure that speaks volumes, but it's thanks to the farmers and the suitors, it's them who embarked on the adventure, they opened up to the public, with courage," concludes Gabriella Mermet Mather.

Love is in the meadow , this Monday at 9:10 p.m., on M6.