Actor Frédéric Chau Leaves French TV Series OPJ
Listen to the story
The French actor Frédéric Chau has decided to leave the France 3 police series OPJ. He will not appear in the show's eighth season.
Chau explained the reasons behind his departure in a recent interview. He said that something about the role "blocked me a lot", which suggests the job had become difficult for him in some way.
OPJ is a French crime drama that follows police officers as they investigate cases. The show is broadcast on France 3, a major public television channel in France.
Meanwhile, the show's director, Pierre Cueille, who is originally from Limoges, has found his own place within the production. He is reportedly comfortable working on the series.
Chau's exit comes as OPJ continues to grow in popularity with French audiences. The show has already run for several seasons, and season 8 is now being prepared without one of its familiar faces.
It is not yet clear who, if anyone, will replace Chau's character in the upcoming season. Fans of the show have reacted with interest to the news of his departure.
Chau is known in France for his work across television and film, and his exit from OPJ marks a notable change for the long-running series.
Details about the specific reasons for the difficulty he mentioned have not been fully explained, but his comment suggests personal or professional reasons played a role in his decision to leave the show.
Vocabulary7 words
- series
- a TV show made of many episodes
- season
- a set of episodes shown together, usually once a year
- departure
- the act of leaving something
- director
- the person who guides how a show is filmed
- character
- a person played by an actor in a show
- crime drama
- a TV show about crime and police
- public television
- a TV channel run for the public, not just for profit
Quiz
Answer key
1. He is leaving OPJ 2. It blocked him a lot 3. The director of OPJ, from Limoges
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
The French actor Frédéric Chau has decided to leave the France 3 police _____ OPJ. He will not appear in the show's eighth _____.
Chau explained the reasons behind his _____ in a recent interview. He said that something about the role "blocked me a lot", which suggests the job had become _____ for him in some way.
OPJ is a French crime drama that follows police officers as they investigate cases. The show is broadcast on France 3, a major public television _____ in France.
Meanwhile, the show's _____, Pierre Cueille, who is originally from Limoges, has found his own place within the production.
It is not yet clear who, if anyone, will replace Chau's _____ in the upcoming season.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think actors sometimes leave popular TV series?
- Have you ever watched a French crime drama? What did you think of it?
- Do you think it is important for TV shows to explain why cast members leave?
- How might a show change when a well-known actor departs?