The French TV sporting world is in shock today, mourning the sudden death by heart attack of Thierry Gilardi, the main football commentator on TF1, the most widely viewed TV channel in France. Only on Sunday he was presented Telefoot, TF1's football magazine, and was preparing to commentate on the France - England game tonight.
His enthusiasm for all things football and rugby will be much missed, and he has achieved the not inconsiderable feat of stealing the headlines from the Sarkozy state visit to the UK. Even if the other side of La Manche, the tabloids seem more interested in son épouse Carla, Sarkozy is portrayed this side, at least by the left-wing press, as something of an Anglophile (or more generally, an 'Atlantiste', to include the US). Today's lunchtime TV news, once thirty minutes of tributes to Thierry Gilardi was over, noted Mme Sarkozy's 'severe' outfit for the state welcome at Windsor Castle. At least they had some sense of priority...
Sarko himself is meanwhile attempting to tone down his 'bling' image for the trip, and has already displayed a certain sense of taste in his choice of venue for his meeting with Gordon Brown tomorrow.
