France right now is pretty much either water or under metres of snow, depending on where you are in the country so we'll start by getting the latest on the extreme weather that continues to lash the country.

The big story in France this week has been the killing of a young far-right activist in Lyon after violent clashes that have been blamed on a group on the extreme left. We'll look at all the reaction and finger-pointing that has followed and the fears there may be more violence to come as we head towards the 2027 presidential election.

We'll also hear the stories of young people and pensioners who have been denied French citizenship because of tightened rules around income and bring you the final details about a new healthcare fee many foreigners in France will have to pay in future.

And we'll explain why the upcoming salon d'agriculture is such a key date in the French cultural and political calendar - even if there are no cows this year.

And there's nothing worse for French learners than being betrayed by all those false friends, but why are there so many of them? We’ll find out.

Host Ben McPartland is joined as usual this week by the team at The Local France, Emma Pearson, otherwise known as EmmaP - Emma Albright, otherwise known as Emma A and our politics expert John Lichfield.

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On the agenda this week, we’ll find out if anyone can beat likely far-right candidate Jordan Bardella to be the next president of France. He’s flying in the polls, he’s flying on tiktok, but will he fly into the Elysee? 

We’ll also get the lowdown on private beaches in France. How come there are so many when all beaches are meant to be public?

And the government has the country’s sacred summer holidays in its sites. Could they finally be cut?

We’ll also hear about the downsides of benign bilingual French and English and why the French government is writing to young people to ask them to have more sex - and eat less meat.

Host Ben McPartland is joined by the team at The Local France Emma Pearson, Emma Albright and John Lichfield.

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This week we start off with some explosive news from France before we hear why authorities on a picturesque island off France's west coast are offering second home owners thousands of euros for their properties and look at why houses have become so expensive in places like the famous Il de Ré.

And we'll look at how speed cameras are getting flashier in France and try to understand why everyone, in rural parts of the country especially, hate them to the point of burning them down.

We'll also explain why there's been a big drop in the number of foreigners becoming French, but why there's been a big rise in the number of Americans moving across the Atlantic to set up home in France.

And we'll help you reveal the animal in you by teaching you some must-know French expressions...

Host Ben McPartland and I'll be joined by the team at The Local France, Emma Pearson, Emma Albright and John Lichfield.

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Up this week we'll look at what's at stake in the upcoming local elections in France and whether French voters really care. And we'll look ahead to the French presidential election to see whether anyone can unite the left... and whether French voters really care.

We'll also look at why kids have been banned from some first class trains in France and whether France, on the whole, is less child-friendly than other countries. We'll hear about the move in the country to avoid American tech companies and indeed other US brands and we'll look forward to some of the best and most bizarre festivals in France this year. Stay with us to hear the strangest sound we've ever heard on Talking France.

And we'll see whether us French learners should really be aiming to speak like Edith Piaf.

Host Ben McPartland is joined by the team at The Local France - Emma Pearson, Emma Albright and our politics expert John Lichfield.

You'll find many more articles about France at The Local.fr

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This week we'll look at whether the French government will survive long enough to enjoy the weekend and find out what the French make of all this budget bedlam that's been going on far too long, especially when the world seems to be lurching towards a crisis.

And speaking of that crisis, we'll look ahead to where these mounting tensions between France, Europe and Donald Trump will lead too, and we'll hear from our American listeners in France as to how they are impacted by it all.

We'll also look at how bad a plague hazing is at French universities and get a view on how different the drinking cultures is between French and British students.

And are open fires in cosy homes in rural France soon to be a thing of the past?

And we'll explain some of the weird and wacky noises you'll hear the French make.

Host Ben McPartland is joined this week by the two Emmas : Pearson and Albright and the one John: Lichfield that is.

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This week on Talking France we look at the reasons so many landlords in France get away with renting out hovels - even though there are supposed to be laws against it.

We’ll look at just how safe skiing is in France these days given 6 people, including one Briton, were killed in avalanches over the weekend.

And we’ll look at why France’s leaders are being urged to channel their “inner De Gaule” and stand up to the United States.

And we’ll learn how to talk about the cold weather like a real French person.

Host Ben McPartland is joined by the team at The Local France Emma Pearson, Emma Albright and politics expert John Lichfield.

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This week we’ll discuss the big talking point in France at the start of January 2026, which  is just how did George Clooney and his wife Amal and their kids become French citizens?

George doesn’t seem to be a full time resident in France, nor by his own admission does he speak French very well, nor is he married to a French national, so how did he do it? We’ll find out and look at some of the reactions to Monsieur George Clooney getting a French passport.

We’ll also look at the strikes that are starting to pile up at the start of the year, hear about the French government’s plan to ban young teenagers from accessing social media sites and help you learn some key French strike vocab and importantly how to pronounce it. 

For this new series of Talking France, well it’s a combination of the old and the new, the old, well that’s host Ben McPartland and Emma Pearson The Local France’s editor and John Lichfield our politics expert. And the new, well we’ve got a new member of The Local France team, she’s also an Emma - Emma Albright.

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This is a special episode focussed on looking ahead to next year in France, so you are all aware of what will happen in terms of travel and immigration changes and what might happen when it comes to political crises and elections.

We'll look at all the key changes on the horizon and the key cultural dates to get in your diary for next year.

So sit back, crack open an oyster or two or if you are like me and think oysters are just posh slime that belongs in the sea, then get yourself a glass of vin chaud, and make sure to listen to the end.

Im Ben McPartland and I'll be joined by The Local France's Emma Pearson, Gen Mansfield and John Lichfield.

For all our articles looking ahead to the changes in France in 2026 visit our special 2026 web page.

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This week, we will look at the latest flare up between the government and French farmers, many of whom have been spending recent days blockading motorways or public buildings and basically trying to get the government to listen.

We'll also find out about a significant vote in the French parliament about residency permits and look at the new French Civics Test that will be compulsory in 2026 for citizenship and some residency applicants - and find out how much it costs.

Plus we'll look ahead to Christmas in France this year, will the farmers scupper your travel plans, will there be snow and why has the whole country become obsessed by a wolf.

And we'll have a look at some of the best, worst and most memorable moments in France in 2025.

I'm Ben McPartland and I'll be joined by The Local France's Editor Emma Pearson and our politics expert John Lichfield.

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It seems no one likes dual nationals these days. They are being picked on by politicians in countries across the world. We'll look at whether the rules around dual citizenship could change in France and also remind you of some big changes ahead for anyone planning on becoming French.

We'll also find out why French police and their boss - the French interior minister are up in arms and threatening lawsuits over a board game this Christmas.

We'll catch up with the French PM's efforts to save the government and get a budget through and find out why Americans are obsessed with France.

Im Ben McPartland and I'll be joined by the team at The Local France Emma Pearson, Gen Mansfield and our politics expert John Lichfield.

READ MORE:

• OPINION: France's muddled half-budget counts as a big win for the embattled PM

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