The Star Ac team

A family crisis has led me to change my view of the television show Star Academy. A week ago, I would have spat on the father and mother of this televisual excrescence. Today I kneel in grateful homage. What happened in between was that my 13 year-old son Louis was rushed to hospital for an emergency operation. Severe peritonitis, and a terrible scare. On day two of his recovery in intensive care, a hushed excitement came over the nursing staff. We were getting a visit from the "Star Ac". (Before I go on, let me explain that Star Ac is France's pop talent show, soon to launch its 6th season and an immense success). Anyway into the ward come Magali (last year's winner) and three other young ex-competitors -- clearly doing some hospital voluntary work, visiting sick children. They could not have been more charming. Unaffected, unpompous, kind, well-spoken. They stayed a few minutes in each ward, posing for photos and chatting with the children. Maybe it's that the milk of my human kindness is extra creamy at the moment thanks to my not-dying son, but I was somehow deeply moved. What good people, I thought -- and still do. So no more Star Ac bashing, please. Ils sont top!