Why Laurence Ferrari is too sexy for French TV

Since taking over as the anchor of the main evening news programme, The Journal Televise, on the French channel TF1, the beautiful Laurence Ferrari has had to endure a good deal of carping from those who consider her a lightweight. It hasn't helped that she is said to have dated President Sarkozy shortly before Carla Bruni came on the scene and that it is to him she owes her sudden promotion. However, things have now got serious for the 42-year-old presenter: according to Le Point, the weekly news magazine, she has been told to tone down her sexy image (pictured)  because it is said to be the cause of a sudden drop in viewers.

This is not good because she was actually brought in to arrest the decline in the show's ratings, which had gone from about nine million viewers a year ago to eight million this summer. It was felt that her predecessor, Patrick Poivre d'Arvor, 60, was in part responsible for this and that a new, fresh face would attract younger viewers. But according to Le Point the over-60s have been put off by her appearance.

This led to TF1 executives instructing her to change her haircut, make-up and clothes to appear less sexy and closer to her age, which is 42. As result, her trademark tight, white jumpers have been jettisoned in favour of dark waistcoats; her hair now hangs soberly over her ears, her lipstick is softer and lines can be seen around her eyes and mouth.

 ·