Go behind the scenes of “Affaire Conclue” with a local expert! The popular afternoon program on France 2 has become a staple of the channel’s lineup, recently attracting nearly 999,000 viewers on February 3rd.
Launched in 2017, the display’s simple premise—where individuals have their items appraised before potentially offering them to professional buyers—has resonated with audiences. Following Sophie Davant, Julia Vignali has hosted the show since 2023.
Season 9, which began in August 2025, welcomes a new appraiser: Valérie Bouvier, head of the Coulommiers auction house. She joins a team of 15 experts, including only two new faces this season. And local viewers will be able to catch Valérie Bouvier on air February 26th and 27th.
“I am the eldest member of the show, but with the enthusiasm of a beginner.”
Bouvier is no stranger to television, having been approached about the show several years ago. “I had already been contacted when the show launched,” she recalls. “I have a passion for my work, but it’s particularly time-consuming. At the time, I didn’t have the availability.”
After several interviews, she finally joined the team. She attributes her decision to her experience: “I may be the eldest member of the show, but with the enthusiasm of a beginner.” A qualified appraiser for over 25 years, she previously appeared on the M6 show “Un trésor dans votre maison” between 2012 and 2019.
A Quick-Paced Schedule
From the moment she arrived on the set in Aubervilliers, the pace proved to be demanding. “We’ve already filmed over 50 episodes, and filming continues each month. The schedule is intense, with several episodes recorded in a single day under live conditions with a single take. We discover the items on the same day, which is stimulating. In that respect, it’s a faithful reflection of our daily activity,” she explains.
The show’s format begins with an appraisal phase. The estimates, made by the appraisers, precede the “battle” between buyers, often considered the most anticipated moment. “Our estimates are always prudent and reasonable. We give a market value, and the auction does the rest. Estimates are often exceeded, slightly or more spectacularly, just as in traditional auction rooms.”
“Emotion and the buyer’s love at first sight are often the best engines of the auctions,” Bouvier details.
Treasures and Family Stories
Sellers bring a variety of items, from simple knick-knacks to unexpected treasures. “We are similarly storytellers, explaining and contextualizing to better appreciate and enhance value,” she emphasizes. After appraisal, participants are free to offer their items to buyers or not.
Some amounts reach high figures: 127,000 euros, a record set in 2021, but also 60,000 or 45,000 euros. Before the Olympic Games, the auctions were, however, “rather restrained,” with nevertheless “some good deals.”
For Valérie Bouvier, the television experience also has a professional interest. “The host, Julia Vignali, is warm, curious, and passionate. Meeting the sellers is always a strong moment, some arrive with great emotion, sometimes with a family story and a touching history.”
Locals see “a great opportunity for the Coulommiers auction house to continue its public mission, namely to democratize auctions, facilitate access to the art market, and show that everyone can own a small or great treasure without knowing it.”
“Affaire Conclue” airs Monday through Friday from 4:20 PM to 5:20 PM on France 2. Valérie Bouvier will be on air February 26th and 27th.
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