French television presenter Stéphane Plaza has spoken out for the first time since broadcaster M6 permanently removed him from property show Recherche appartement ou maison.
The decision to drop Plaza follows his criminal conviction for physical and psychological violence against former partners. M6 returned the popular real estate programme to the air on Thursday evening, September 3, 2026, at 9:10 pm with previously unreleased episodes, marking the final end of his television career on the French network.
Social media reaction and message to viewers
Plaza broke his silence on his social media accounts on Thursday, September 3, 2026, addressing viewers and his former production team directly. The presenter had remained silent since his removal from M6 broadcasting schedules.
Reflecting on his time with the network, Plaza said he had spent 15 extraordinary years loving and presenting the show, conducting property searches, meeting wonderful people, and sharing those experiences with viewers. Showing no resentment toward the station, he added that he wished the programme a long continuation on air.
Addressing the updated hosting team, Plaza wished good luck to historical presenters Sandra and Thibault alongside the new recruits, telling them to choose their keys well as they take over the broadcast.
New presenter team on M6
For the return of Recherche appartement ou maison, M6 selected a quartet of real estate professionals to replace the single-host format previously led by Plaza. The television channel brought together two long-standing figures from the show and two new industry specialists.
Thibault Chanel and Sandra Viricel, who both appeared on the programme alongside Plaza in earlier seasons, remain as historical agents on the team. They are joined by Etienne Claude, a specialist in home staging and property valuation, and Camille Duquennoy, an expert in the real estate market.
Court conviction and Paris appeal ruling
Plaza was convicted in first instance for physical and psychological domestic violence against former partners, receiving a one-year suspended prison sentence from the court.
The case went to appeal earlier in the summer of 2026, where prosecutors sought a six-month suspended sentence with probation and a fine of 12,000 euros. The Paris Court of Appeal is scheduled to deliver its final judgment on September 18, 2026.
Television career and real estate business network
Originally a real estate agent by trade, Plaza was discovered by M6 and became a household favourite among French television viewers, who appreciated his practical advice, empathy, and blunder-prone onscreen persona. M6 handed him multiple property formats over the years, including Recherche appartement ou maison, Maison à vendre, and Chasseurs d'appart.
Plaza also co-hosted general entertainment broadcasts alongside presenter Karine Le Marchand, including On ne choisit pas ses voisins and Qu'est-ce que je sais vraiment ?, before expanding his work into theatre acting.
Following his removal from television sets, Plaza no longer films any programmes for M6 and has returned full-time to his original real estate profession. His agency network, Stéphane Plaza Immobilier, which was founded in 2015, ceased to count M6 among its shareholders in July 2026.
M6 has since invested in a separate new real estate franchise named Sixième avenue. Plaza has joined the holding company WIF Group, which encompasses the Stéphane Plaza Immobilier and We Invest brands, representing 140 sales locations and nearly 1,000 real estate advisers across the market.
