The Talking France podcast is back with a look at the possible disappearance of rent controls in France, the latest on swimming in the Seine, the €16 million French château scam and the many different ways to say ‘sorry’ in French.
Host Ben McPartland is joined by The Local France’s Emma Pearson, Emma Albright, political expert John Lichfield and special guest Katy Wright for a look at all the latest news and talking points from France.
We start with an explanation on France’s rent controls, why they might disappear and what impact that could have on rent prices and the housing market in France’s big cities.
You can find the Talking France podcast on Spotify, Apple or the French platform Deezer or on World Radio Paris. You can download it here or listen on the link below.
Since January 1st 2026, foreigners in France applying for citizenship or certain types of residency permits have been required to pass a French language exam – but recently users trying to log on to the DCL language exam website have found that the site is down. Freelance journalist Katy Wright, based in Brittany, explains what has gone wrong.
Next, we take a look at the possibility of France having a far-right president next year, as well as keep up with how current president Emmanuel Macron is occupying his time (including with a singalong in Armenia).
We then discuss a story about a €16 million scam involving a château in France, which has seen a British man arrested in Spain. And while we’re about it, we also explore why France has so many châteaux.
Finally, we wrap up this week’s episode by exploring the many ways to say “sorry” in French and the situations in which each expression is most appropriate.
Talking France is a free podcast made possible by the support of paying members of The Local France – you can find out more about becoming a subscriber here, or you can help by recommending Talking France to a friend.
