An era of Italian television has come to an end: Pippo Baudo, probably the country's best-known and most influential presenter, passed away in Rome on Saturday night at the age of 89. The TV legend fell asleep peacefully surrounded by his family in the Campus Biomedico hospital. Baudo, who presented the Sanremo Festival alone 13 times, was regarded as the face of RAI and influenced entire generations of television viewers.
A life for the big stage
Born on June 7, 1936 in Sicily, the law graduate Giuseppe "Pippo" Baudo was drawn to the world of show business at an early age. His meteoric rise in the up-and-coming medium of television began in Rome. With programs such as "Settevoci" in the 1960s and later the legendary "Canzonissima", he became a national celebrity. In the 1980s, his popularity reached its absolute peak with cult formats such as "Domenica in", "Fantastico" and "Serata d'onore". His name became synonymous with great and elegant Saturday evening entertainment for the whole family.
The discoverer of the stars and the face of Sanremo
More than just a presenter, Baudo was a formative figure behind the scenes, at times as artistic director of RAI and Canale 5. His nickname "the man who invented television" and his legendary saying "l'ho inventato io" were testament to the countless talents he discovered and nurtured. He remained active into old age, hosted "Sanremo Giovani" in 2018 and was a welcome guest at public events. In 2021, he was honored for his life's work with the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, the country's highest order.
