Christine Laydu, co-author of "Bonne nuit les petits", has died

Her voice soothed the childhoods of millions of children who are now grown up. Christine Laydu, co-author of Bonne nuit les petits , died on Saturday, July 5, her children announced on Monday. She died at her home in Morigny-Champigny, Essonne, at the age of 94.

Christine Laydu, who was also an actress and model, wrote many episodes of the series with her husband, Claude, who died in 2011 , published books based on the show and participated in the creation of the puppets and costumes. The cult program has influenced several generations of viewers and entered popular culture .

First in black and white and then in color, Bonne nuit les petits was broadcast on RTF then ORTF from 1962 to 1973, on TF1 in a new version in 1976, and finally on France 2 in its latest version from 1995 to 1997. Concluding with famous notes of the pipe, each episode features the puppet characters of the Sandman and his assistant Nounours who, at bedtime, come down from their cloud to visit the children Nicolas and Pimprenelle.

Claude Laydu found inspiration in 1960 in East Germany, watching a daily evening animation sequence for children featuring Das Sandmännchen (The Little Sandman) and two little girls. The beginnings of Bonne nuit les petits in 1962 had been difficult and, after 65 episodes, the creator designed a new version with his wife Christine.

Monique Messine gave her voice to Nicolas, Martine Merri to Pimprenelle, Jean Martinelli (member of the Comédie-Française) to Nounours and Claude Laydu continued to play the role of the Sandman. Nounours will have three nephews, Rémi, Toto and Fanfan, chosen for their initials forming the acronym RTF. A fourth fellow, Oscar, will arrive at the end of 1964, the pretext for the change of name of the RTF to ORTF (Office de radiodiffusion-télévision française).

In total, more than 700 episodes will be broadcast, and hundreds of thousands of books, records, video cassettes, dolls, and other merchandise will be sold.