How "Belve" become the best Italian talk show

Belve enjoys great popularity today, especially on social networks, but it took several years to gain traction with the general public. The program has been around since 2018 and initially aired on Nove, the Italian channel of the multinational Warner Bros. Discovery group. Belve then moved to Rai, and only between 2022 and 2023 did it truly become well-known and followed, eventually landing in prime time after seven seasons, with longer and richer episodes. The rise of Belve coincided with that of its host, Francesca Fagnani: when she co-hosted the second evening of the Sanremo Festival last year, she had become quite famous relatively recently. But the program's success is also fueled by the level of attention it receives, episode after episode, on social networks – particularly on TikTok and Instagram, where clips of the best interview moments often go viral. This following – even among very young generations – is quite rare for an interview program, especially one on Rai.

How Belve Was Born

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The program was conceived by Fagnani herself and the renowned television writer Irene Ghergo, and it has always been based on a very essential format – which ultimately contributed to its success. Initially, the guests were mainly women – in 2018, for example, Giorgia Meloni and Virginia Raggi were interviewed. Later, the male presence increased, reaching roughly the same number as the female counterpart. With the move to prime time, the program added a studio audience and some comedic interventions between interviews, such as those by the duo Eterobasiche. In terms of TV ratings, Belve doesn't achieve very high numbers, although over the years, the viewership has grown significantly; most likely, the program reaches more people online, thanks to Raiplay and especially social networks. On Twitter, for example, the show is often commented on live, while TikTok and Instagram serve as megaphones for the most newsworthy or entertaining interview snippets.

Why Belve Is So Liked

The strength of the show lies in its tone and choice of questions: they often border on provocative with a veiled sense of irony, but without becoming rude or lacking in elegance. "With a radiant smile, she 'bites into' the interlocutor, pressing them to the extreme," wrote esteemed TV critic Aldo Grasso about Francesca Fagnani's style. For example, before accepting the invitation last season, Fedez said he wasn't willing to go on Belve because "you can't come out of it well" – but during the interview with Fagnani, he clarified: "I don't like to back down, and that's why I'm here." Furthermore, the program never conducts interviews tied to promotional agendas – a fairly rare occurrence on television. "Do you have a movie? Do you have a book? Don't come. Or if you come, we won't talk about it, because otherwise, this would already put you in a position to receive compliments," said Fagnani. "The goal instead is to delve deeper into the personality, capturing its nuances, perhaps unpublished – since all the characters have already been extensively interviewed." The questions are personalized, not disclosed to the guest in advance, and often unpredictable – except for the now iconic "what 'beast' do you feel like?" Finally, the editing and any cuts are under the exclusive control of the program, believing that the final result is more authentic and satisfying for the audience. Overall, this approach – not at all typical on Rai – allows Belve to stand out and be highly appreciated, making it a unique program compared to other typical interview shows on mainstream television.