France in the Eurovision Song Contest 1956

France debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest 1956, held on 24 May 1956 at the Teatro Cursaal in Lugano, Switzerland. The French broadcaster RTF chose its two entries for the contest with the help of the radio program Le Palmarès de la chanson inédite. The songs "Le Temps perdu" and "Il est là" were selected to represent the nation. At the contest, they were performed by Mathé Altéry and Dany Dauberson, respectively.

Before Eurovision
According to TV listings magazine Télévision Programme Magazine, RTF used the radio program "Le palmarès de la chanson inédite" to choose the French entries for the Eurovision Song Contest 1956. "Le palmarès de la chanson inédite" aired regularly on Saturday evenings on Programme parisien in 1956 and 1957. The program was directed by Michel du Plessis and presented by Maurice Yvain and Louis Poterat, with an orchestra led by Franck Pourcel accompanying the artists.

Of the two French songs chosen for the Eurovision Song Contest, "Il est là" can be retrieved in radio listings as participating in the program, in this case for the program aired on 5 May 1956, and sung by Marina Audrey.

"Le Temps perdu", written by André Lodge (music) and Rachel Thoreau (lyrics), and "Il est là", written by Simone Vallauris, were chosen as the French entries.

At Eurovision
Eurovision Song Contest 1956 took place at the Teatro Kursaal in Lugano, Switzerland, on 24 May 1956. "Le Temps perdu", sung by Mathé Altéry, was performed 5th at the contest and "Il est là", sung by Dany Dauberson, was performed 12th. Both of the French entries were conducted by Franck Pourcel.

Each country nominated two jury members who voted for their respective country by giving between one and ten points to each song, including those representing their own country. One of the French jury members was Maurice Yvain.

The full results of the contest were not revealed and have not been retained by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Eurovision Song Contest 1956 was televised in France on RTF with commentaries provided by Michelle Rebel.