Antonella Clerici marks 40 years in television, backs De Martino for Sanremo

Antonella Clerici marked 40 years in television this week, reflecting on her career in an interview with weekly magazine Chi. The broadcaster discussed her longevity in Italian media, her approach to the profession, and her views on current television figures.

"The secret? You must never do things to become famous, but out of passion," Clerici said. She emphasized that she no longer feels the need to prove anything after four decades on screen. "I think I have done a lot and have nothing left to demonstrate. The phrase I often repeat is: 'Show your passports'—meaning, before you speak, tell me what you have done in your life."

Clerici recounted her career trajectory, noting that she has experimented extensively and taken significant risks. "I have had ups and downs in a long career, but I would sign up for another one like it," she said. Over 40 years, she has worked across multiple genres and formats, from sports journalism to entertainment and cooking shows.

Reflecting on her relationship with RAI, Clerici noted that despite the many government changes during her tenure, she has never faced political pressure. "I have never had to deal with politics. Imagine how many governments have changed in 40 years. Yet I have never received pressure. I was liked, I was not liked, sometimes there were slights, but I was always independent," she explained.

On her personal life, Clerici addressed questions about marriage. "Love is not economics," she said, declining to elaborate further on her relationship with Vittorio Garrone, with whom she has been in a long-term partnership since 2018. She currently lives in Arquata Scrivia, commuting over an hour daily to Milan for her work.

Clerici spoke positively about Stefano De Martino, the younger broadcaster increasingly associated with the Sanremo Music Festival. "He is a complete showman. He knows how to dance, sing, and has great charm," she said, expressing confidence that De Martino will succeed in hosting the festival.

Clerici also discussed her current television work, which includes hosting "È sempre mezzogiorno," a daily midday program she has anchored since September 2020, as well as "The Voice Senior," "The Voice Kids," and "The Voice Generations." She noted that "The Voice Kids" recently achieved unexpected success, even defeating competition from Maria De Filippi's "C'è posta per te" in its final episode.

When asked about her future plans, Clerici indicated she does not intend to work indefinitely. "At seventy, I will already be at home doing other things. I would like to write a book," she said. She also suggested she has ideas about how Sanremo could be approached differently, though she did not elaborate on specifics.

Clerici reflected on earlier challenges in her career, including her departure from "La Prova del Cuoco" in 2008 when she took maternity leave. She was replaced temporarily by Elisa Isoardi, a substitution that became permanent. When Clerici returned, she did not resume the program. She has previously stated that when RAI offered her money and other programs as compensation, she asked only for "La Prova del Cuoco" back, a request that was not granted.

In podcast appearances this week, Clerici also discussed her early career beginnings in sports journalism and her transition to entertainment. She credited her work on cooking programs with helping establish the genre on Italian television, noting the subsequent success of celebrity chefs in the industry.