The cathodic man who marked 60 years of TV history in Italy has passed away. Presenter and inventor, because many of those who succeeded were discovered by him, he discovered himself. His father dreamed of a future as a lawyer, Baudo (born in Militello, in the province of Catania, on June 7, 1936) did not contradict him, but only thought about the world of entertainment.

A very long career as a protagonist, awarded with the honor of Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, the highest recognition, which President Sergio Mattarella presented to him at the Quirinale on September 22, 2021.

89 years and many records, such as the historic one of having hosted 13 Sanremo festivals, five of which were consecutive (from 1992 to 1996) like the other legend Mike Bongiorno and like Amadeus.

Over 150 programs, including Settevoci, Canzonissima, Domenica in, Fantastico, Serata d’onore, Novecento, several films and even musical pieces written for other artists: "Pippo nazionale" surpassed 60 years of career and involved several generations in his shows. He was also the director of the Stabile di Catania.

Graduated in law, in love with the world of entertainment, he moved to Rome to pursue the dream of the small screen. Of which he then became the absolute protagonist, managing to use a language and a communicative scheme understandable to most Italians.

Politically, he declared himself a progressive. In 1991, a bomb attack hit one of his villas in Sicily, fortunately empty that day, for having spoken out against the Mafia. He also took on the Church, guilty of not paying taxes on properties owned by the Vatican State. Baudo's life was not just made of 'sequins and cotillon'.