In January 1986, Coluche, who a few months earlier founded the association of Restos du Cœur, brought together artists, public figures and politicians on television to promote the association and its actions. Jean-Jacques Goldman composed La Chanson des Restos, which was interpreted by several personalities and went on tour to benefit of the association. After Coluche died suddenly in June of 1986, his widow Veronique Colucci relaunched the initiative as a new television program in December of that year.