The evening of Friday, October 3, marked a milestone for the Spanish television channel La Sexta. A live broadcast of the popular program «Más vale tarde» featured an event that signaled the end of an era for the newsroom. Xesco Tapias, the channel’s long-standing correspondent and head of its Catalonia bureau, ended his nearly two-decade-long career at Atresmedia. His departure came as a true surprise both to colleagues and to millions of viewers who had become accustomed to seeing him on screen since the very first days of broadcasting.
The farewell was emotional and a bit rushed, as often happens on live television. Immediately after his final report, which he delivered from a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Barcelona, the program’s hosts, Cristina Pardo and Iñaki López, took the floor. Pardo, visibly moved, noted that Tapias had worked at the channel ‘almost longer than the logo has existed,’ and wished him the best of luck on his new path. She expressed hope that their professional paths would cross again in the future.
Iñaki López also joined in with warm words, sending the journalist a big hug from himself and his wife, Andrea Ropero, who spent many years working alongside Tapias and has the fondest memories of him. López emphasized that the team would greatly miss such a professional. The man of the hour himself kept his comments brief. Xesco Tapias sincerely thanked everyone for their teamwork and years of support, and concluded by blowing a kiss to the camera—a symbolic gesture to say goodbye to his audience and colleagues.
Shesku Tapias was more than just a reporter. He became a true symbol of La Sexta in Catalonia, covering all the key events in the region since 2006. His face regularly appeared on major news and analysis programs such as “Al rojo vivo” and “Más vale tarde.” He was the one who conveyed the pulse of Catalan life to all of Spain, from political battles to social issues. Now, as confirmed by the channel itself, he is leaving the microphone to devote himself to “new professional projects.” With his departure, an important chapter in the history of La Sexta’s Catalan bureau comes to a close.
